It was the toughest race I had participated in during my running career.
These were the words from 2020 Namosi Marathon (full marathon) winner Avikash Lal when asked for a comment after he hit the finish line at Navunikabi in Namosi yesterday.
The inaugural Namosi Marathon was run in three categories; full marathon (42.2km), half marathon (21.1km) and the 10k.
Lal who has represented Fiji to a number of international marathons said this was the most difficult and toughest run he has participated in.
The long winding gravel road and hill climbs along the route starting from Nabukaluka in Naitasiri and finishing in Navunikabi in Namosi is not for the faint-hearted.
Another national rep Raj Prasad won the half marathon while Namosi Secondary School student Christopher Iowane Tikolutu took out the 10 kilometre event.
Results: Full marathon winners – 42.2km. Men’s : 1. Avikash Lal, 2. 2nd Kennol Narayan , 3. 3rd Kazuo Shimizu.
Women: 1. Anna Cowley, 2. Natalia Evans.
Half marathon – 21.1km: Men: 1. Raj Prasad, 2. Shaheen Ali, 3. Brian Thomas.
Women: 1. Ella Ballerini, 2. Annie Crookes, 3. Beth Sargeant.
10km: men: 1. Christopher Tikolutu, 2. Navneet Chandra, 3. Robert Haertsch.
Women: 1. Roela, 2. Siteri, 3. Flavia La Vienja.
