By Romaine Soh/Red Sports
Janielle Lim (#85) of RI won the A Div 2000m steeplechase final in 8:07.40. She was followed in second by her teammate Mary-Lisa Chua (#92) in 8:15.48 while Vaerie Chua (#180) of HCI was third in 8:36.51. (Photo © Les Tan/Red Sports)
Choa Chu Kang Stadium, Friday, April 12, 2013 — Janielle Lim of Raffles Institution (RI) put in a last-minute surge on the final lap to win the A Division 2,000 metres steeplechase gold with a time of 8 minutes 7 seconds at the 54th National Schools Track and Field Championships. It was the second fastest timing clocked at the national schools championships.
The fastest timing recorded for the event at the National Schools is 8:06, clocked by Wan Zahrah bte Ahmad Alif Lim, then of RI, in 2011. That was also the first year the steeplechase event was added into the national schools championships.
Fellow teammate Mary-Lisa Chua took the silver in a time of 8:15, with Valerie Chua of Hwa Chong Institution (HCI) rounding off the podium with a time of 8:36.
Mary had led for most part of the race, with Janielle breathing down her neck. Mary gained ground with each steeple, but Janielle refused to let her run away, putting in a stride after each jump to make sure she was up to pace with Mary.
At the final lap, Janielle put in a burst that took her far and away from Mary. By this time, the top three had already been clearly marked out, with 70m separating Mary and third-placed Valerie. Try as she might, Janielle narrowly missed out on setting a new championship record for the three-year-old event.
“I was just trying my best because my jumping technique is not very sound!” said Janielle.
This is her first year in the event, having done the 800m and 1,500m last year. She won the bronze for the 800m in 2012.
“For this win, I would like to thank both my coach, Mr Steven Quek, and God.”
“For my next event, the 800m, I’ll go for my personal best of 2:28!” she affirmed.
A Division Girls 2,000m Steeplechase Results
1st Janielle Lim Yan Han (Raffles Institution, #85) — 08:07.40
2nd Mary-Lisa Zhi-Hui Chua (Raffles Institution, #92) — 08:15.48
3rd Chua Qi Wei Valerie (Hwa Chong Institution, #180) — 08:36.51
4th Wan Ching Ee Joyce (Anglo Chinese Junior College, #176) — 08:52.75
5th Tay Pei Ern (Hwa Chong Institution, #195) — 09:02.62
6th Ng Weiyun Chloe (Catholic Junior College, #51) — 09:05.96
7th Adeline Bee Wei Ting (Raffles Institution, #73) — 09:07.96
8th Janine Quek Ziquan (Anglo Chinese Junior College, #162) — 09:08.70
9th Tan Xin Hui Blossom (Victoria Junior College, #141) — 09:09.87
10th Angeline Wan Hui Ru (Catholic Junior College, #45) — 09:33.42
11th Ng Xin Yi (Catholic Junior College, #52) — 10:01.99
12th Alicia Gan Li Si (Victoria Junior College, #124) — 10:07.68
13th Toh May Siu (Hwa Chong Institution, #201) — 10:16.96
DNF Manimaran Sonali (Victoria Junior College, #136)
Top 4 electronic timings recorded for A Division Girls 2,000m Steeplechase
8:06.58 — Wan Zahrah Bte Ahmad Alif Lim (RI) in 2011
8:07.40 — Janielle Lim Yan Han (RI) in 2013
8:14.03 — Soh Rui Min Romaine (VJC) in 2012
8:18.53 — Seow Yun Yun (RI) in 2012
For more photos, go to: Red Sports Images
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