By Les Tan and Erwin Wong/Red Sports. Photos by Lim Yong Teck and Lee Jian Wei/Red Sports.
Ashley Lim’s all-rounded performance made her the most valuable female swimmer at the 46th Singapore National Age Group Swimming Championships. She is flanked by Singapore Swimming Association Assistant Secretary General Ang Peng Wee (left) and head coach of the national swimming team, Sergio López Miró. (Photo 1 © Lim Yong Teck/Red Sports)
OCBC Aquatics Centre, Sunday, March 15, 2015 — Ashley Lim Yi-Xuan set four new records at the Singapura Finance 46th Singapore National Age Group Swimming Championships. Her overall performance saw her named as the Most Valuable Swimmer among the girls.
The Nanyang Primary student, who turns 11 on August 13, took part in nine events.
“It’s been very fun because I made new friends,” said Ashley about the three days of competition.
After setting new marks in the 200m indivdual medley and 200m freestyle earlier, Ashley ended Day 3 of competition with two more records in the 100m backstroke and 100m freestyle.
In the 100m backstroke, Ashley broke Samantha Louisa Yeo’s 2007 mark of 1 minute 18.46 seconds with a 1:17.42.
In the 100m freestyle, her 1:07.81 time saw her go under Gan Ching Hwee’s old mark of 1:08.52 set in 2013.
Charity Lien, 12, broke Shana Lim’s 11-year-old record of 2:30.08 for 12 year olds in the 200m backstroke with a time of 2:29.70.
The Primary 6 MGS student, who will turn 12 on April 13, also set a new record in the 100m backstroke with a time of 1:09.73.
Charity took part in a total of eight events, setting meet records in five.
“I swam better than expected,” said Charity, who is coached by Eugene Chia at Chinese Swimming Club. “But I’m hoping to break the record for the 100m breaststroke because I missed by 0.3s.”
The 100m breaststroke record of 1:15.42 is held by Samantha Louisa Yeo.
In the 200m breaststroke, Charity’s time of 2:41.62 came in under Samantha record of 2:42.53 set in 2009.
Natalie Ho, 12, broke Amanda Lim’s 13-year-old record of 2:14.93 for the 200m freestyle with a time of 2:12.26. She then did the sprint double, clocking 1:01.99 in the 100m freestyle, to beat Samantha Yeo’s record of 1:02.22.
“The 200m butterfly is my favourite. It is really fun and less stressful than the other events,” said Natalie at the end of the day’s events.
Natalie set a new meet record in the 200m butterfly with her 2:30.83 timing, beating the old mark of 2:34.18 set by Alethea Teo Yi Rui in 2010.
“I have to work on my plunging, and touching at the end because they weren’t good. I slowed down at the end,” analysed Natalie.
“What was most memorable were the friendships built in this meet and the competitors challenged me to swim faster,” she added.
Lynette Some Xuan Hui (50m breaststroke, 100m freestyle), Jobey Koh Rui Shan (100m
butterfly) and Audrey Lee Rui Jun (200m backstroke) were the other record breakers on Day 3.
So far, a total of 39 meet records have been broken at this year’s meet, bringing the total cash prize amount raised to $7,800. A cash reward of $200 for a meet record and $500 for a national record, is a new initiative started this year. The money raised will be used to defray training costs for the record-breakers.
For more details of the event, go to: www.facebook.com/swimsnag
More photos next page
Leave A Comment