FORMER South Pacific sprint king Banuve Tabakaucoro is making his return to athletics to participate in the 2019 Pacific Games in Samoa.
The ‘Bau bullet’ returns after two years.
He switched to rugby after the 2015 Pacific Games in Papua New Guinea. Tabakaucoro was also part of the Fiji Airways Fiji 7s extended squad last year and a member of the Fiji 7s team that scooped silver medal in the 2017 Pacific Mini Games in Vanuatu. He believes he still has the pace to burn any athletics track after the two-year lay-off.
“I don’t think it will be a difficult task to regain my title again. It’s just a matter of staying healthy and training harder,” Tabakaucoro said.
“For now, my focus will be the 100 metres and if my coach wants me to try 200m, then I will, but I am trying to improve my time on the 100 metres.
“I am aiming to be part of the Pacific Games next year with the trials happening next month.
“I have won the 100 metres title before and I know I can reclaim it. I don’t have any injury and I am ready to get back on the tracks and claim back what is mine.”
Tabakaucoro’s last participation in athletics was in 2015, when he won the 100m and 200m in the PNG Pacific Games and the 100 and 4x100m relay in the Oceania Championship in Australia.
