Nadi Airport School and Marist Brothers High School – Fiji have come out victorious to claim this years Fiji National Schools’ Swimming Championships.
The Suva Olympic Pool was abuzz with parents, friends and supporters from all over Fiji who cheered on the swimmers and kept the atmosphere alive throughout the 2-day meet. Nadi Airport School was announced the overall lower division winner after they bagged 17 gold, 20 silver and 11 bronze medals bringing the total to 48 medals.
Mount St. Mary’s Primary School took out the men’s lower division category with 21 medals while Nadi Airport School dominated the women’s lower division with 27 medals.
The Flagstaff-based MBHS were the overall higher division winners with 25 gold, 14 silver and 8 bronze medals totaling 47 medals. They edged Swami Vivekananda College, Nadi, Fiji which had 22 gold, 30 silver and 28 bronze medals with an overall total of 80 medals.
International School Suva came in third place winning 11 gold, 5 silver and 1 bronze with bringing their tally to 17 medals.
Overall during the 2-day competition a total of 7 new swimming records were set. They are;
Day 1
- Matelita Naisara clocked 2:54.45 in the Female 13-14 200 Back beating Geradyne Lanyon’s 3year record of 3:09.29.
- Thaddeus Kwong broke Temafa Yalimaiwai’s 8year record of 34.20 in the Male 12-12 50 Back with a time of 33.44.
- Reuben Taylor clocked 2:26.02 in the Male 13-14 200 Free to beat David Young’s record of 2:26.19 which was set in 2018, and
- Kelera Mudunasoko who set a new record of 1:17.70 in the Female 14-14 100 Breast beating Moana Wind’s record of 1:19.08 which was set in 2016.
Day 2
- Theola Kwong clocked 1:22.42 in the Female 14-14 100 Back beating Anarosa Lavekau’s 7year record time of 1:22.53.
- Thaddeus Kwong broke Hansel McCaig’s 2016 record of 1:18.32 in the Male 12-12 100 Back with a time of 1:15.46, and
- Kelera Mudunasoko who again set a new record of 2:51.66 in the Female 13-14 200 Breast beating Moana Wind’s record of 2:55.45 which was set in 2016.
Meet Director Patrick Bower acknowledged all the officials who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to stage a remarkable National swimming meet.
He also thanked Suva City Council for cooperating with the organizers.
Finally, he made special mention of the major sponsors SUN Insurance, Pacific Energy, Fiji Swimming and media partner The Fiji Times.
Without the backing of the sponsors the National event would not have been possible.
“We’ve had a wonderful 2 days of swimming. It’s not always about swimming, it’s about those who participate and where do they go on from here,” said Mr Bower.
“The competition was well planned. I hope we’ve given the swimmers an opportunity to build into their lives and instill strict discipline and adherence to the laws of the competition.”
400 swimmers from 40 schools around Fiji participated in the competition with 66 officials.
All events were livestreamed, photographed and updated on the National Schools’ Swimming Association Fiji by the JIOJI Productions team.
Story by: Jioji Productions (03/07/2022)