Nadroga Arya College will make its biggest-ever appearance at this year’s Coca‑Cola Games in Suva, fielding a team of eight athletes — seven girls and one boy — as the school aims to turn last year’s blank medal tally into at least one gold. Team manager Mere Tuicakau confirmed the squad on Tuesday, describing the selection as a milestone for the school’s athletics programme.
Tuicakau said the lone male athlete will contest the sub‑junior 400m, while the seven female competitors are entered across sprint and middle-distance events, including the 100m and 200m junior girls’ races, the 400m in both junior and intermediate grades, and the intermediate girls’ 4x100m relay. “This is the biggest number we’ve taken so far,” she said, adding that the athletes have been training hard despite challenging weather conditions and have shown “great resilience.”
Among the contingent, intermediate sprinter Mere Lalilevu has been singled out as the athlete to watch. Lalilevu is entered in both the 200m and 400m intermediate girls’ events and is viewed by coaches as Nadroga Arya’s best medal prospect. Coaches and support staff say they have focused on sharpening her speed endurance ahead of the Games’ tight competition schedule.
Coaches stressed that the team’s objectives go beyond simply taking part. “We are here not only to compete but to leave a mark at this year’s Games,” the coaching group said, signalling a shift in mindset from last year when the school returned without medals. Tuicakau reiterated that the team’s concrete target is to secure at least one gold, a goal the management hopes will inspire greater participation and investment in athletics at the school.
Tuicakau also appealed for community backing, urging school supporters, alumni and families to attend the events in Suva. She emphasised the importance of visible support for schools from more remote areas, noting the motivational boost athletes receive when their broader school community is present at major meets.
The Coca‑Cola Games remain Fiji’s premier secondary school track and field meet, drawing large contingents from across the nation to compete on the Suva track. For Nadroga Arya College, this year’s expanded team represents both progress in athlete development and an opportunity to raise the school’s profile in national school athletics. With their largest-ever squad assembled and clear medal ambitions, the Nadroga Arya athletes will be among the smaller, but determined, schools aiming to upset the established order at the Games.