Fiji jav thrower does very well at World Juniors

Fiji javelin thrower does very well at World Juniors
Leslie Copeland was at the 11th IAAF World Junior Athletics Championship in Beijing, China this past week. He finished in 7th place in the Javelin throw final last night with a throw of 73.13 metres. A terrific result for an eighteen year old young guy from the USP. When at Marist Brothers High School he showed great promise and already he has been at three international meets such as to Morocco. Fiji’s national javelin champ, James Goulding, was at the meet also as a coach.

The photo here shows his mother Tavenisa helping him pack his gear. Sports World equipped him with sporting gear and uniforms, which cost just over $1000. A training camp with other Oceania-based athletes prior to the competition helped the athletes to prepare.

Seventy-three metres is a great throw for a junior! Certainly beats winning in any choir competition!
W.


Fiji's javelin throwers are amongst the best in the region and have represented the country at the South Pacific, Commonwealth and Olympic Games. Luke Tubuna won Fiji's first javelin medal, a silver, at the 1950 Empire Games with fellow sportsman, Mataika Tuicakau winning gold in the Shot Put and bronze in the Discus.