Success at Oceana

Scarlett Southern is proudly sporting a bronze medal from her performance at the 2024 Oceana Athletics Championships held in Suva, Fiji, from June 1 to 8.

Despite the humidity, unknown teammates, the excitement of her first overseas trip, a new country and culture, and being unwell the week prior, the 17-year-old from Cohuna placed sixth in the Under 18 400m final and the Under 18 800m final, and third in the team 4 x 400m relay.

Scarlett found out she had been selected to compete in the 400m and 800m events with the Regional Australian Team (RAT) just seven weeks prior to competition, and a week out from Nationals. Between Nationals and Oceana, she mixed rest time with endurance and speed work, but a week out, was unwell and was forced to take it easy. 

“I’m going overseas, I’m competing for Regional Australia – it’s pretty cool in itself,” she said of how she felt in the lead up to leaving. “Being sick, I hoped it wouldn’t affect me too much, but in the back of my mind, I probably knew that I was wasn’t getting any PBs after I got that cold. But I’ll just give it my best shot and see how I go. I was a bit nervous about not knowing anyone, but everyone’s kind of in the same boat.”

Scarlett’s three training sessions before competition were an eye opener to competing in heat and humidity, draining her and leaving her body feeling heavy, and the three meals each day of chicken and rice weren’t helping either. Her coach back home assured her it would take a few days to adjust, and it did. 

Her 400m heat was held early Wednesday afternoon and despite the humidity, she was happy with her time of 58.83 and fourth placing, earning a spot in the final. The hotel pool provided welcome relief for recovery and relaxation. 

The next day, she ran 58.87 and sixth place in the final. “I ran the 400 final at 5pm and it had cooled off quite a bit, but I hadn’t recovered from the day before – all the humidity, the change in climate, the food and everything – my body just wasn’t right. I went into the final feeling quite sore and heavy and quite drained, so it was annoying, but sixth overall in the final is nothing to be sad about.”

Having recovered from her 400m, albeit a little sore, Scarlett’s next event on Friday afternoon was the 800m final (no heats), running a time of 2:21.86.

She recounts what was going through her mind. “I got around in the first 400 and I was actually really tired. And then, the next 200 I thought I’ll hang and see how I go, and then the last 200, I was oh well, I’m here now, I may as well just try. I sprinted down the straight. I was in ninth position coming into the last hundred metres and then I ended up coming out sixth, so that was good.”

The night was not over, as Scarlett had been selected for the Under 18 mixed 4 x 400m relay final scheduled an hour later. The team finished third in a time of 3:47.17, thanks to Scarlett’s push as second runner.

“The night before the 800, I found out that I’d been put in the mixed four by four relay. So, I had to run that an hour after the 800. I was feeling so sick after 800 because I’d put in my best effort. We ran the four by four, and we got third. 

“At the start of the race, we had a 3km runner lead us out. As he was passing the baton to me, I think we were in last position. And then I thought, we’ll see how we go, so I started running and I ended up getting us up to third by the time I switched over, and then everyone else held that position and we ended up getting a medal, which is good.

“It’s pretty exciting, everyone’s proud of me and I’m pretty proud. I didn’t think I would go over there and bring that back.”

While winning a bronze medal was a highlight on the track, off the track, it was the opening ceremony. Just like Olympic and Commonwealth Games opening ceremonies, each team was introduced as they walked down the straight dressed in team uniform behind their flag bearer, then sat on the grass to watch the cultural performances and entertainment. Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka officially opened the Championships. 

Scarlett said another highlight was the organised games with Fijian school children and the involvement of the friendly and welcoming local community.

There was little opportunity for site seeing, limited to nearby markets and some time with her parents who had also made the trip, and she enjoyed spending time with her new teammates.

Scarlett will now focus on her Year 12 studies and return to her full training regime when the new athletics season starts up.