3.2km for IPPT? 13-yr-old schoolgirls already run 3.6km at cross country c’ships

C Division girls aged 13 to 14 years old running the 3.6km route at the 2013 National Schools Cross Country Championships. Currently, NSmen need to run 2.4km to pass their IPPT. (Photo © Les Tan/Red Sports)

Singapore, Wednesday, October 23, 2013 – National Servicemen (NSmen) may have to run 3.2 instead of 2.4 kilometres to pass their Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT), according to mainstream media. Push-ups will also replace the standing broad jump portion of the test.

However, the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) has not confirmed the changes. On their Facebook page, The Singapore Army, they said, “There has not been any decision to change our IPPT system.”

Reactions online are mixed. “2.4 is too short, 6.4 is just nice”, said one, while another wrote, “The 2.4km run is a piece of cake. Minimum should be a 10km distance”.

On the other end of the spectrum, “I was hoping they reduce (sic) to 1.2km” was the reaction of one. “Gg. 3.2Km might as well just charge me now”, was the resigned reaction of another.

For school runners, 3.2km is shorter than the distances they cover at the National Schools’ Cross Country Championships. The C Division (13–14 years old) girls run 3.6km and the 2013 winner, Isabelle Wang of River Valley High, won the race in about 15 minutes 30 seconds.

The girls who take part in the B Division (15–17) and A Division (17–20) also run 3.6km.

C Division boys also run 3.6km. Louis Shia of North Vista Secondary was the 2013 winner with a time of 12:30.

B and A Division boys run 4.3km. Leroi Lee of Nan Hua High claimed the B Division gold with a 14:05 timing while Karthic Harish Ragupathy of Hwa Chong Institution clocked 13:50 to win his race.

The United States Army test their soldiers over a 2-mile (3.2km) distance while the British Army requirement is also 2.4km.

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