Mahatma Gandhi Memorial High School’s intermediate boys 4×100 metres relay team dedicated their gold-medal run to teammate Apisalomi Saukuru as he made his final appearance with the squad at the Coca-Cola Games Suva Zone One athletics meet at HFC Bank Stadium in Suva yesterday. The emotional send-off came after a tense, well-executed race in which the MGM quartet combined speed and seamless baton exchanges to claim top honours.
Described by coaches and teammates as a “trusted taper,” Saukuru’s final run with the intermediate team provided the emotional spark the MGM quartet needed. The victory was not only a race win but a moment the team said would be remembered for its unity and determination, capped by the dedication to Saukuru on trackside after the finish.
MGM’s success at the two-day Suva Zone One meet went beyond that single race. The school swept both the girls’ and boys’ divisions, underscoring the depth of its athletics program across sprints, field events and relays. In the girls’ division MGM dominated the medal table with 31 gold, 14 silver and 12 bronze medals, finishing well clear of nearest rivals.
Ratu Sukuna Memorial School (RSMS) finished second in the girls’ standings with six gold, two silver and three bronze medals, while Ballantine Memorial School took third on 4-5-8. MGM’s female athletes delivered a series of strong performances throughout the two days to build the commanding margin that secured the title.
On the boys’ side MGM continued the momentum from the opening day, collecting 21 gold, seven silver and five bronze medals to finish atop the leaderboard. RSMS placed second in the boys’ division with eight gold, seven silver and five bronze, and Dudley High School completed the top three with five gold, nine silver and 12 bronze medals. MGM’s combined results across both divisions marked a dominant showing for the school at the Zone One meet.
As the Coca-Cola Games Zone One competition wrapped at HFC Bank Stadium, MGM’s double triumph and the relay team’s tribute to Saukuru provided the most notable developments from Suva. The relay win, framed as the “last hurrah” for Saukuru, emerged as the standout human-interest moment amid a weekend of high school athletics that showcased rising sprint and field talent across participating schools.
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