A total of 41 gold medals are at stake on the opening day of the 2008 Coca-Cola Light Games at the National Sports Stadium today.
21 gold medals will come from the field events with 9 in the girl’s division and 12 in the boy’s category.
Another 20 gold medals are up for grabs on the tracks with 9 gold in the girl’s division while 11 gold medals will be available in the boy’s grade.
Looking at the front runners for the boy’s title this year, Marist, barring any upsets, looks good to repeat its past year’s performance by finishing in first place after day 1 of the competition.
The boys from Flagstaff are eyeing a total of 9 gold medals today with 8 gold from the field while the only hope on the tracks will be in the Blue Ribbon event at about 6:30 tonight where former Laucala Bay Secondary School sprinter Iowane Dovumatua will be out to defend his title.
Dovumatua's best time in the 100 metres is 10.5 seconds. The games record, which was set by QVS sprinter Viliame Nasuku in 1993, stands at 10.74 seconds. Dovumatua wants to break the 15 year old record tonight and also take the blue ribbon title to Marist, a title which they last won in 1995.
But it won't be easy for Dovumatua as Natabua's Alfred Smith, whose best time on the grass track is 10.8 seconds, said it is anyones race tonight.
Queen Victoria School sprinter Setareki Tikosaya is another threat to Dovumatua but there could be some surprises as Ravinesh Singh from MGM High School is also looking at creating a major upset in the senior boy’s 100 metres final.
Singh took the gold in the Suva Zone One meet and his best time is 10.5 seconds.
The Red Fire camp does not have any athlete in the sub-junior grade long jump and high jump while the senior grade javelin where team captain John Wojick will face last year's champion Josefa Levula of Lelean, Kini Murimurivalu of QVS and last year’s intermediate champion Viliame Tuivunilagi of Navatu Junior Secondary School from Cakaudrove.
The other field events where the Marist team is not confident of winning will be the senior long jump where Sailosi Vatubua will take on last year’s champion Kini Murimurivalu of QVS and Alfred Smith of Natabua.
Last year's defending champion in the boy’s division Suva Grammar is eyeing 5 gold medals today with another close call expected in the 400 metres intermediate grade where Eroni Cagi who is making his first appearance in the grade will face Natabua's Isoa Me who will be out to make amends following his defeat last year.
In the girl’s division, defending champion ACS will face stiff competition from Suva Grammar and Navosa Central College who are not fielding any athletes in the senior grade.
The first event of the day starts straight after the official opening at 8.15am today in the intermediate boy’s javelin while on the tracks it will be the 1,500 metres open girls event.
The 100 metres heats begin at 10:25 this morning. The 400 metres heats commence at 12:18pm while the 200 metres heats kick off at 10 minutes past two this afternoon.
The finals of the 100 metres will start at 6pm in the sub junior grades while the Blue Ribbon event is scheduled for 6.24pm.
Day 1 is expected to finish at 7pm following the 400 metres senior boy’s event. Stay with us for continuous coverage.
Marist aim for 9 gold on Day 1
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