Officials at the Coca-Cola Zone meets have had to move the starting and end point of the 100-metre dash at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva.
This as the newly-renovated tracks saw some parts of the synthetic turf peeling off which is believed to have been caused by the starting blocks.
The tracks underwent repairment works in September last year and was re-opened in February this year.
The track was installed by Sphynx Solutions last month at a cost of $2 million.
The Australian-based engineering company was contracted by the Government for the project.
The Fiji Sports Council, custodians of the Laucala Oval, had notified schools of the move to start the 100m races at 110m line while the finish line was moved 10m back. Athletics Fiji head coach Albert Miller said he believed the peeling of the tracks was caused by starting blocks used by athletes during the first zone competition this year.
“Yes, apparently at the start of the 100m line where the peeling is, I think it was caused by the starting blocks,” he said.
Miller said this would not impact the performance of athletes if the finishing point was moved to record the same distance.
“I think they moved the 100m start back to the 110m start line just to protect the track.”
With the Coca-Cola National Championship in May and Oceania Athletics Championship in June at the stadium, Miller believes the tracks can be repaired before the event.
“I don’t think it’s a big issue. From my understanding, the FSC has notified the company that laid the track.
They should be able to fix it without any major hold-up,” Miller said.
It is believed the FSC has contacted Sphynx Solutions for repair works.
