Josaia Nakuila produced a dramatic late surge to anchor Magodro Secondary School to gold in the 4x400m relay sub-junior boys at the Nadi Zone Athletics Championship on Thursday, powering past Swami Vivekananda College in the final five metres to clinch victory. The finish brought the crowd to its feet as Nakuila, running the anchor leg, overturned what appeared to be a slender deficit with a decisive sprint to the line.
The strong-built 1000 steps trainee, a native of Magodro, credited his tough hill training for the finishing kick. “We always train on the 1000 steps at the dam. It’s tough, but we do it every day, and it really helps,” Nakuila said after the race. He also expressed gratitude for the result: “I want to thank God for the win. In the last five metres, I knew I could do it, and I kept thinking about crossing the finishing line first.”
Magodro’s victory in Nadi’s sub-junior 4x400m adds to the competitive build-up in the zone championships that funnel promising secondary school athletes toward national events. Although official split times and the margin of victory were not provided, coaches and teammates praised Nakuila’s composure under pressure and his ability to time his sprint to perfection against Swami Vivekananda College’s challenge.
The Nadi Zone meet is an important stage in the domestic school athletics calendar, and for Nakuila the performance is a timely confidence boost as he looks ahead to the Coca-Cola Games, Fiji’s premier secondary schools athletics carnival. Nakuila said he is focused on carrying the momentum forward: his immediate plans are to maintain the current training regimen and sharpen his speed and endurance for the national-level showdown.
Magodro’s relay squad will likely use the coming weeks to fine-tune baton exchanges and race tactics, with Nakuila’s late-race strength a clear asset in anchor responsibilities. Teammates and supporters said the win underscores the potential within Magodro’s athletics program and highlights how local, disciplined training venues — like the 1000 steps at the dam — can produce results on the track.
Thursday’s finish will be remembered locally as one of the championship’s most thrilling moments, and Nakuila’s pledge to aim for further success at the Coca-Cola Games sets the scene for a storyline to follow as the season progresses. Coaches at the Nadi Zone meet are expected to monitor his buildup closely as Magodro prepares for the next level of competition.
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