Mahatma Gandhi Memorial School sprinter Sera Nasilivata emerged as one of the day’s biggest stories at the 2026 Coca‑Cola Games after claiming the Intermediate Girls 100 metres title — a victory she described as all the more remarkable because it came in her first-ever inter‑school competition.
Nasilivata said the build‑up to the final had been intense, with nerves almost getting the better of her before she stepped onto the track. “I felt so scared,” she admitted after the win. “There was a lot of pressure when I was sitting out there. This is my first time to participate in the intergrade, so I just had to set my mind right and focus on what I was doing.” In the quiet moments before the starter’s gun she turned to prayer for calm and strength. “I just prayed and asked God to help me and make me maintain my win,” she said.
Family support played a major role in steadying the newcomer. Nasilivata said her mother, grandmother and other relatives had come out in large numbers to watch her run and that she did not want to disappoint them. “In my mind, I was only thinking of my mother, my grandmother, and my family. They came out today in a lot of numbers. I really didn’t want to disappoint them,” she said, crediting their presence for helping her deliver when it mattered.
The victory does not close the chapter on her Coca‑Cola Games campaign. Nasilivata is also entered in the Intermediate Girls 4x100m relay, slated for the next day, and the 200m later in the week. “For tomorrow, we’ll be taking part in the 4x100m and for Saturday is the 200 metres. Hopefully we’ll make it to the finals,” she said, shifting her focus immediately to team duties and another individual sprint.
Her path to continued success, however, may be complicated by a string of niggling injuries. Nasilivata acknowledged the physical toll competitive athletics has already taken and appealed for a quick recovery. “Hopefully I’ll have a speed recovery. I also have a lot of injuries, but I know God will help me through,” she said, underlining the resilience behind her breakthrough.
The Coca‑Cola Games, Fiji’s flagship secondary school athletics meet, often serves as a launchpad for young talent into national and regional ranks. Nasilivata’s title on her debut will draw attention from coaches and selectors, and it provides an early boost for Mahatma Gandhi Memorial School’s athletics profile at the meet. Teammates, school officials and spectators will now be watching closely to see whether she can parlay her 100m success into relay glory and a strong showing in the 200m.
As the meet progresses, Nasilivata’s combination of raw pace, composure under pressure and visible family support makes her one of the narrative threads to follow. Her immediate focus remains recovery and refinement as she prepares for the coming rounds — and for a young athlete making her first inter‑school outing, the week has already produced a defining moment.