Tavua native Yeshnil Karan clocked a new personal best in the 1500m, starting off a round of improved performances by the Athletics Fiji team over the weekend, putting them on sound footing ahead of the 2022 Oceania Championship which starts tomorrow.
Karan improved by nine seconds from his previous best in clocking 3 minutes 58.41 seconds, to finish in third place in the 1500m, behind two New Zealanders, at the Pre-Oceania Championships Meet at Mackay last Saturday, 4 June.
This performance qualified him for the Commonwealth Games, and also sees him slot in as 7th on Fiji’s all-time Ranking List over the distance, Athletics Fiji said.
“While he was in Fiji, with limited facilities in Tavua, Yeshnil’s training was focussed more on running volume. Since his arrival in Brisbane for a 3-month campaign, Yeshnil’s training program has been progressively changed to take a more balanced approach.
“Over the past 10 weeks, his running volume was reduced and more emphasis was given to strengthening, conditioning, active recovery, flexibility, and technique work. This variation has already shown very positive results in the early phase of his preparations for the Commonwealth Games.”
Karan will be running in the 1500m tomorrow and 5000m on Thursday at the Oceania Championships.
Upcoming long jumper and 18-year-old Waisale Inoke jumped a new personal best of 6.87m in the open men’s long jump competition, claiming first place ahead of 26-year-old Max Attwell of New Zealand who managed a jump of 6.71m.
Nakorosule, Naitasiri hillsman and former Grammar student Ratu Meli Ramukalou finished second in the 400m race and was the best of Fiji’s 400m runners with a good time of 50.26 secs. Former St John Cawaci student, Nikola Raique was close behind with 50.46 secs, coming third in the race. 2018 Commonwealth Games rep Kameli Sauduadua who is regaining his form, was third with a time of 52.06 secs.
In a late start in the final of the men’s 100m, Banuve Tabakaucoro played catch up for the most part of his race. Nevertheless, he still clocked a season’s best and Commonwealth Games qualifying time of 10.65s.
Tabakaucoro will be running both the 100m and the 200m at the Oceania Championships starting tomorrow. Fiji-based Byrce Chou from Taiwan, running in Fiji colours came second in his Section, clocking a time of 11.03 secs.
In the Women’s 400m event, 14-year-old Davuilevu Methodist High School student Torika Radovu finished fourth with a credible time of 62.27 seconds.
Her Waidracia, Naitasiri colleague, 17-year-old Vilimaina Naituku, started strongly chasing a quality New Zealand athlete but faded in the latter part of the race and finished her 1500m with a time of 5:43.19.
Fourteen-year-old Gold Coast-based student Ezekiel Singh clocked 27.56 seconds in the 200m, as part of his preparation for the 400m and the 800m at the Oceania Championships.
Photo: Athletics Fiji
