Malekalita May broke a 45-year-old record with a 1.49m leap to win gold in the intermediate girls high jump at the Coca‑Cola Games Suva Zone Two athletics meet at HFC Bank Stadium in Suva yesterday, dedicating the milestone to her late coach Joseph “JJ” Rodan Junior.
May’s performance ended a four‑decade‑plus mark that had stood untouched at the zone level, a feat she described as both triumphant and bittersweet. “I didn’t really expect to break the record but through prayer and hard work, I managed to break it and I give all glory back to God and I dedicate the win to my late coach Rodan,” she said after the competition. The 1.49m clearance secured top podium honours in a field that May admitted had long been a personal challenge.
Rodan Junior, who coached May when she first began competing in the sub‑junior grade, died in January 2023. May paid tribute to his influence on and off the track, saying he had been “like a second father” who consistently believed in and motivated his athletes. “He trained me since I was a sub‑junior and he made a big impact on my life because he always believed in me even when I didn’t always believe in myself,” she recalled, noting that his encouragement sustained her through setbacks.
May said nerves were a significant factor going into the event because the high jump has been a difficult discipline for her since her early competitive days. She credited faith and disciplined preparation for carrying her through: “He always motivated us and he always let us know that we can do anything if we can believe in ourselves … whether we made mistakes or not.” The win marks a notable personal and athletic milestone as she moves forward in school athletics.
The Coca‑Cola Games, Fiji’s premier secondary schools athletics carnival, stages zone competitions such as the Suva Zone Two event as part of the build‑up to the national finals. Zone level records are closely watched as indicators of emerging talent; breaking a long‑standing mark positions May as a standout performer to watch in the wider Coca‑Cola Games programme this season.
Organisers at HFC Bank Stadium did not immediately provide details on the previous record or its holder; May’s coach’s absence and her emotional dedication framed the day for many spectators and fellow competitors. Her victory underscores both the personal legacies left by youth coaches and the role those relationships play in shaping promising athletes in Fiji’s school sports system.
May’s emphatic clearance and public tribute to Rodan Junior closed a chapter of mentorship and set a new benchmark for her age group. For May, the record is both a competitive breakthrough and a continuing tribute to a coach whose guidance she says helped her believe she could reach this height.
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