A STRONG contingent of 55 Jasper Williams High School’s brigade will carry its hope in the Lautoka / Yasawa zone meet.
“We believe that those 55 chosen ones will bring us the title – be it either a gold or silver; 100 per cent we will defend our title at the zone meet,” said school principal Vinita Kumar.
“Basically we are giving opportunities to all our girls for their holistic development because there are quite a number of girls who possess athletics skills in them so we do not want to deprive them.”
She added the inter-house competition was an understudy for the students to adequately prepare them for the upcoming Lautoka/ Yasawa zone meet.
“We are positive that we will maintain our last year’s title as we came third in the Coke Games. Nevertheless my hardworking teachers and the elite squad is basically doing their 100 per cent to go to level one and get our old title of national champions in the girls division,” said the Lautoka-born and bred woman.
She said there were not any specific training programs offered to the elite athletics squad members during the school holidays. “We want to keep a low profile,” she said.
The competitive inter-house meet unveiled some new talents and records tumbled during the one day meet.
“A lot of records have been broken this year during the inter-house competition,” added the principal, who is in her second year at the all-girls school.
She said on the number of school students who took part in the inter-house meet it was about participation to hunt for the hidden talents.
“We encourage maximum participation, maximum number of girls participated to just get a feel of what competing at the annual inter-house meet is all about.”
Topaz house dethroned the defending champions Jade house scooping 16 gold, 11 silver and eight bronze medals at Churchill Park in Lautoka on Friday.
The best athlete award recipient was Kinisimere Bote of Topaz house who won gold each in the 800m, 1500m and was a key member of their 4x400m relay team.
The Lautoka-based boarding school finished third in the Coca-Cola Games last year in the girls division with a total of 23 medals – five gold, 10 silver and eight bronze medals.
Natabua High School is the defending boys division champions whilst Jasper is the reigning champions in the girls division at the Lautoka/ Yasawa zone scheduled to take place early next month at Churchill Park in Lautoka.
Full results: Topaz house – 16 gold, 11 silver and eight bronze Sapphire House- 11 gold, 14 silver and 14 bronze Pearl House – 11 gold, seven silver and nine bronze Jade House – five gold, five silver and eight bronze Ruby House – four gold, nine silver and five bronze
