A total of 20 student athletes will represent Fiji at the 2026 Oceania Athletics Championships in Darwin, Australia later this month.
The athletes have been putting in the hard yards for the regional meet at various training sessions and even as recently as a trial for the Commonwealth Games at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva yesterday.
Some of these athletes stamped their mark in the recently-held 2026 Coca-Cola Games National Championships and will now move a step further.
Oceania Fiji team manager Iva Volavola said the selection for the squad came after a process where athletes’ performances were tracked over time and have made special arrangements relating to their studies since the meet will be held on the first week of the second school term.
“Most of these student athletes, while travelling, will have made arrangements with their schools on studies but all their competitions, their selection was part of three national trails throughout the year,” Volavola said.
“So those who are consistent and those who have been successful in their trials, those are the ones that are going.”
Student athletes for the nation’s teams have been an integral part of the squads since the Pacific Mini Games in Koror, Palau last year.
Some of these athletes included sprinter Sera Nasilivata and Gladness Simpson of Mahatma Gandhi Memorial High School, Maryanne Macedru of St. Joseph’s Secondary School, Penaia Ramasirai of Marist Brothers High School and Adi Ceva Lutumailagi of Natabua High School among the many selected.
The 2026 Coca-Cola Games was also a vital selection ground for key athletic talents and Volavola added the Games were an avenue in which these athletes and others could continue their preparations in leading up to the championship this month.
The Oceania meet will be held from May 18-23.
