Ratu Lalabalavu Secondary School will field 31 athletes at this year’s Maritime Zone, a continued sign of rapid progress for the Malolo Island campus that only began competing in the zone in 2023. Head of school Samuela Talenasila said the squad, drawn from four villages on Malolo Island, is a mix of Year 9 to Year 12 students and combines both new faces and experienced competitors as the school prepares for the three-day Coca-Cola Games.
Talenasila said the girls’ side enters the competition as the defending Maritime Zone champions while the boys finished as runner-up last year, placing the school among the region’s rising athletics programs. He stressed, however, that the primary aim for this year remains providing exposure and competitive experience for students rather than focusing solely on medals at the Fiji finals. “Our main objective is to give students exposure,” Talenasila said. “It’s about allowing them to experience competition.”
Operating as a maritime school has presented practical challenges for Ratu Lalabalavu Secondary, Talenasila acknowledged, pointing to limited resources and manpower that can complicate training and preparation. Despite those constraints, he said student commitment has been high, with athletes eager to test themselves on the track and build on last year’s results.
The school’s efforts have attracted strong local backing. Talenasila highlighted support from the wider community and stakeholders on Malolo Island, including local resorts, which have helped the team with logistics and encouragement. That community involvement has been crucial for a school balancing educational responsibilities with the demands of preparing island-based students for interzone competition.
Since joining the Maritime Zone in 2023, Ratu Lalabalavu Secondary has sought to establish a foothold in Fijian secondary school athletics, and its early successes have underlined the potential of island schools to produce competitive athletes when given opportunities. Talenasila said maintaining the girls’ high standard is a key target this year, while also ensuring younger athletes gain valuable experience that can serve them and the school in future seasons.
With the Coca-Cola Games scheduled to run over three days, Talenasila encouraged supporters from Malolo Island and beyond to turn out in numbers to back the team. The emphasis on exposure, community support and incremental development will guide the school’s campaign as it looks to consolidate the gains made in its short history in the Maritime Zone.