Yeshnil Karan has secured a major milestone for Fijian athletics, finishing fourth in the men’s 3000m steeplechase at the recent New Zealand Athletics Championships and meeting the Commonwealth Games qualifying standard in the process. Running one of his first track assignments of the year, Karan clocked 9:21.98 to clinch the qualifying mark and keep his international campaign on track.
Karan’s performance came less than a day after he ran the men’s 1500m final, where he placed eighth in 3:52.99 — the third-fastest 1500m of his career and only about two seconds shy of his personal best. The two efforts, completed within roughly 14 hours of each other, underline a busy and successful outing for the long-distance runner, who battled niggling foot pain through the weekend but still produced competitive times in both events.
Reflecting on the trip, Karan described the New Zealand stint as “successful and memorable,” highlighting the challenge of competing after limited preparation and while managing foot pain. He also credited unconventional training conditions at home for helping his resilience. Severe flooding in his native Yaladro, Tavua forced him to adapt sessions and train on roads rendered unsuitable by the weather — an adversity he said he turned to his advantage.
Karan’s form in New Zealand also translated into continental success: the Polynesian Track and Field Championships, which were integrated into the overall New Zealand Athletics programme, yielded gold medals for Fiji with contributions from Karan’s performances. The integration of the Polynesian championships into the NZ meet provided a higher-profile stage for Pacific athletes to measure themselves against a stronger field while contesting regional honours.
He was not alone in representing Fiji well. Sprinter Sera Nasilivata finished second in the women’s 100m at the same meeting, posting a time of 12.49 seconds, while Ratu Penaia Ramasirai placed second in the Polynesian Championships division, recording 11.00 seconds in his sprint. Those podium finishes add depth to Fiji’s showing and signal growing competitiveness among the country’s sprint and middle-distance ranks.
With the Commonwealth Games standard now in hand and momentum from podium placings, Karan and his team will turn their attention to the Oceania Athletics Championships in May in Darwin, Australia. The Darwin meet represents the next major objective in the Pacific calendar and will serve as another opportunity for Karan, Nasilivata and Ramasirai to solidify their international credentials ahead of larger multi-sport events.
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