Story by Lim Yong Teck/Red Sports. Photos by Lim Yong Teck, Lee Jian Wei and Clara Yuan/Red Sports
Marcell Tan (#157) of Singapore Sports School in action. He clocked 14.82 seconds to win his first B Division 110m hurdles title. (Photo 1 © Lim Yong Teck/Red Sports)
Bukit Gombak Stadium, Tuesday, April 14, 2015 — Marcell Tan’s (#157) finish of 14.82 seconds helped him to his first B Division 110m hurdles title at the 56th National Inter-School Track and Field Championships.
The Singapore Sports School student improved on a third-placed finish in last year’s final, where he clocked a timing of 15.34 seconds.
“I’m not exactly satisfied with the win, because my timing is far from my personal best,” said Tan (#157). The 16-year-old set his personal best of 14.46 seconds during the recently concluded 10th Southeast Asian Youth Athletics Championships 2015 in Kuala Lumpur.
Tan (#157) entered the final with a qualifying time of 14.92 seconds, which placed him second to reigning C Division 100m hurdles record holder, Joshua Chua (#286) of Raffles Institution. Chua (#286) had clocked the fastest qualifying time of 14.37 seconds in the heats, and was originally expected to take home the gold medal.
In the final, however, Chua (#286) tripped over the hurdles twice and sustained a major leg cramp in the process. Despite so, he picked himself up to complete the race, albeit finishing out of the medals.
“I felt very sad for Joshua, because he could have beaten me if he didn’t fall,” said Tan (#157).
“We’ve been running together for a very long time and he’s my good friend when we’re not on the track. I hope he can recover in time to run in the 400m hurdles and 4x100m relay.”
“I guess it may be a bout of anxiety, causing him to hit the hurdles harder,” said RI coach, Mr. Melvin Tan.
He added, “When I saw him at the first-aid area, he told me that he was more concerned for the team than his own individual result, and I want to compliment him for that.”
Tan’s (#157) teammate Chong Wei Guan (#147) finished second in 15.37 seconds, while Hwa Chong Institution’s Randall Choo (#561) clinched the bronze in 15.80 seconds.
The meet record stands at 13.98 seconds, and it was set by Victoria School alumnus, Sean Toh, in 2010.
B Division Boys’ 110m Hurdles Results
1st: Marcell Tan Yann Guang (#157, Singapore Sports School) – 14.82s
2nd: Chong Wei Guan (#147, Singapore Sports School) – 15.37s
3rd: Randall Choo Tian Xi (#561, Hwa Chong Institution) – 15.80s
4th: Toh Beam, Isaac (#307, Raffles Institution) – 16.00s
5th: Tung Kin Chong, Colin (#309, Raffles Institution) – 16.18s
6th: Jerome Hoo Jun Jie (#475, Victoria School) – 16.48s
7th: Neo Shaojun, Brennick (#491, Victoria School) – 17.35s
8th: Joshua Chua Hanwei (#286, Raffles Institution) – 18.12s
More photos next page
Leave A Comment