DOUBLE celebration for Fijian Waisale Dausoko last night in the Melanesian Athletics Championship in Suva after winning a gold medal in the senior men’s long jump at the ANZ Stadium.
He won the gold medal on his international debut. The Natabua High School (NHS) student and Rakiraki native was proud of his achievement after he trailed in the first two attempts to Australian Sam Toleman.
“I had been working towards winning a gold medal for a long time and I am glad that I accomplished that. I am very, very happy. I thank my family, teammates and my coach,” he said.
Dausoko jumped 7.40 metres while former NHS student, Isireli Bulivorovoro won the silver medal a with a jump of 7.35m.
Toleman settled for the bronze medal after jumping a distance of 7.22m.
Bulivorovoro said they motivated each other once they realised they were trailing.
“We knew the Australian was leading and I turned to Wise and I said, ‘It can’t be like this. It has to be either one of us that wins the gold medal.’ I am glad that we were able to win first and second place,” he said.
The championship enters the second day today.
