Natabua High School delivered a statement performance at the Lautoka Zone athletics meet, leaving little doubt it will be a force to reckon with at the upcoming Coca‑Cola Games. The Lautoka giants defended both the boys’ and girls’ zone titles at Churchill Park, powered by standout sprinting displays and a depth of talent across track and field that produced a dominant medal haul.
The headline results came from senior sprinters Storm Naivalu and Josevata Tuinavitilevu. Naivalu captured the senior girls’ 100m in 12.56 seconds, added gold in the 200m and anchored Natabua’s winning 4x100m relay, denying rivals Jasper Williams High School a clean sweep in the sprint relays. The daughter of former Fiji‑American athlete Jovesa Naivalu, Storm said she is grateful for the support and wants to establish her own legacy rather than rely on family pedigree.
In the senior boys’ 100m, Tuinavitilevu stamped his authority with a 10.57‑second clocking. His explosive starts — an attribute he credits to coaching from former champions Shane Tuvusa and Batinisavu Uluiyata — proved decisive in a race that often predicts national contenders. Tuinavitilevu acknowledged the zone champions from around the country but said his focus is squarely on bringing that form to the national stage.
Beyond those blue‑ribbon events, Natabua’s strength was reflected in the overall medal totals: the girls amassed 19 gold medals while the boys registered an even more emphatic 33 golds across sprints, middle‑distance, relays and field events. School officials highlighted that the field events contributed crucial points, noting throwers and jumpers have quietly been building form that could swing close national contests.
Principal Virendra Sharma attributed the repeat success to “hard work and consistency” from teachers, students, parents and old scholars, saying the result is the product of a whole‑school effort. Sharma urged athletes to maintain pride and discipline in the lead‑up to Coca‑Cola Games, a message that apparently resonated during a season that has seen Natabua cement its reputation in the Lautoka zone.
The scale of Natabua’s zone domination positions the school as one of the favourites heading into the Coca‑Cola Games at HFC Bank Stadium. With proven sprinters like Naivalu and Tuinavitilevu, robust relay squads and improving field disciplines, Natabua has both star power and depth — a combination that could unsettle traditional powerhouses at the national finals.
As the season progresses, attention will turn to how the zone winners translate zone dominance to national success. For now, Natabua’s Lautoka performance serves as the latest development in the build‑up to the Coca‑Cola Games and a clear warning that the school intends to contest top honours come the finals.