Story by Nicole Lum/Red Sports. Photos by Clara Yuan, Lee Jian Wei and Lim Yong Teck/Red Sports
Ierhan of SSP, Mohammad Shafiq Anshad of SJI and Thiruben of NJC sharing a moment after the B Division boys’ 1500m race. The same three runners had also finished in the top three in the 800m final. (Photo 1 © Clara Yuan/Red Sports)
Choa Chu Kang Stadium, Wednesday, April 22, 2015 — Ierhan Raushan of Singapore Sports School took the lead with two laps to go to eventually bag the B Division boys’ 1500m title in the 56th National Inter-School Track and Field Championships. He clocked a personal best of 4 minutes 20.03 seconds.
The 16-year-old was headed for victory in the 800m final but an unexpected sprint in the last 10 metres by Thiruben s/o Thana Rajan of National Junior College saw the victory stolen right in front of Ierhan’s eyes.
“After that downfall, I was more eager and I was wanting to win,” said Ierhan, who was also this year’s B Division Cross Country champion.
His race went according to his strategy. “The first few laps were so-so. They were easy. I started to whack in the last 300m and I was actually shocked that Thiruben didn’t whack as hard as he did in the 800m at the last part,” Ierhan commented.
“My coach has been telling me that it was down to how badly I wanted it. I’m satisfied with the result as it has also qualified me for the Asian Youth Athletics Championships,” Ierhan said, already looking forward to the international meet that will be held in Doha next month.
Ierhan only took the lead halfway through the race, with Mohammad Shafiq Anshad of St. Joseph’s Institution following closely behind.
A kick in the last 300m executed by Ierhan was challenged by Shafiq, but being the stronger competitor, Ierhan gained the upper hand and pulled away after 100m. This eventually gave Ierhan the gold, forcing Shafiq to settle for the silver in 4:22.76.
For third-placed Thiruben, it was down to the last 250m. Sitting behind the lead pack for most of the race, he only utilised a last-minute surge to claim bronze in 4:25.19.
The trio of Ierhan, Shafiq and Thiruben had also made the podium for the 800m. This is the first time the same three runners have shared a podium in the 800m and 1500m at the National Schools meet since 1993, when Christopher Jude, Nicholas Foo and Mike Chua, then of ITE Jurong, Anglo-Chinese JC and Anderson JC respectively, took the top three places in the A division finals of these two events.
The hand-timed meet record for the B Division boys’ 1500m stands at 4:07.3, held by C Veeramani while running for Bukit Batok Secondary in 1994. Zachary Devaraj, then representing Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) in 2010, holds the electronically-timed record of 4:12.61.
B Division Boys’ 1500m Results
1st Ierhan B Muhammad Raushan (#153, Singapore Sports School) – 4:20.03
2nd Mohammad Shafiq Anshad (#340, St. Joseph’s Institution) – 4:22.76
3rd Thiruben S/O Thana Rajan (#242, National Junior College) – 4:25.19
4th Syed Hussein B Syed Negaib A (#404, Pasir Ris Secondary) – 4:29.23
5th Gideon Phong Wei Sheng (#196, Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)) – 4:29.47
6th Wong Meng Ern, Philip #211, Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)) – 4:31.30
7th Bryan Goh Jing Han (#438, Tanjong Katong Secondary) – 4:32.62
8th Hu Huaxin (#538, Hwa Chong Institution) – 4:32.95
9th Darren Wong Jun Jie (#150, Singapore Sports School) – 4:34.50
10th Ng Ding Xuan (#554, Hwa Chong Institution) – 4:35.10
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