FIJI Athletics Development Officer Albert Miller is on a mission to enhance local athletics by introducing hurdles events into secondary school competitions, including the Coca Cola Games.
Miller notes a recurring challenge within the athletics community, stating, “Everybody wants to be the 100m sprinter, everybody wants to be the 200m sprinter, nobody wants to do the more technical event.” To address this issue, he has initiated efforts since late last year to encourage young athletes to participate in hurdles events — specifically the 100m hurdles for women, 110m hurdles for men, and the 400m hurdles.
The strategy aims to increase participation by integrating hurdles into the secondary school system, facilitating strong developmental pathways for aspiring athletes. “We are slowly increasing in numbers; it’s just a matter of working with the secondary schools to include that in either the zones or even the co-games,” Miller explained.
To further support talent development, Miller plans to incorporate hurdles into weekly or bi-weekly competitions to motivate young athletes. One athlete benefiting from this initiative is Miller’s grand-nephew, Roko Ilaisa Tabete, who is transitioning from being an open 400m runner to a hurdles athlete. Miller expresses optimism about Tabete’s progress, indicating that if more athletes of his caliber emerge, Fiji could perform well at upcoming regional games.
As a development officer, Miller focuses on advancing the sport as a whole rather than aligning himself with a specific school or club. His commitment extends to developing coaches as well, reinforcing his philosophy of inclusive talent cultivation.
Miller is also keen to expand the technical events portfolio, including hammer throw and pole vault, despite the logistical challenges associated with events like pole vaulting. He highlighted the impressive grassroots talent available during the annual primary schools competition, which attracts over 2,000 athletes, questioning, “Where else in the world would you get that number?”
Miller believes that by nurturing even a small percentage of these athletes in specialized events like hurdles, Fiji has the potential to significantly improve its athletics prospects on both regional and international stages. His efforts symbolize a hopeful outlook for the future of athletics in Fiji, emphasizing the importance of technical events in fostering a competitive sporting environment.
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