Making her Coca-Cola Games debut, Marica Seninawanawa of Labasa College produced a standout performance in the sub-junior girls javelin on the second day of competition, throwing 34.29 metres to claim the silver medal at HFC Bank Stadium. The result came in dramatic fashion as Vunisea Secondary School’s Makelesi Tabuavou recorded the same distance but was awarded gold on a tiebreaker.
Tabuavou and Seninawanawa were locked together at the top with identical best throws, leaving officials to apply the event’s tiebreak procedure to separate the two athletes. Tailevu North College’s Adi Akanisi Caginitoba took bronze with a best effort of 32.25m, rounding out a competitive podium in the sub-junior category.
For the Bua-born athlete from Vanua Levu, the competition was about more than a medal. It was her first time competing at the national stadium and her first appearance at the Coca-Cola Games, an experience she described as almost surreal after only ever seeing the arena on television. The transition from watching the Games to throwing on the track at HFC Bank Stadium marked a major milestone in her young sporting career.
Seninawanawa credited a simple but specific cue from her coach for helping her deliver consistent throws under pressure. She recalled being told to position herself and time her steps in a "two-seven-ten movement" before launching the javelin — advice she said she concentrated on during each attempt. After the final result, she thanked her family, coaches and supporters as she stood on the podium clutching her silver medal alongside her fellow medalists.
The tight finish highlighted the depth and competitiveness in the sub-junior field this year, and for Seninawanawa the silver is a promising sign of potential as she moves beyond her first national meet. The narrow margin separating gold and silver will likely be a learning point for the young thrower and her coaching team as they plan training ahead of future island and national events.
Tabuavou’s victory and Seninawanawa’s impressive debut add to an early tally of memorable moments at the 2026 Coca-Cola Games, with the javelin event underlining how small technical gains and composure on the day can decide medals.