14-year-old, Arieta Mere of Tailevu North College had to overcome her fears of hearing the starting gun to win the 1,500-metre Sub-junior girls at the Coca-Cola Tailevu Zone.
She says her friends would laugh at her whenever she was startled at the start of her races during their school competition.
Mere says she used to run in the 400 and 800 metres, but her teachers had asked her if she can participate in the 1,500 metres.
She adds that she did not think she would win gold in the 1,500 metres.
The Tailevu North College student is thankful to her teachers and trainers for supporting her.
Meanwhile, Tailevu North College leads the girls medal tally with 5 gold, 5 silver and 3 bronze, while Naiyala High School is in second place with 3 gold medals and Dawasamu Secondary is in third place with 2 gold medals.
In the boys' division, RKS leads with 5 gold, 5 silver and 4 bronze medals while Queen Victoria School is in second place with 3 gold, 4 silver and 5 bronze medals.
Aminiasi Tavailagi of RKS broke the sub junior boys long jump record with a new distance of 6.18 metres, breaking the old record of 5.43 metres set in 2014.
Mateo Vasuyawa of Wainibuka Secondary School won gold in the Intermediate Boys 1,500 metres, Waisale Tagivetaua of QVS won gold in the Junior boys 1,500 metres, Evueli Toia of Saint Vincent's High School won gold in the Senior boys 1,500 metres, Salaseini Vavatabua of Naiyala High School won the Junior girls 1,500 metres while Vani Lewatu of Tailevu North won the Senior girls 1,500 metres.
The competition continues today at the ANZ Stadium
