CHIJ (Toa Payoh) break 4x800m C Division girls record in SPH Schools Relay Championships

Story by REDintern Alethia Tiang. Pictures by Koh Yizhe/Red Sports

SPH School Relay 2009

One of the relay runners from the championship-winning CHIJ (Toa Payoh) 4x800m relay team. (Photo 1 © Koh Yizhe/Red Sports)

Bukit Gombak Stadium, Sunday, March 29, 2009 – The C Division girls from CHIJ (Toa Payoh) Secondary School broke the 4x800m record with a time of 10 minutes 39.50 seconds, 4 seconds faster than the 2006 record set in 2006 by the Singapore Sports School team. Behind them was the team from Crescent Girls’ Secondary School, finishing almost half a minute after them.

From the moment the starting gun went off CHIJ (Toa Payoh) lead the way in the first round with Crescent Girls’ trying to keep up with them. However, it wasn’t easy for Crescent Girls’ as by the third runner, CHIJ (Toa Payoh) were 100m ahead, as each runner was stronger than the last one. CHIJ (Toa Payoh) reserving their best runner for last to cross the line with ease, knowing the record was theirs as they finished 200m in front of the rest of the teams.

Crescent Girls’ came in second in 11mins 8.70 secs, followed by Dunman High School with a time of 11mins 11.11secs.

The next race proved to be an exciting one between Victoria School and Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) in the C Division boys 4x800m. Victoria and ACS(I) were the leaders of the pack when the race started and the first two runners from both team continued to fight neck and neck.

When the baton passed to the third runner, Victoria pulled away and were almost guaranteed the gold when their fourth runner took the baton for the final 800m. However, as the fourth runner ran the last 100m, his teammates made the mistake of running beside him on the field, resulting in a disqualification.

It was a costly mistake for Victoria as they were almost 50m in front of ACS(I). However, on the grounds of having a pacer, the team was disqualified, despite his teammate being an inexperienced Secondary One athlete. The gold was thus given to ACS(I) with Catholic High and Raffles Institution finishing second and third respectively.

In the 4x800m B Division girls race, Cedar Girls emerged champions when they crossed the finish line 200m ahead of everyone. Their second runner impressively overtook the runner from Raffles Girls’ School, and widened the lead by 100m. Despite the sudden downpour during the third runner’s second 400m lap, it didn’t dampen the team’s gold medal chances and they finished with a time of 10mins 25.87secs. Nanyang Girls’ finished second with 10mins 44.50secs, while Raffles Girls’ achieved third in 11min 5.75secs.

The rest of the races were delayed as the rain became heavier with lightning making it too dangerous to run.

Regardless of the weather change and the wet and slippery track, another Championship record was broken in the A Division girls 4x800m relay by the Singapore American School. They completed the race with a time of 10mins 7.59secs, 10 seconds faster than the record set in 2008 by their own school. Raffles Institution were second with 10mins 21.67secs, while the Singapore Sports School was third with 10mins 39.56secs.

Related stories:

Singapore Sports School girls break A division 4X400m Championship record on first day of the SPH Schools’ Relays.
Round-up of SPH Schools' Relays (Day 1)

2nd Day Results (Top 3 Teams)
C Girls 4x800m Relay
1. CHIJ (Toa Payoh) – 10:39.50 (C)
2. Crescent Girls’ School – 10:08.70
3. Dunman High School – 11:11.11

C Boys 4x800m Relay
1. Anglo Chinese School (Independent) – 9:29.23
2. Catholic High School – 9:33.57
3. Raffles Institution – 9:39.62

B Girls 4x800m Relay
1. Cedar Girls’ Secondary School – 10:25.87
2. Nanyang Girls’ High School – 10:44.50
3. Raffles Girls’ School – 11:05.75

B Boys 4x800m Relay
1. Anglo Chinese School (Independent) – 8:40.88
2. Raffles Institution – 8:46.70
3. Catholic High School – 8:51.53

A Girls 4x800m Relay
1. Singapore American School – 10:07.59 (C)
2. Raffles Institution – 10:21.67
3. Singapore Sports School – 10:39.56

A Boys 4x800m Relay
1. Raffles Institution (Junior College) – 8:25.49
2. Singapore American School – 8:39.64
3. Victoria Junior College – 8:40.27

C Girls 4x100m Relay
1. Singapore Sports School – 51.66
2. Nanyang Girls’ High School – 52.68
3. Raffles Girls’ School – 53.41

C Boys 4x100m Relay
1. Victoria School – 46.76
2. Singapore Sports School – 47.74
3. St Patrick’s School – 48.41

B Girls 4x100m Relay
1. Nanyang Girls’ High School – 51.11
2. CHIJ St Nicholas Girls’ School – 52.74
3. CHIJ (Toa Payoh) – 53.41

B Boys 4x100m Relay
1. St Joseph’s Institution – 44.01
2. Raffles Institution – 44.92
3. Anglo Chinese School (Independent) – 45.57

A Girls 4x100m Relay
1. Raffles Institution – 49.60
2. Singapore Sports School – 49.87
3. Singapore American School – 53.56

A Boys 4x100m Relay
1. Singapore Sports School – 43.12
2. Sengkang Secondary School – 43.53
3. Anglo Chinese Junior College – 44.65

Overall Team Results
C Division Girls
1. Singapore Sport School – 27 points
2. CHIJ (Toa Payoh) Secondary School – 22 points
3. CHIJ St. Nicholas Girls’ School – 21 points

C Division Boys
1. Victoria School – 24 points
2. Singapore Sports School – 17 points
3. Ang Mo Kio Secondary School – 17 points

B Division Girls
1. Cedar Girls’ Secondary School – 25 points
2. CHIJ St Nicholas Girls’ School – 25 points
3. Nanyang Girls’ High School – 23 points

B Division Boys
1. Anglo Chinese School (Independent) – 29 points
2. St Joseph Institution – 23 points
3. Raffles Institution – 19 points

A Division Girls
1. Singapore Sports School – 29 points
2. Singapore American School – 26 points
3. Raffles Institution – 24 points

A Division Boys
1. Singapore Sports School – 25 points
2. Anglo Chinese Junior College – 22 points
3. Seng Kang Secondary School – 15 points

Overall Challenge Trophy: Singapore Sports School (A Girls)