Heats in the Morning
16 FINALISTS, 12 PERSONAL BESTS AND 1 OPEN NATIONAL RECORD
Sixteen members of the Fiji team made finals.
The 15-16 200m freestyle was broken in a record time of 2:12:06 by Rosemarie Rova.
Twelve personal bests were achieved.
Amazing swims by the team , Rosemarie with her record time, Mosese Bobi, James Kado and Calum Lobendahn shaving over 4 seconds. Netani Ross achieving his personal best in the 100m back and Damien Kitione in his 50m fly.
Team Captains Herbert Rabua and Cheyenne Rova making finals and Tevita Forofili and Hefu Erasito, Yolani Blake, Moana Wind, Rokowati Mara, Ella Rasau, Jodie Ann Puamau, Kalen Eyre.
Due to some technical glitch on the first morning, Hansel McCaig was requested to re-swim his 50 fly on his own because his time did not register.
Showing pure determination, he swam it with the whole crowed at the aquatic center cheering him on. He clocked a much faster time upon completing the re-swim. this got him to qualify for the B finals.
Finals in the Evening
ROVA AND VAKASAMA IMPRESS WHILE TEAM FIJI WINS FINISHES OFF DAY 1 WITH 6 ISLAND MEDALS AND 2 OCEANIA MEDALS
Two Oceania medals were won by Cheyenne Rova (Bronze in the 100m backstroke) and Taichi Vakasama( Silver in the 200m breaststroke).
Rosemarie, Moana, Tevita Fotofili, Hefu Erasito and Herbert Rabua managed to come away with 6 Island medals. Island medals are for the Island nations (Excluding Australia and New Zealand) who gets placing after the Oceania medals are given. Certain times must be achieved to qualify for Island medals.
With our two Oceania medal recipients, Cheyenne fought hard in the water to win the bronze for Fiji. It was a close race with the first 50m being hard to determine who would win the race. The second 50 was where she managed to pull away and set herself in 3rd place position.
Taichi on the other hand showed why he was a force to be reckoned with amongst the top guns like Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii. He turned a lot of heads today with his gutsy performance and is ready to step up to another level come day 2.
The performance today (yesterday, 26/06/2018) has set a platform for our swimmers with 3 more days of competition to go. Every swimmer in the Fiji camp are optimistic that come day 2, they will lift their performance to another level.
Click here for day 1 full results.
Story by: Lucy Erasito, Fiji Swimming (26/06/2018)