Students Dominate Fiji Team For Oceania Champs | Fiji Sun – Fiji Sun Online

ACS Laisani Moceisawana (left) hits the tape to claim gold in the senior girls 100m event at the ANZ Stadium during the Coca-Cola Games on April 21, 2017. Photo: Jone Luvenitoga

Athletics Fiji has selected 169 athletes to represent Fiji at the 2017 Oceania Championships which will be held at the ANZ National Stadium in Suva, from June 28 to July 1. Fiji will be represented in the Under-18, U20, Open grade, Masters and Para events.

The Fiji team consists of athletes from the Coca-Cola Games winners, Adi Cakobau School who will be fielding 18 while Jasper Williams and Natabua will be fielding 15 athletes each.

Athletes from schools like Sigatoka Methodist, Yasawa Secondary, Vunisea Secondary, Magodro, Richmond High, St. Bedes, Napuka Junior, Niusawa Methodist and Delana Methodist to name a few have had some outstanding performances at this years Coca Cola games and have also forced their way into the team.

Approximately 500 athletes from 20 countries in the Oceania Region will be competing at the championships including Australia with 150 and New Zealand with 55 athletes. The New Zealand team will consist of five current NZ senior champions and four Rio Paralympics medalists.

The championships are also a qualifying event for the 2017 World Athletics Championships where all first place getters in the Open grade track finals will automatically qualify.

Tracks

With the absence of Banuve Tabakaucoro, the sprints charge will be led by high school sprint sensation Shane Tuvusa, Samuela Railoa who is ranked No 1 in the sprints this season , Lodoni flyers Sailosi Tubuilagi, Kameli Sauduadua, former high school sprint kings Vilisoni Rarasea, Albert Miller Jnr and Aaron Powell. In the distance events, Jet runners Avikash Lal who has been dominating road races and had recently returned from the World Cross Country Championships in Uganda will be joined by Suva Marathon Club top runners Jeremaiah Singh, Kennol Narayan and Rajeshwar Prasad.

SJSS sprint queen Heleina Young will be joined by Olympian and SJSS alumni Sisilia Seavula who will be battling it out with Alesi Finau, Makereta Naulu and Laisani Moceisawana for the title of Fijis fastest female.

Field

Two time Olympian Leslie Copeland, National record holder in the Shot Put Mustafa Fall, national record holder in the triple jump Eugene Vollmer and national record holder in the high jump Malakai Kaiwalu will be looking to inspire the field with their beastly performances.

Junior high jump sensation, Shawntell Lockington is in impressive form and will be looking to better her performance of 1.66m and hopefully break the national record of 1.70m. With the absence of national record holder Milika Tuivanuavou, Alice Peters and Bonasere of ACS will be looking to take the helm for the lady throwers and will be joined by the likes of Fiji Swimming rep Kinisimere Naivalu of SGS.

The Fiji Team are as follows:

Under 18 Boys

Waisake Nakavu (MBHS 100m), Tyrone Chambers (NAT 100m), Nemani Mudreilagi (NAT 100m & 200m), Kolinio Radrudru (QVS 200m), Apolosi Nawai (Lelean 200m), Petero Veitaqomaki (Sigatoka Methodist 400m), Douglas Matakibau (NAT 400m), Osea Baleinamau (QVS 400m), Aisea Busa (Cuvu College 800m), Josua Daveta (MBHS 800m & 1500m), Kolaia Bucalevu (Magodro Secondary 800m), Alivereti Vakasilimi (Tailevu North College 1500m), Ayush Prasad (Xavier College 1500m), Paula Nasara (NAT Long Jump), Noa Kautoga (Xavier College Long Jump), Aporosa Taqiri (RKS Long Jump), Jone Sukulu (Xavier College Triple Jump), Ilisoni Naiteqe (QVS High Jump), Kolaia Ivi (RKS High Jump), Nikola Raiqeu (St. Johns College High Jump), Tikomaijapani Batibasaga (NAT Shot Put), Brandon Mario (MBHS Shot Put), Kautane Erasito (MBHS Discus), Joseva Taleimaicakaudrove (RKS Discus), Darcy Cammick (Niusawa Methodist Javelin), Maximus Lestro (MBHS Javelin) and Eronimo Vakarewa (South Taveuni Secondary Javelin).

Under 18 Girls

Salote Baravilala (Jasper Williams 100m), Braelynn Yee (NAT 100m), Louisa Tubailagi (St. Josephs Secondary 100m & 200m), Serenia Ragatu (ACS 200m & 400m), Vika Bavui (Jasper Williams 200m), Virisila Radovu (Naitasiri Secondary 400m), Ana Kaitoga (ACS 400m), Vani Loloma (ACS 800m), Laisiana Seru (Vunisea Secondary 800m), Lavenia Kororua (Naiyala Secondary 800m & 1500m), Makereta Talei (Navosa Central 1500m), Saravina Nakaisawa (Waidina Secondary 1500m), Shawntell Lockington (Xavier College High Jump), Tuliana Tinai (Jasper Williams High Jump), Alumita Diunisi (Jasper Williams High Jump), Fane Sauvakacolo (SGS Triple Jump), Sovaia Vusona (Levuka Public Long Jump), Mereseini Waqatoki (ACS Long Jump), Luse Qasevakatini (Basden College Long Jump), Tarairi Erasito (St. Josephs Secondary Shot Put & Discus), Ilisaveci Maramasoqo (ACS Shot Put), Loata Nabulagi (ACS Shot Put), Seinimili Cagilaba (Vunisea Secondary Discus), Elisabeta Lilicama (Napuka Secondary Discus), Marica Bai (Richmond High Javelin), Ateca Narisia (ACS Javelin) and Ilisapeci Loloma (St. Johns College Javelin).

Under 20 Boys

Netani Vakayali (Lelean 100m), Tony Lemeki (MBHS 100m), Malasebe Tuvusa (SGS 100m & 200m), Nemia Nawave (Ratu Navula 200m), Jim Colasau (QVS 200m), Viliame Tawake (Vunisea Secondary 400m), Apolosi Koroi (QVS 400m), Melchizedek Katafono (Dudley High School 400m), Shaneel Narayan (Xavier College 800m & 1500m), Jekesoni Yavala (Uluivalili Secondary 800m), Petero Tuisiga (Bua College 1500m), Dave Raika (Bucalevu Secondary 1500m), Tevita Senico (NAT High Jump), George Vokiti (NAT High Jump), William Sikuri (St. Thomas High Jump), Kitione Nasau (NAT Long Jump & Triple Jump), Penijamini Nasorowale (Sigatoka Methodist Triple Jump), Jethro Lockington (NAT Long jump), Kavekini Vasuitaukei (Sigatoka Methodist Long Jump), Mua Cavuilati (RKS Shot Put), Isikeli Lumelume (MBHS Shot Put), Livai Natavi (QVS Shot Put), Josua Serukilagi (QVS Discus), Eneri Waqailutua (QVS Discus), Jone Savou (NAT Discus), Mosese Saqanavere (RKS Javelin), Jone Elder (RKS Javelin) and Amania Isa (Niusawa Methodist Javelin).

Under 20 Girls

Alesi Finau (Jasper Williams 100m & 200m), Heleina Young (St. Josephs Secondary 100m), Taraivini Tane (ACS 100m), Akanisi Sokoiwasa (Jasper Williams 400m), Seinimili Maisamoa (ACS 400m), Mereoni Loki (Jasper Williams 200m & 400m), Tupou Saukalou (Jasper Williams 800m), Cilia Kalokalo (Lomary Secondary 800m), Vika Tuilomana (ACS 800m & 1500m), Jemima Ferguson (NAT High Jump), Tera Narayan (St. Josephs Secondary High Jump), Amelia Finau (Ballentine Memorial High Jump ), Alesi Bulisala (ACS Long Jump), Mariana Talatoka (Napuka Secondary Long Jump), Senimili Vakamino (ACS Long Jump & Triple Jump), Lydia Panapasa (SGS Shot Put), Maraia Siganisucu (St. Josephs Secondary Shot Put), Penina Elliot (Rishikul Sanatan Discus), Merelita Tamaniceva (Delana Methodist Discus), Kinisimere Naivalu (SGS Discus), Katarina Lilicama (Napuka Secondary Javelin), Tupou Tuiloa (St. Johns College Javelin) and Joana Tabua (Jasper Williams Javelin).

Open Men

Vilisoni Rarase (Trailblazers 100m & 400m Hurdles), Shane Tuvusa (NAT 100m & 200m), Aaron Powell (Gospel Saints 100m & 200m), Samuela Railoa (Jetrunners 200m & 400m), Albert Miller Jnr (Laucala 4x100m relay), Sailosi Tubuilagi (RKS 400m), Kameli Sauduadua (RKS 400m), Ilaitia Waqairadovu (QVS 4x100m), Emosi Sukanaivalu (MBHS 400m Hurdles), Errol Qaqa (Laucala 110m Hurdles), Viliame Salusalu (RKS 800m & 1500m), Josua Raivanua (RKS 800m), Atama Vunibola (Wainibuka Junior 1500m), Mohammed Ali (Kamil College 1500m), Avikash Lal (Jetrunners 5000m & 10000m), Jeremaiah Singh (Suva Marathon Club 5000m & 10000m), Kennol Narayan (Suva Marathon Club 5000m & 10000m), Pramesh Prasad (5000m Walk & 10000m Walk), Rajeshwar Prasad (Suva Marathon Club 5000m Walk), Malakai Kaiwalu (Brothers High Jump), Meli Kolanavanua (RKS High Jump), Poasa Satoqi (Brothers High Jump), Waisale Dausoko (Veiuto Long Jump), Iosefo Kamusu (St. Bedes College Long Jump), Sireli Bulivorovoro (USP Islanders Long Jump), Eugene Vollmer (Laucala Triple Jump), Belasio Waqadau (NAT Triple Jump), Kalaveti Mokosiro (NAT Triple Jump), Mustafa Fall (Dakua Shot Put & Discus), Robert Elder (Laucala Shot Put), Solomone Qisavola (Laucala Shot Put), Setareki Matau (Brothers Discus), Maurea Konrote (Brothers Discus), Leslie Copeland (Trailblazers Javelin), Pita Tamani (Brothers Javelin), Alipate Wesele (Brothers Javelin) and John Sade (Pacific Sports Academy Decathlon).

Open Women

Makereta Naulu (ACS 100m & 200m), Sisilia Seavula (Laucala 100m & 200m), Laisani Moceisawana (ACS 100m), Elenoa Sailosi (Trailblazers 4x100m), Younis Bese (Laucala 4x100m), Elenani Tinai (ACS 400m), Mereseini Vukici (Jasper Williams 400m & 800m), Filomena Balobalo (ACS 200m & 400m), Ana Kaloucava (Laucala 400m Hurdles), Maria Noela (Lomaivuna High 800m), Tavenisa Senigacali (ACS 800m), Camari Adilasaqa (wainibuka Junior 1500m & 3000m), Nanise Tavisa (Brothers High Jump), Diama Maramanikaibau (Laucala High Jump), Rosalia Raqato (Jasper Williams High Jump & Triple Jump), Francis Kurivitu (Jasper Williams Triple Jump) Nanise Tokalauvere (Nasinu Secondary Triple Jump), Emily Tamani (Jasper Williams Long Jump), Mereoni Bonasere (ACS Shot Put), Alice Peters (Jasper Williams Shot Put), Gloria Taylor (MGM Shot Put), Ana Baleira (ACS Discus), Elena Caucau (Jasper Williams Discus & Javelin), Venina Turaganisolevu (SGS Discus & Javelin), Avelina Soakula (Yasawa Secondary Javelin) and Raylin Mario (Gospel High School Heptathlon).

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Students Dominate Fiji Team For Oceania Champs | Fiji Sun - Fiji Sun Online