Athletics

Banuve aspires to make it to Olympics

July 17, 2019 12:15 pm

Banuve Tabakaucoro hopes to make it to the Olympic Games next year in Tokyo, Japan.

After setting a new Pacific Games record last night at Apia Park in Samoa, Tabakaucoro says he’s happy with his time.

Tabakaucoro clocked 10.31 seconds – breaking his 10.33 seconds record.

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This is the 3rd time he has won the Pacific Games Blue Ribbon event following his victories in New Caledonia in 2011 and Papua New Guinea 4 years ago and Tabakaucoro says he can better his time but he needs to run against the likes of Samoan sprinters Jeremy Dodson and Kelvin Masoe.

“Yes, right now we look very good, I didn’t expect to be here right now especially running those times, as long as I keep running with Jeremy and Kelvin, those times are going to keep dropping.”

Tabakaucoro’s coach Bola Tafoou says the ‘Bau Bullet’ is definitely back after two years away from athletics.

With the times Banuve was running during training he was already clocking times that are almost close to when he ran the 10.2, So today’s race he was so powerful in that first 30 meters that was the whole race plan that was to beat Dodson we have got to run away from him, and what he showed in the last 60 was just something else and he’s back.

Meanwhile, another success story has come out of Team Fiji Athletics following last night’s Pacific Games Men’s 100 meters final with Tony Lemeki recording a personal best time of 10.65 seconds which he says is beyond his expectations.

“This is my first Pacific Games, I came here with an old PB (Personal Best) of 10.9, my goal was to in every race was to run a personal best in all my races and that’s what I had achieved, I ran my heats, 10.8, I ran the semi’s at a faster time low 10.8, and then a 10.65 in the final I am really grateful and thankful for that and I’d like to thank all those who supported me.”

Tabakaucoro and Lemeki will team up again in the 4×100 meters relay.