The national 4x100m relay team consisting of (from left to right) Calvin Kang, Lim Yao Peng, Gary Yeo, Lee Cheng Wei, Elfi Mustapha. Muhd Amirudin, who is not pictured here, combined with Gary, Cheng Wei and Elfi to break the men’s national 4x100m relay record at the Asian Grand Prix Series in Chonburi, Thailand. (Photo courtesy of Joe Goh/Singapore Athletic Association)
Chonburi, Thailand, Wednesday, May 8, 2013 — The Singapore sprint quartet of Muhd Elfi bin Mustapa, Gary Yeo, Lee Cheng Wei and Muhd Amirudin bin Jamal broke the men’s national 4×100 metres relay record of 39.58 seconds at the second leg of the Asian Grand Prix Series.
They clocked a time of 39.45s to finish first in their race, ahead of China, Oman, Thailand and Chinese Taipei, but were ranked second overall. The team from Hong Kong ran the fastest time, clocking 39.17s in the second race.
Coincidentally, the previous national record was also set in Thailand, and also at the second leg of the Asian Grand Prix Series albeit in 2012. Then, on May 11 in Kanchanaburi, Calvin Kang had run instead of Muhd Elfi.
Calvin, who is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury sustained late last month at the Nippon Sports Science University Meet in Tokyo, Japan, said: “I’m elated and happy for the team. It’s a great start to the year breaking the national record! We were aiming to break it here at the Asian Grand Prix, and we managed to do it.”
“The team had a good push from the start, being in lane 2, with China and Thailand in lanes 3 and 4 respectively. Morale was high before the race, and our handovers were very quick during it. We won our race, beating China, Thailand and Chinese Taipei. This signifies a great breakthrough for us — that we can compete at the Asian level.”
Cheng Wei, 26, said the team had to come to terms with racing alongside continental powerhouses. “We had to deal with the pressure to perform and race with these teams, and not let it affect us negatively.”
This is the eighth time that Singapore has gone under the 40-second mark in the event, with the first in December 2009. The relay team, which is training full-time, is hoping to meet the Moscow World Championships qualifying mark of 39.20s. The biennial meet is in August this year.
“The record was great, but our performance wasn’t perfect,” said Cheng Wei. “There is still room for improvement to maximise our steppings, and we will definitely be working on that to further lower our time.”
The third and final leg of the Asian Grand Prix Series will be held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on 12 May.
Results
1st Hong Kong – 39.17s
2nd Singapore – 39.45
3rd China – 39.79
4th Oman – 39.82
5th Thailand – 39.83
6th Chinese Taipei 39.90
7th Thailand – 40.05
8th India – 40.15
9th Indonesia – 40.49
Sri Lanka – Disqualified
List of sub-40 second times by the national 4x100m relay team
39.45s — Muhd Elfi, Gary Yeo, Lee Cheng Wei, Muhd Amirudin (Asian Grand Prix; Thailand; May 2013)
39.58s — Calvin Kang, Gary Yeo, Lee Cheng Wei, Muhd Amirudin (Asian Grand Prix; Thailand; May 2012)
39.73s — Calvin Kang, Muhd Elfi, Lee Cheng Wei, Muhd Amirudin (Asian Grand Prix; Thailand, May 2012)
39.82s — Gary Yeo, Muhd Elfi, Lee Cheng Wei, Muhd Amirudin (SEA Games; Laos; December 2009)
39.83s — Calvin Kang, Gary Yeo, Lee Cheng Wei, Muhd Amirudin (Asian Grand Prix; Thailand; May 2012)
39.91s — Calvin Kang, Muhd Amirudin, Lee Cheng Wei, Gary Yeo (SEA Games; Indonesia; November 2011)
39.97s — Muhd Elfi, Gary Yeo, Lee Cheng Wei, Calvin Kang (Singapore Masters Open; Singapore; March 2013)
39.98s — Muhd Elfi, Gary Yeo, Lee Cheng Wei, Muhd Amirudin (Asian Grand Prix; Thailand; May 2013)
Singapore Men’s national 4x100m relay record progression
39.45s — Muhd Elfi, Gary Yeo, Lee Cheng Wei, Muhd Amirudin (Asian Grand Prix; Thailand, May 8, 2013)
39.58s — Calvin Kang, Gary Yeo, Lee Cheng Wei, Muhd Amirudin (Asian Grand Prix; Thailand, May 11, 2012)
39.82s — Gary Yeo, Muhd Elfi, Lee Cheng Wei, Muhd Amirudin (SEA Games; Laos; December 17, 2009)
40.10s — Gary Yeo, Muhd Shameer, Calvin Kang, Poh Seng Song (SEA Games; Thailand; December 10, 2007)
40.32s — Muhd Hosni, Hamkah Afik, Muhd Yusof Alias, Hong Jinsheng (Thailand Open; Thailand, April 28, 1994)
40.34s — C. Kunalan, Ong Yoke Phee, Tan Say Leong, Yeo Kian Chai (Asian Games; Iran; September 9, 1974)
Amirudin has now featured in seven of the eight teams which have gone below 40 seconds in the sprint relay. (Red Sports file photo © Les Tan/Red Sports)
Leave A Comment