By Romaine Soh/Red Sports
Zubin Percy Muncherji (#261) of ACJC was the only runner who ran a sub-50, winning the A Div 400m final in 49.39. Ow Yeong Yu Xiang (#288) of HCI was second in 50.50 while Calvin Quek (not in picture) was third in 51.27. (Photo © Les Tan/Red Sports)
Choa Chu Kang Stadium, Thursday, April 11, 2013 — Zubin Percy Muncherji of Anglo-Chinese Junior College (ACJC) struck gold in the A Division 400 metres final at the 54th National Schools Track and Field Championships. He clocked a new personal best of 49.39 seconds and was the only one in the field to go under 50 seconds.
Ow Yeong Yu Xiang of Hwa Chong Institution (HCI) came in a full second later to clinch the silver, stopping the clock at 50.50s. Calvin Quek of Raffles Institution (RI) rounded off the podium with a time of 51.27s, overwriting his personal best as well.
By the 150m mark, Zubin’s gazelle-like strides had carried him far and away from his rivals.
Koh Fang Hua of RI had started out strong, but the lactic build up took its toll on him in the home straight, giving Calvin an opportunity to overtake him.
Zubin had recently qualified for July’s World Youth Championships in Ukraine, running a time of 49.58s at the Singapore Youth and Junior Athletics Championships last month.
“I was actually going for the record, but I’m still recovering from an injury,” Zubin mused.
“That aside, my timing today is pretty decent!” he beamed.
The A Division 400m record is 48.81s and was set by Ng Chin Hui, then of Raffles Institution, in 2012. Sandy Hong Fulong set the hand-timed record of 48.80s in 1984 while representing RI.
Although Yu Xiang had managed to better last year’s timing by almost a second, he was not contented with his race.
“I was actually gunning for 49 seconds, but it just wasn’t my day today,” Yu Xiang said.
Zubin will next race in the 200m, while Yu Xiang and Calvin will meet again in the 400m hurdles.
A Division Boys 400m Results
1st Zubin Percy Muncherji (Anglo Chinese Junior College, #261) — 00:49.39
2nd Ow Yeong Yu Xiang (Hwa Chong Institution, #288) — 00:50.50
3rd Quek Jun Jie Calvin (Raffles Institution, #147) — 00:51.27
4th Koh Fang Hua (RI, #133) — 00:51.82
5th Chua Bo Yu (Hwa Chong Institution, #267) — 00:52.81
6th Tham Yew Fai Timothy John (CJC, #97) — 00:53.24
7th Jonathan Wong Shern Yang (Anglo Chinese School (Independent), #63) — 00:53.28
8th Tan Wei Jie Eugene (Raffles Institution, #151) — 00:53.31
Video © SAA. Used with permission.
For more photos, go to: Red Sports Images
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