Caption: Banuve in this file picture. Photo: FIJI TIMES.
By SATISH NARAIN of Digicel
Friday 6 September – Pacific sprint king, BanuveTabakaucoro collected two gold medals today to finish with a total of three gold and two individual records at the Pacific Mini Games in Wallis and Futuna.
Tabakaucoro smashed his own 200metres record to win his second gold medal and then he was the third lap runner and helped Team Fiji’s 4x400metres relay team to victory for his third gold of the games.
The Bau man set a new record of 21.13seconds which was five-hundredths of a second better than his previous Pacific record set in Noumea, New Caledonia in 2011.
He could have collected another gold medal as he anchored the winning 4x100metres relay team but they were disqualified because of a technicality.
Earlier on Wednesday, Tabakaucoro smashed an 18-year old 100metres Pacific record when he ran 10.33seconds to win gold and eclipse Jone Delai’s record of 10.34seconds which stood from the 1995 Tahiti games.
Digicel Fiji’s chief executive office, Maurice McCarthy was overwhelmed after learning about Tabakaucoro’s golden and record-breaking run in Wallis and Futuna.
“Fantastic, We at Digicel Fiji are extremely happy for what Banuve has achieved at the Mini Games. We are proud to support the Pacific ‘sprint king’,” added McCarthy.
Digicel Fiji’s brand ambassador, Tabakaucoro arrives home on Monday afternoon with the first batch of athletes returning from the Wallis and Futuna games.
“Digicel Fiji is already working on putting up a big welcome party at the Nadi Airport and we will show our gracious support and host him to a grand welcome home ceremony for the golden boy in Suva next week,” said McCarthy.
A special welcome party is being organized by Digicel Fiji where family, friends and Athletics supporters will gather at Nadi Airport to welcome home the triple gold medalist.
The sprint champion’s major sponsor is also planning to host the star athlete on Tuesday at their main office at Kadavu House where they’ll reward him for his achievement in Wallis and Futuna.
Tabakaucoro arrives in Nadi at 3pm on an AirCalin flight on Monday.
Ends.