A small but determined St Thomas High School squad will head to the 2026 Coca‑Cola Games in Suva after eight athletes earned selection following strong performances at the Lautoka Zone meet, team manager Makelesi Mawi confirmed. The team — all girls and entirely comprised of junior and intermediate students — represents a compact but focused effort from the school as it prepares for the national secondary schools athletics finals.
Mawi said the school took only those athletes who finished first at the Lautoka Zone, resulting in a squad heavily weighted to field events. “We are taking only our eight athletes who came first in the Lautoka Zone, and our focus is mainly on girls’ events, both track and field,” she said. Field competitors dominate the group: three javelin throwers and two high jumpers are among the selected athletes, while the remainder are also entered in field disciplines. Only one athlete from St Thomas will contest a track event — the inter‑girls 800m.
The team is exceptionally young. Mawi pointed out there are no senior students in the group — the 800m runner is the only Year 11 athlete, while the other seven are in Years 9 and 10. “These students are all from the intermediate and junior grades. The 800m athlete is in Year 11, while the rest are in Year 9 and Year 10. There are no Year 12 or Year 13 students,” she said, noting the selections reflect rising talent from the school’s lower grades.
Despite their youth and inexperience at the national level, expectations are positive, especially for the lone track entrant. Mawi praised the 800m runner’s preparation, including hill sessions at Saru, and called her “the best from the West in her event.” The small team size has, according to Mawi, helped with focused coaching and management: “Preparation was going well because the number is small, so it is easier to manage and train them properly.”
Preparations were not without challenge. Mawi said training suffered a disruption after the Easter weekend when a cyclone hit the area, leaving the squad without practice for more than a week. Coaches and athletes responded by intensifying sessions afterward to make up lost time. “After Easter, the cyclone affected us and there was no training for more than a week. But after that, we worked hard to catch up,” she said.
For all eight athletes, the Coca‑Cola Games will be a first‑time experience. Mawi described selection for the national meet as a significant milestone for the junior squad and expressed confidence they are ready to represent the school in Suva. “Overall, I think the kids are ready and they are looking forward to going to Suva to take part,” she said, underlining the developmental value of exposing younger athletes to the Games’ big‑stage competition.