C Div 800m: Arissa Rashid of Nanyang Girls’ High wins gold in 2:35.85

By Tay Jun Wen/Red Sports. Additional reporting by Romaine Soh/Red Sports.

Arissa Rashid (#313, right) of Nanyang Girls’ High on her way to winning the C Div 800m final in 2:35.85. Celeste Goh (#59, left) of Sports School was second in 2:35.89 while Alexandra Wee (#84) of CHIJ (Toa Payoh) was third in 2:37.82. (Photo © Les Tan/Red Sports)

Choa Chu Kang Sports Complex, Monday, April 15, 2013 — Arissa Rashid of Nanyang Girls’ High ended off her season with a bang, bagging the C Division 800m gold in a time of 2 minutes 35.85 seconds at the 54th National Schools Track and Field Championships.

Just 0.04s behind her was Celeste Goh of Singapore Sports School, who clocked a time of 2:35.89. Alexandra Wee of CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh) was third with a time of 2:37.82.

The C Division 800m record is 2:25.76 and was set by Lossini D/O Jeyapandiyen, then of Singapore Sports School, in 2004.

Arissa had previously won the gold in the C Division 1,500m, finishing six seconds clear of her nearest rival.

The race started with Nadiah Nasuhah of Cedar Girls’ Secondary pulling ahead to assume the lead. However, she was unable to maintain her pace after the first lap, with both Arissa and Celeste overtaking her.

It was down to a final 100m sprint between Arissa and Celeste down the home straight, with their schoolmates egging them on from the spectator stands. Arissa eventually pipped Celeste to the line by 0.04s.

Meanwhile, Alexandra was fighting hard with Noelle Chung of Nanyang Girls’ who posed a last minute challenge down the home straight. Alexandra eventually outlasted Noelle to the line.

“I was feeling rather nervous before the race, but I tried to stay focused,” admitted Arissa, a Secondary One student.

With regards to how she felt being able to achieve a double gold at Secondary One, she replied: “I’m still overwhelmed by this feat, but I’m really glad to be able to contribute points to my team!”

C Division Girls 800m Results
1st Arissa Rashid (Nanyang Girls’ High School, #313) — 02:35.85
2nd Celeste Goh (Singapore Sports School, #59) — 02:35.89
3rd Alexandra Wee (CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh), #84) — 02:37.82
4th Noelle Chung Kai Xin (Nanyang Girls’ High School, #334) — 02:38.38
5th Wong Si Min Levyn (Dunman High School, #233) — 02:40.60
6th Nurul Akhira Bte Zakaria (Singapore Sports School, #65) — 02:40.97
7th Cheryl Chng Si Yin (Cedar Girls’ Secondary, #113) — 02:42.44
8th Chiam Jia Yuan (Cedar Girls’ Secondary, #114) — 02:42.77
9th Goh Shao Ping Charmaine (Woodlands Secondary, #73) — 02:43.32
10th Amanda Tan (Crescent Girls’ School, #141) — 02:43.95
11th Kam Zhi Yu (Northland Secondary, #56) — 02:44.62
12th Nadiah Nasuhah Bte Hassan (Cedar Girls’ Secondary, #129) — 02:47.18
13th Valerie Chuang Zhen Jin (Raffles Girls’ School, #191) — 02:50.31
14th Koh Fang Yun (Nanyang Girls’ High School, #329) — 02:50.40
15th Lettitia Jules Quek (CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh), #92) — 02:51.56
16th Dzuraida Nur Aina Zoey (Singapore Sports School, #60) — 02:53.63