Story by Iman Hashim/Red Sports. Photos by Cheah Wenqi/Red Sports.

Toh Wei Yu (RI #161) clinched the National A Division gold medal by 1cm. Toh jumped a distance of 6.69m. (Photo 1 © Cheah Wenqi/Red Sports)

Bishan Stadium, Thursday, April 6, 2017 — He had just won the A Division boys’ long jump gold, but he did not even realise it.

Such was the stiff competition as Toh Wei Yu of Raffles Institution claimed victory at the 58th National Schools Track and Field Championships, jumping 6.69 metres.

In doing so, the 18-year-old edged out Lin Yu En of Meridian Junior College, who came in second, by a mere centimetre. Zachary Lau of Hwa Chong Institution jumped 6.52m to come in third. These three athletes occupied the same podium positions when they competed in the B Division two years ago.

Explaining his confusion after the event, Wei Yu said, “It was during our last jump when I (mistakenly) heard the official saying a distance of 6.69m from Yu En. Since we had the same distance, it would all come down to the second best jump where he did a 6.68m for his fifth jump – which meant that he would edge me to win the gold.”

Indeed, the competition was far from a breeze for Wei Yu. After taking the lead early on by jumping 6.66m and 6.69m on his second and third attempts respectively, he fouled both his fourth and fifth jumps.

Meanwhile, Yu En piled up the pressure, recording 6.68m on his fifth jump.

There was a sense among the crowd of uniform-clad student supporters, who had assembled on the perimeter of the fence near the jump pit, that Yu En might just eventually overhaul his counterpart.

Alas, Yu En came slightly short again, jumping 6.65m on his final try as Wei Yu secured victory.

Even though Wei Yu did not surpass his personal best of 6.85m, which earned him the bronze at last year’s championships, he was just happy to win only his second national schools gold.

He said, “Initially, I was just really shocked when I heard the results and I went around asking my friends if it was true. Overall, I was really happy with the gold but the distance wasn’t what I was hoping for. But I guess I’m quite satisfied with how it turned out especially considering how lucky I was.”

Wei Yu is coached by Mr Chan Chin Wah.

Giving credit to him, Wei Yu said, “My coach told me during the competition to just give my best in every single jump I have, as anyone can just execute one good jump and take the gold home.”

Wei Yu’s focus will now be on the triple jump, which will take place on April 17.

A Division Boys’ Long Jump – Top 8
1st Toh Wei Yu (#161, Raffles Institution) – 6.69 metres
2nd Lin Yu En (#198, Meridian Junior College) – 6.68
3rd Zachary Lau (#294, Hwa Chong Institution) – 6.52
4th Cepheaus R Chee (#257, Hwa Chong Institution) – 6.46
5th Adlan Syaddad B Md Yani (#42, Singapore Sports School) – 6.38
6th Ryan Lim (#152, Raffles Institution) – 6.25
7th Colin Tung (#162, Raffles Insitution) – 6.16
8th Patrick Low (#271, Hwa Chong Institution) – 6.07

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