Nakasi High School pulled off a surprise victory over defending champion Lelean Memorial School to claim the Boys Division title at the 2026 Triple N Zone Athletics Meet, emerging on top after two days of tight competition. Nakasi finished with 20 gold, 13 silver and five bronze medals, narrowly ahead of Lelean which collected 14 gold, 12 silver and 11 bronze. Sila Central High School completed the podium in third place with seven gold, six silver and nine bronze medals.
The meet was a back-and-forth affair, organisers said, with lead changes and late results keeping the medal table in flux across most events. Schools from across the zone pushed for podium finishes in sprints, middle-distance races, jumps and throws, and several finals were decided by only fractions of a second or small margins in the field events.
Principal Praveen Chand described the win as a release of months of pressure and hard work. “I’m feeling so elated… so much relief,” Chand said, adding that this year’s field contained “many strong contenders” and that it had been “one of the most competitive Triple N Zones we have ever seen.” He said the close contest had tested the school’s resilience and made the triumph all the more meaningful.
Chand framed the result as more than a zonal trophy, saying the heightened standard of competition will better prepare Nakasi athletes for national-level meets. “When your zone becomes this competitive, it prepares you better for the national stage,” he said, noting that raising the bar locally proves the zone can produce athletes capable of competing at higher levels.
The victory was particularly notable given Nakasi’s limited sporting infrastructure. Chand pointed out the school does not have top-tier facilities or a proper ground, and credited a wide community effort for the achievement — parents who supported a training camp, teachers who volunteered time, and coaches who developed the competitors. “We told our students that the Nakasi spirit must prevail,” he said.
This title marks a comeback for Nakasi High School after previous successes and a runner-up finish last year, reclaiming a position at the head of the zone. For Lelean, the result ends a run as defending champions and hands Nakasi momentum heading into the next phase of the athletics calendar.
Organisers have yet to announce selections for upcoming national events, but leaders from Nakasi say the school’s focus has sharpened and they will use the win to press for strong showings at the next level of competition.
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