Navula Sisters Shine
Athletics is a family sport for the Navula siblings of Vunamoli, Nadi.
Yesterday, sisters Kinisalote and Filomena Navula won four gold medals for the Lagakali House in the senior and sub-junior girls 100 and 200 metres respectively during the Adi Cakobau School interhouse competition at the ANZ Stadium, Suva.
The ACS sprinters are members of the Nadi Jets athletics club, coached by their mother Ilisapeci Navula.
Blue ribbon prospect Year 12 Kinisalote indicated she would take each event one at a time.
She acknowledged the support of their parents and members of the Lagakali House.
She had the third best time in the 100m heat but improved in the final with a time of 13.63seconds.
This will be her second Coca-Cola Games after it was cancelled for the last two years due to COVID-19.
Kinisalote first won gold in the 2019 Coca-Cola Games in the junior girl’s long jump with a leap of 4.95metres.
“With the faith that I have, I just ran through it and gave it my all,” she said of her 100m win.
“Well, I did not lose hope, I knew God was testing my faith. With faith you can move mountains.
“I won’t get ahead of myself, just taking it step by step. Slow and steady. It’s going to be a tough process. Right I am going to trust on God, I have my target but he has the final say.
The duo have been running competitively since they were nine and represented Nadi almost every year at the Chow Games during their primary school days.
They attended Nadi Airport School for their primary school education.
“Athletics is the most loved sport in my family,” she said.
“With my mum being head coach, she expects a lot from us. Nadi has been always in my heart since I hail from there and grew up there too.
“I never knew God will take me out of Nadi and place me in Sawani.
Their mother Ilisapeci said: “During Filomena’s first outing she won bronze and silver medals in the under-nine grade and after that she started winning gold.
“Kinisalote is a jumper too. She won gold in 2019; and due to injuries she did not do well on the tracks that year.
“My children participate in rugby, athletics, netball and swimming.”
The next stop for the Navula sisters is the Triple N Zone before the Coca-Cola Games on August 4-6.
Lagakali won the ACS interhouse with 20 gold, 8 silvers, 11 bronze, Uci second with 11 gold, 15 silvers, 15 bronze, Mokosoi third with 11 gold, 11 silvers, 10 bronze and Kakala won 9 gold, 20 silvers, 12 bronze.