With nothing but grit, determination, and bare feet, 17-year-old Anaseini Tinai from Wailotua Village stood tall on Day One of the Tailevu Zone competition proving that heart matters more than gear.

“I was supposed to run the 400 metres, but last minute they told me to do the 100m and 200m instead,” the Naiyala Secondary School student said.

“I never dreamt of running these events, but I’m here now doing my best.”

Tinai arrived at the HFC Bank Stadium, Suva, yesterday all the way from Wainibuka, running without shoes, a symbol of the challenges many rural athletes face.

Despite limited access to proper sporting gear, she’s been training daily since February 29, immediately after the school’s inter-house meet.

“We’ve been training every day after classes. It hasn’t been easy. We don’t have proper running shoes or equipment, but we kept pushing.”

For Tinai and her teammates, the journey to the competition venue was long and tiring, but she says it was all worth it.

Physically and mentally prepared for the two-day meet, Tinai is laser-focused on one goal to win something before going home.

“I want to give back to my school for helping me come this far.”

The competition continues today.

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