Sigatoka Methodist College and Nasikawa Vision College emerged as the winners of the girls and boys divisions respectively at the Coca‑Cola Games Nadroga Zone Athletics Championship, which concluded at Lawaqa Park on Thursday.
Defending champions Sigatoka Methodist defended their girls’ crown emphatically, topping the standings with 15 gold, nine silver and nine bronze medals. Thomas Baker High School finished second with nine gold, seven silver and one bronze, while Cuvu College rounded out the top three on the girls’ side with six gold, four silver and five bronze medals.
In the boys’ competition Nasikawa Vision College claimed the zone title, collecting 11 gold, seven silver and nine bronze medals to finish first. Cuvu College were close behind in second with eight gold, 12 silver and nine bronze, and Navosa Central College took third place with eight gold, six silver and four bronze medals.
Sigatoka Methodist’s success was bolstered by a large team: the school entered a contingent of 126 athletes, with “more than 50” girls and “over 60” boys, a depth that head of physical education Waisake Kalivetau said made a decisive difference. “Our strength was in both areas, the throws and the track events,” Kalivetau said, pointing to a balanced performance across disciplines that helped the school retain its zone title.
Kalivetau framed the zone result as part of a broader push to achieve at the national level after a disappointing showing last year. “Last year we did not win any medals at the Coke Games,” he said. “We reached three finals but did not win any medals, so we are hoping this year we will do better.” The zone triumph gives Sigatoka Methodist renewed momentum as they aim for improved results at the Fiji Finals.
The Nadroga zone meet provided a platform for several schools to stake their claims ahead of the national Coca‑Cola Games. While Sigatoka Methodist and Nasikawa Vision take the zone crowns, the close medal spreads among the top schools in both divisions suggest competitive matchups to come as athletes progress toward the Fiji Finals.
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