FIJI Athletics Development Officer Albert Miller is pushing to broaden the horizons of local athletics by introducing hurdles events into secondary schools’ competitions and the Coca Cola Games.
Miller points out a familiar challenge that has become a norm in the local athletics landscape:
“Everybody wants to be the 100m sprinter, everybody wants to be the 200m sprinter, nobody wants to do the more technical event,” Miller said.
To tackle this, efforts began late last year to bring younger athletes into hurdles — 100m hurdles for women, 110m for men, and the 400m hurdles.
“We are slowly increasing in numbers, it’s just a matter of working with the secondary schools where they can include that in either the zones or even the co-games,” he said.
The strategy is clear. Miller wants hurdles embedded in the school system to build a strong developmental pathway.
“Otherwise we’ll schedule it in our weekly or bi-weekly competitions, just to encourage up-and-coming younger athletes to take up the event,” Miller explained.
One promising athlete benefiting from this approach is Miller’s grand-nephew, Roko Ilaisa Tabete, who attends an international school.
Tabete, originally an open 400m runner, is now transitioning to hurdles. Miller reports he is adapting very well in his transition and is optimistic about the future:
“If we have a handful of athletes of his calibre I think in Tahiti or later in the regional games we should be doing OK,” he said.
As a Fiji Athletics development officer Miller does not align himself with any one school or athletics club as his primary objective is the development of the sport locally.
“I just look at development across the board for any event in that matter, and that also goes for developing coaches” he said.
He remains focused on expanding the technical events portfolio.
He also mentioned hammer throw and pole vault, though the latter comes with logistical challenges.
“It takes two, three hours to set up the landing mat and all these other things,” he explained.
Miller highlighted the vast pool of talent at the grassroots level, pointing to the annual primary schools competition’s impressive turnout of over 2,000 athletes.
“Where else in the world would you get that number?” Miller said.
He believes that by nurturing even a fraction of these athletes in technical disciplines like hurdles, Fiji can significantly bolster its athletics prospects.
