FIJI'S athletes training in the US have set new national records in the women's and men's triple jump events earlier this month in Los Angeles, California.
On April 14th, former Yat Sen Secondary School student Milika Tuivanuavou set a new record with a jump of 12.27 metres. A week later, on April 20th, Eugene Vollmer took a long stride towards his aim to qualify for the London Olympics after toppling the men's triple jump record.
The former Marist Brothers High School (MBHS) student set a new record of 15.81m, a metre short of Olympic Standard of 16.85m.
Former Fiji Finals high jump gold medallist, Jone Kalouniviti said both athletes were impressive on and off the field.
Kalouniviti said Vollmer and Tuivanuavou were the captains of their Fresno Pacific University teams.
He added they continue to do well in the classroom and was on track to graduate on time, one year from now in May of 2013. "Milika Tuivanuavou has had an incredible season. The multi-dimensional Tuivanuavou broke the Fiji national record in the shot put earlier this season and now owns the national record in the triple jump after learning the event only one year ago," Kalouniviti, the former MBHS student, said.
"She has only triple jumped in nine competitions, which indicates that she will jump a great deal farther in the near future.
"Her goal for this current season is 13m and the coaches and officials who have seen her jump all agree that the mark is easily within reach."
Kalouniviti said Vollmer had made an impressive recovery, overcoming an early season injury and was jumping quite well.
"Like Tuivanuavou, Vollmer has another record in his sights. The Fijian leaper is closing in on the national record in the long jump," he said. "He is already the most dominating horizontal jumper in Fiji history, and Vollmer is feeling the best he has felt in over a year.
"US coaches and officials believe that the Olympic Standard of 16.85 meters is within his reach."
Vollmer and Tuivanuavou now set their sights on the NAIA National Championships at the end of May, in Marion, Indiana, USA.