FORMER South Pacific Games track king Jone Delai, who turns 40 today, is confident of reclaiming his title in today's final after clocking the fastest time of 10.62s in the men's 100m in Apia yesterday.
"Tomorrow (today) will be my birthday and it'll have a double celebration when I win the gold," he said.
"Many may think that I should concentrate on coaching but I feel I still have a lot to offer for my country.
"And while I'm still strong enough to run, I'll keep on going because age is no barrier," he said.
He said preparations have not been all smooth sailing after he recently recovered from a hamstring. "Preparation hasn't been easy because apart from my own training I had to coach athletes as well but I'm confident to make a strong comeback," he said.
"I had suffered a hamstring a while back but Gaby (Qoro) kept pushing me to make a comeback," he said.
Delai and Fiji's sprint queen Makelesi Bulikiobo are tipped to increase Fiji's medal tally today.
Coke Light Games star Iowane Dovumatua and Papua New Guinea's Wally Kirika have the second best time of 10.78s while Fiji's Jone Mudu was disqualified from the 100m event after a false start.
Long distance runner Isireli Naikelekelevesi finished third in a time of 1minute 58.30s in the 800m heats yesterday.
Naikelekelevesi came second to Vanuatu's Arnold Sorina who ran a time of 1minute 58.24s to take first place.
Third place was Douglas Bale in a time of 1minute 58.80s of Solomon Islands.
Fiji still stands at fifth position behind New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Tahiti with 17 gold, 26 silvers and 26 bronze medals.
Team Fiji deputy chef de mission, Chris Yee said Fiji's made a slow progress but the momentum is expected to pick up today.
"Akesa's (Drotini) win may have been unexpected but the little girl has surely boosted the Team Fiji camp and athletics are hyped up to take on their individual events," he said.
Fiji's lone silver came from the women's Outrigger2500 V6 team while there was no bronze medal yesterday.