ZUBAIR Dean put aside last year's disappointment to win the intermediate boys 1500 metres event at the Fiji Finals yesterday with a time of 4.14.64 minutes.
The Marist Brothers' High School student was running for Suva Muslim College last year but fell sick during the day of the finals causing below par performance.
"I had chicken pox, I was sick but I chose to run.
"I was second in the race despite my sickness but in the last 100m, I was pushed from behind and fell and lost the race," Dean said.
The 17-year old said he came to this year's event not with gold on his mind but the opportunity to better his personal best time.
"The gold medal is just a bonus for me. I was here with the intention to better my personal performance and I think I did more than that. For the win I would like to thank my family, my brothers Sanjan and Rajan, my dad Sheik Dean who is my coach and my trainer Malcolm Williams," Dean said.
Dean says he has set his sight on the 3000m intermediate boys event hoping to beat his personal best timing.
Meanwhile, Ba Sanatan College student Vinish Pillay was placed second with a time of 4.20.71 minutes while Peagasus Woodley of Natabua High School settled for bronze medal with a time of 4.20.75 minutes.