Hamiso on track for big things
Pride young gun blitzes field at Barlow Park opening with raw speed
ONE of Australia’s fastest sprinters is pushing for a place in the Northern Pride under-18s – he just never knew it.
Off a standing start where his rivals came off the blocks, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow blitzed his first 100m on a track at the opening of the new Barlow Park precinct on Saturday, clocking in at a brisk 11.04 seconds in an exciting finish.
But for those who know him, the effort is no surprise.
Tabuai-Fidow was a star of Brisbane’s GPS rugby competition at Brisbane Grammar School last season, leaving crowds awe-struck at his raw speed and skill.
The performances earned the Cairns Kangaroos junior a spot in the Queensland under-16 rugby union team but then the Cowboys offered him a deal, bringing him closer to family in the Far North.
Tabuai-Fidow’s pace will no doubt be an asset to Pride’s Mal Meninga Cup tilt in 2018.
In fact, compared to the relevant athletics titles last season, the speedster would have done enough to win the under-16 100m at the Queensland Athletics Championships and the Australian All Schools Championships in 2017.
But Tabuai-Fidow put it all down to the high-performance coaches at the Pride for finding that extra yard that could net him a try haul this season.
“It has been good, we’ve been working hard,” he said.
“It’s not my sport, sprinting, but it felt good. It was a good race.”
A false start at the first attempt was his only trouble.
“The second time I was a bit off, had to pick it up quick and there was some fast boys either side of me,” he said.
“At the last 20m I looked inside me and there was a guy in the first lane but I got in front of him, just.”
The Pride’s Brandon Jackonia finished second while Zephaniah Martin was third.