Melesi Dawai turned last year’s disappointment into a podium finish yesterday, claiming the silver medal in the junior girls’ 400 metres final at the Fiji Finals in Suva. The Ra High School sprinter, a Nasoqo villager from Naitasiri with maternal ties to Nalawa, Ra, made a determined return to the national stage after failing to medal in her Games debut last year.
Dawai described her run as an act of faith and grit. “Before I ran I prayed to God to give me help me get a medal,” she said after the race, adding that she felt her legs go heavy in the final 100 metres but pushed through the pain to secure silver. The finish was a close, hard-fought battle as she chased a competitor from Suva Grammar School all the way to the line.
The result represents a significant turnaround for the young athlete, who returned from last year’s experience using the setback as motivation in training. Dawai said the first thoughts after crossing the line were of her parents and coaches, people she had promised back home she would bring a medal for. “Leaving home to come to Suva, I assured my parents, my family members and my coaches that I will return with a medal,” she said, telling how the reality of winning finally sank in when she completed the race.
Dawai credited a mix of preparation and perseverance for her improvement. She spoke of heavy legs during the closing stretch but said she refused to give up because she had set a clear goal for the competition. The silver adds to a growing list of promising performances from school-age athletes at the Fiji Finals and underscores the depth of talent emerging from rural communities such as Naitasiri and Ra.
Looking ahead, Dawai — who will enter her second year in the intermediate grade next season — encouraged young athletes back home to aim high. “To all of us watching from home, especially those in the sub-junior, junior, intermediate, and senior grades, we can all come together and become champions here at the Fiji Finals,” she said, urging friends and family to believe in their potential and to keep striving for success.
Her medal is the latest highlight for athletes from Ra and surrounding provinces competing in Suva this week, and it marks a personal milestone for Dawai after a year of rebuilding confidence and focus. Coaches and family members in Nasoqo and Nalawa are expected to celebrate the achievement, which Dawai framed as proof that perseverance and faith can turn disappointment into success.