LAGAUA Isac will have his name written down in the history books of Niue.
The 19-year-old won the first medal in the athletics event for the country during the 100 metres dash at the BCI Stadium on Wednesday.
Isac was thrilled to win the bronze medal in a time of 10.75 seconds behind the Fijian duo during the 2009 Pacific Mini Games.
Clearly exhausted by his toil after the event and perhaps stunned by the achievement, Isac was more relieved than elated as he received Niue’s first-ever athletics medal.
“I’m just too happy about the achievement. This was my first Mini Games and I’m really satisfied with the outcome,” he said.
“The race was really good and I have to do a lot of training to maintain my pace. I gathered heaps of confidence in this race and hope to improve in upcoming meets.”
Athletics is something that runs in his blood and Isac believes that it is through his father’s inspiration he has been able to achieve this feat.
“My dad used to be an athlete during his time back in the island and I think I got this trait from him.”
Born and bred in Auckland, New Zealand, Isac seriously started running back in 2007. He represented Niue in Pacific Games in Samoa but bombed out in the preliminary rounds.
However, this failed to dampen the sports and recreational science student from Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT) to achieve Niue’s first medal.
“I was really inexperienced that time, as that was my first regional event, but I didn’t get discouraged by my results. I trained hard for this day and finally I got what I have been aiming for.”
Isac also took part in the under 19 New Zealand championship earlier this year in which he won the gold in the 100m sprint. He set his personal best time of 10.74s in this competition.
Prior to the PMG, he represented Niue to the Oceania Regional Championship where he scooped three medals in track events.
Isac now has set his eyes on dethroning reigning blue ribbon champ Niko Verekauata.
“My only aim now is to win gold in the 100m event and I know for that I have to train really hard. I will try and achieve this goal by next year.”
Isac will compete in the 4x100m and 4x400m relay tomorrow. - RK
Last Modified on 26/09/2009 05:26