Kuala Lumpur, Thursday, July 15, 2010 — Zachary Devaraj bettered his personal best in the 800 metres by over a second at the 2nd ASEAN Schools Games track and field competition.

He clocked 1 minute 56.27 seconds to finish fifth in the final, which was faster than his 1:57.34 at the National Schools meet in April, and also quicker than the B Division record of 1:56.7 which he failed to break then.

Zachary ran with a considerably stronger field this time. Vietnam’s Duong Van Thai won the gold with a meet record of 1:53.72, and a 1:55.53 was needed for a bronze.

Singapore picked up two medals on Day One of the athletics competition. Chan Zhi Xuan of Cedar Girls’ Secondary won a silver in the Discus with a throw of 35.18 metres. Thailand’s Subenrat Insaeng set a meet record of 42.43m en route to the gold medal.

Hwa Chong Institution’s Tan Zhi Hao finished strongly in the Shot Put to edge out his school mate Cai Jiashen for the bronze medal. After four rounds of throws, the latter was in third place with his second-round throw of 14.75m, while Zhi Hao was lying fifth.

Zhi Hao then powered his way to the bronze with two good throws of 14.84m and 14.92m in the final two rounds.

The track and field competition continues tomorrow and ends on Sunday.

Results

Boys’ 100 metres Semi-Finals
6th Shahrir Mohd Anuar (Singapore) 11.39 seconds (wind speed -0.8 m/s)
7th Vivekanand s/o Gopal (Singapore) 11.40 (-1.3 m/s)

Boys’ 100 metres Final
1st Ambrose Anak Jilom (Malaysia) 10.77 (+0.0 m/s)
2nd Pongsakorn Sopakorn (Thailand) 10.85
3rd Yuttana Rittiron (Thailand) 10.94
4th SHAHRIR MOHD ANUAR (SINGAPORE) 11.10
6th VIVEKANAND S/O GOPAL (SINGAPORE) 11.21

Boys’ 800 metres Final
1st Duong Van Thai (Vietnam) 1 minute 53.72 seconds
2nd Ngo Dang Thanh (Vietnam) 1:55.38
3rd Endrro Kusworo (Indonesia) 1:55.53
5th ZACHARY DEVARAJ (SINGAPORE) 1:56.27

Boys’ 5000 metres Final
1st William S Lakolo (Indonesia) 15:54.19
2nd Somvichai Koomkrongchok (Thailand) 15:57.93
3rd Nguyen Thanh Lap (Vietnam) 16:38.58
4th KEVIN GOH (SINGAPORE) 17:08.35

Boys’ 400 metres Hurdles Final
1st Mohd Baihaqi Razlan (Malaysia) 52.95
2nd Muhd Firdaus Mazalan (Malaysia) 53.11
3rd Sittichai Srisa (Thailand) 54.45
6th TIMOTHEE YAP (SINGAPORE) 59.34
7th BRANDON NG (SINGAPORE) 61.98

Boys’ Shot Put Final
1st Panyawut Bumroong (Thailand) 17.03 metres
2nd Mohd Alif Hanif (Malaysia) 16.89
3rd TAN ZHI HAO (SINGAPORE) 14.92
4th CAI JIASHEN (SINGAPORE) 14.75

Girls’ 100 metres Semi-Finals
6th Ruelia Nesaranjini (Singapore) 12.97 (-1.4 m/s)
8th Habibah Najihahbi (Singapore) 13.41 (-1.9 m/s)

Girls’ 100 metres Final
1st Pimpika Kannikom (Thailand) 11.90 (+1.0 m/s)
2nd Siti Nurhayati (Malaysia) 12.21
3rd Phensri Chairoek (Thailand) 12.30
7th RUELIA NESARANJINI (SINGAPORE) 12.91
8th HABIBAH NAJIHAHBI (SINGAPORE) 13.03

Girls’ 3000 metres Final
1st Nguyen Thi Bich Tram (Vietnam) 10:14.13
2nd Afriana Paijo (Indonesia) 10:15.56
3rd Kitsana Toentuan (Thailand) 10:33.43
5th MOK YING RONG (SINGAPORE) 11:23.92

Girls’ High Jump Final
1st Arpaporn Kanti (Thailand) 1.64m
2nd Shandyiani (Malaysia) 1.64
3rd Vo Thi My Hoa (Vietnam) 1.64
5th CARREN TEO (SINGAPORE) 1.55

Girls’ Discus Final
1st Subenrat Insaeng (Thailand) 42.43m
2nd CHAN ZHI XUAN (SINGAPORE) 35.18
3rd Sawitri Thongchao (Thailand) 34.37
5th HANNAH LEE (SINGAPORE) 32.51