AN epic performance by 15-year-old Elijah Vakacegu saw him win gold in the under-20 boys’ 800 metres final with an impressive time of 2 minutes and 1.60 seconds at the Oceania Athletics Championships in Darwin, Australia.
It was a statement victory for the Suva Grammar student, who ran a perfectly executed race in a combined multi-category event featuring U16 several U20 participants.
Mason Walker of Team Hawaii Athletics crossed the line just behind Vakacegu with a time of 2m 2.22s, technically winning the U20 division on the track.
In the U20 100m final, Paula Vonolagi, also from Suva Grammar School, claimed another gold for Team Fiji, clocking 10.7 seconds to win the race.
Meanwhile, Team Fiji enjoyed a double podium finish in the U20 girls’ 800m finals, with Adi Ceva Lutumailagi taking gold in a time of 2m 20.92s, and Gladness Simpson following strongly to take silver with a time of 2m 30.87s.
In other results, the team dominated the girls’ U16 and U20 discus events, with Eleni Rakasi setting a new U16 Oceania record with a colossal throw of 41.73 metres, while Brieanna Rabakewa dominated the U20s, winning gold with a throw of 40.21m.
In the U20 boys shot-put final, Farhaan Ali settled for silver with a throw of 13.60m.
In the U20 boys’ long jump, Team Fiji secured another double podium finish, with Sitiveni Kuanaivalu taking gold with a jump of 6.61m, and Mosese Koroitunudau closely following to claim silver with a jump of 6.57m.
Prior to his silver medal in the long jump, Koroitunudau claimed gold in the boys’ U20 high jump final, clearing the bar at 1.95m.
Day five, the final day of the competition, resumes today, with expectations high for another strong performance from the team to conclude the championships on a high note.
