Story by Edina Tan/Red Sports. Photos by Les Tan/ Red Sports.
Elaine Quah (#220, RGS) crosses the finish line first in 11:32.78 to win gold while Vera Wah (#275, CG) follows behind in 11:34.06 for silver. (Photo 1 © Les Tan/Red Sports)
Bishan Stadium, Thursday, April 21, 2016 – An exhilarating race saw Elaine Quah of Raffles Girls’ School taking home the B Division Girls’ 3000m gold medal at the 57th National Schools Track and Field Championships with a timing of 11 minutes 32.78 seconds.
The electronically-timed record for this event still stands at 10:47.09s, set in 2006 by Singapore Sports School alumna, Yvonne Lin Cui Wen.
Elaine also won the B Division Girls’ individual title at the 57th National Schools Cross Country Championships held three weeks ago.
Vera Wah and Joyceleen Yap, both of Cedar Girls’, came in second and third with timings of 11:34.06 and 11:36.27 respectively.
Phoebe Kee of Singapore Chinese Girls’ School broke off from the pack and led at the start. Phoebe continued to widen her lead in the second lap, with Elaine and Vera jostling for the lead in the main pack behind her.
With three laps to go, Phoebe remained in the lead, but Elaine and Vera were gaining on her.
At the tail end of the second last lap, Vera and Elaine closed up the gap with Phoebe, followed closely by Joyceleen. With Phoebe falling behind, it was now a fight to the finish between Vera, Elaine and Joyceleen.
In the final stretch, Vera and Elaine were neck and neck, but Elaine ultimately outsprinted Vera to claim the gold, leaving Vera to settle for second. Joyceleen came in just two seconds behind Vera to secure third position.
When asked about the race, Elaine said, “The race was one of the hardest races I have ever run because of the heat and the stiff competition. It was a tough race from the start – Phoebe went ahead from the start, and Vera pushed the pace halfway so I just followed. It’s my first gold in three years, as I have only gotten silver in the past two years.”
“I would like to thank my parents, competitors, current coach (Coach Jack), teachers, as well as my old coach for this win,” she added.
B Div 3000m (Girls) Results (Top 10)
1st Quah Li Ying Elaine (#220, RGS) – 11:32.78
2nd Vera Wah Yi Rei (#275, Cedar Girls’) – 11:34.06
3rd Joyceleen Yap Yin Xiu (#254, Cedar Girls’) – 11:36.27
4th Phoebe Kee (#81, SCGS) – 11:45.06
5th Chua Hsi-Ern Caylee (#157, CGS) – 11:53.92
6th Clarice Lau Jia Yun (#404, NHHS) – 11:57.02
7th Wu Jia Yi, Elise (#51, SNG) – 12:01.74
8th Kang Yunru, Ruth (#425, NYGH) – 12:37.51
9th Zhong Yi (#278, Cedar Girls’) – 12:39.52
10th Lim En Sin (#405, NHHS) – 12:40.13
More photos next page
Leave A Comment