Story by Iman Hashim/Red Sports

girls open pole vault

Cherlin Sia won gold with a 3.00m clearance. (Photo © Iman Hashim/Red Sports)

Bishan Stadium, Monday, April 18, 2016 — Cherlin Sia of Singapore Sports School cleared a personal best height of 3.00 metres to win the Girls’ Open pole vault gold at the 57th National Schools Track and Field Championships.

Ong Yi En (2.68m) of Cedar Girls’ Secondary and Yap Fang Ling (2.53m) of CHIJ St. Nicholas Girls’ School came in second and third respectively.

This was Cherlin’s first ever National Schools gold. Last year, she did not compete due to injury.

The Secondary Three student cleared the 3.00m height on her last attempt, breaking her previous personal best of 2.90m, set at the Singapore Athletics National U18/U20 Championships in March this year.

She attempted to clear 3.10m thereafter but failed on all three tries.

Cherlin, the national under-15 record holder, is now only the 10th local female ever to clear at least 3.00m in the pole vault.

The event was not as smooth-sailing for Cherlin, as she switched to using a pole of different length midway through. Detailing her performance, she said, “I changed poles halfway, and I have never used the new pole before. So I was scared but I just had to overcome it.”

“It was nerve-wracking. When I tried to clear 3.00m on my first two jumps, there was the height, but my technique just wasn’t there. That’s why I was just very scared,” she added.

Cherlin will next take part in the high jump. The B Division Girls’ high jump will take place on Monday, April 25.

Girls’ Open Pole Vault – Top 8
1st Cherlin Sia Jia Yi (#84, Singapore Sports School) — 3.00 metres
2nd Ong Yi En (#265, Cedar Girls’ Secondary) — 2.68
3rd Yap Fang Ling (#52, CHIJ St Nicholas Girls’ School) — 2.53
4th Joey Shi Jiayi (#267, Cedar Girls’ Secondary) — 2.53
5th Tan Junn Faye (#40, CHIJ St Nicholas Girls’ School) — 2.53
6th Gladys Teo Li Shi (#233, Bedok View Secondary) — 2.33
6th Tan Misaki (#41, CHIJ St Nicholas Girls’ School) — 2.33
8th Tessa Goh Jia Ling (#154, Victoria Junior College) — 2.33