From Fiji Times Online (15 November 2015)

Rotuma athletes prepare for Chow Games

by Shalveen Chand

ROTUMA is here. Eighteen primary school children between the ages of 10 and 14 will carry the pride of the island at the FMF Chow Games this year in Suva.

The students and their coaches arrived last week and used Shop n Save Athletics Fiji's weekly competition yesterday to give the young athletes a feel of the tracks.

And for 15 of these children, this is their first trip to the Capital City.

Coach David Pierri said it was Rotuma's first time at the national championship.

"This is Rotuma's third trip to Suva but first time to the national championship. The last two times we competed in the Suva Zone," he said.

"We are pretty strong in the field events and may even pull off a surprise on the tracks.

"This time we ensured we arrived early. There is only one boat to the island every month so we had to be sure we arrived in Suva and have enough time to train.

"Last year, we arrived on the eve of the competition. That was not very good for our athletes."

Pierri said the team was camping at the Churchward Chapel in Flagstaff in Suva.

"We fundraised about $10,000 to ensure the squad had a good outing as our stay would be long because of the boat," he said.

"We are also happy with the support from the Rotuman community in Suva."

The FMF Chow Games would be held on November 20 and 21.