Fiji has high hopes with Sotutu
p. 30 · Read in the full issue
From SUE WENDT, in Suva They’re calling slightly-built Usaia Sotutu “The Flying Buan” in Fiji these days.
Superlatives come thick and fast when the experts describe his long distance feats of speed—particularly his win during the first Fiji trial in February for the South Pacific Games marathon.
After seeing Sotutu cover the 11.65 miles from Nausori Bridge to Buckhurst Park, Suva, in just one hour, four minutes and 6.5 seconds, track coach Mike D’Ath declared it to be the greatest display of long distance running yet seen in the South Pacific.
Second in the trial was Vuto, another strong Games hope for Fiji.
He finished only 2.41 minutes behind Sotutu, having dogged his footsteps by a yard or so for the first nine miles.
High praise went to all eight finishers, especially the first five, Sotutu, Vuto, Levula (third in one hour, nine minutes, 34.5 sec.), Raciri (fourth in one hour, 11 minutes, 25.5 sec.) and 18-year-old Solomon Islander Cecil Ono (fifth in one hour, 12 minutes, nine sec.).
According to Mike D’Ath, both Sotutu and Vuto are definite Games-beaters—and potential world-beaters.
The distance covered during the first trial is nearly half the distance to be run in the Games marathon. In this event at least, Fiji has high expectations.