Story by Nicole Lum/Red Sports. Photos by Lim Yong Teck and Clara Yuan/Red Sports
Phoebe Tay (#365) of Nan Hua High in action. She clinched the gold medal with a timing of 5:19.12. (Photo 1 © Lim Yong Teck/Red Sports)
Bukit Gombak Stadium, Monday, April 20, 2015 — Phoebe Tay of Nan Hua High collected her second gold medal at the 56th National Inter-School Track and Field Championships when she clocked 5 minutes and 19.12 seconds in the C Division girls’ 1500m event.
The 13-year-old’s first gold came from her winning performance in the C Division girls’ 3000m race last week.
CHIJ Katong Convent’s Apeland Keira Mingan crossed the finish line in 5:25.20 to take silver while Caylee Chua of Crescent Girls’ School settled for bronze in 5:28.25.
Phoebe’s victory makes her the first C Division schoolgirl to run under 5 minutes and 20 seconds since 2008. Ranjitha Raja, then of Juying Secondary, did so with a timing of 5:12.65 in 2008.
“The race went really great. A lot of people were there to support me and I would like to thank my coach amongst others for helping me get the gold medal,” Phoebe said, when asked about her performance. She also shaved six seconds off her personal best.
Despite a stumble amongst the jostling at the start of the race, Phoebe remained unfazed. “Even though it got me back, I told myself that I needed to continue. I was going to get back in the lead anyway, so I pressed on,” she explained.
Phoebe only regained her lead 500m in, when she overtook leaders Elizabeth Liau of CHIJ St. Nicholas Girls’ School, and Vera Wah of Cedar Girls’ Secondary. She then pulled away with an ever-increasing gap, leaving the others to fight for the last two spots on the podium. Eventually, Keira and Caylee both executed long kicks to come in second and third respectively.
The event’s record stands at 4:57.24, and has been held by Hua Yi Secondary alumna Yvonne Lin since 2005.
C Division Girls’ 1500m Results
1st Tay Yu Phoebe (#365, Nan Hua High School) – 5:19.12
2nd Apeland Keira Mingan (#207, CHIJ Katong Convent) – 5:25.20
3rd Chua Hsi-Ern Caylee (#138, Crescent Girls’ School) – 5:28.25
4th Wong Wai Lin Amanda (#118, CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh)) – 5:30.34
5th Hor Tzi Yin Eilis (#375, Nanyang Girls’ High School) – 5:33.16
6th Chua Yun Xi, Nicole (#184, Raffles Girls’ School) – 5:34.01
7th Vera Wah Yi Rei (#251, Cedar Girls’ Secondary School) – 5:35.02
8th Elizabeth Liau Le Min (#31, CHIJ St Nicholas Girls’ School) – 5:36.43
9th Evangeline Goh En Lin (#372, Nanyang Girls’ High School) – 5:38.41
10th Nur Qistina Puteri Mohamed Z (#299, Paya Lebar Methodist Girls’ School) – 5:40.86
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