Story by Clement Tan/Red Sports. Pictures by Benedict Yeo and Rebekah Abbott/Red Sports.
Ho Zhe Xi (RI #238) thrusts himself forward to claim the champion title by a mere 0.05s. (Photo 1 © Benedict Yeo/Red Sports)
Bishan Stadium, Thursday, April 20, 2017 — Raffles Institution’s Ho Zhe Xi quite literally gave it all he had, throwing himself forward at the finish line when he wasn’t sure he was going to catch Hwa Chong Institution’s Or Yong Hur in the 400m race at the 58th National Schools Track and Field Championships. As it turned out, he’s done just enough.
Zhe Xi barely edged out Yong Hur, who started the race explosively, by 0.05 seconds. The two boys’ clocked times in the final that were their new personal bests: Zhe Xi clocked 55.59s to Yong Hur’s 55.64s. Julian Chew, representing Anglo-Chinese School (Independent), claimed the bronze medal with 56.15s.
“It’s a massive result for Zhe Xi, who didn’t compete in last year’s national schools at all,” said RI sprint coach Melvin Tan. “In the end, his desire to win carried him through.”
It was relatively more straightforward in the girls’ race, with Emily Ong from Singapore Chinese Girls’ School dominating from start to finish. Her winning time of 1:01.34 was the second-best across the three divisions. Singapore Sports School’s Diane Pragasam clocked 1:01.04 to win the B girls final, while Celeste Goh won the A girls race with 1:01.80.
“This win will give me the confidence to aim for bigger things, and hopefully the SEA Games in time to come,” Emily said.
C Division Girls 400m Final
1st Emily Ong (#84 Singapore Chinese Girls’ School) 01:01.34
2nd Tyeisha Khoo (#98 Singapore Sports School) 01:03.80
3rd Nurfaihah Bte Mohamed Elmie (#120, CHIJ Toa Payoh) 01:04.37
4th Elsie Woo (#408 Nanyang Girls’ High School) 01:04.51
5th Angelina Ng (#387 Nanyang Girls’ High School) 01:05.58
6th Felicia Sng (#239 Cedar Girls’ Secondary) 01:06.91
7th Chelsea Chen (#30 CHIJ St Nicholas Girls’ School) 01:07.46
8th Barbara Chong (#233 Cedar Girls’ Secondary) 01:08.72
C Division Boys 400m Final
1st Ho Zhe Xi (#238 Raffles Institution) 55.59
2nd Or Yong Hur (#479 Hwa Chong Institution) 55.64
3rd Julian Chew (#166 Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)) 56.15
4th Malik Rohan (#380 Tanjong Katong Secondary) 56.92
5th Muhamad Nurshahilmi Bin Noradee (#119 Singapore Sports School) 57.31
6th Lim Yee Rei (#473 Hwa Chong Institution) 57.67
7th Tham Kang Tai (#193 Gan Eng Seng School) 58.94
8th Gabriel Tang (#236 Raffles Institution) 59.47 1
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