Story by Iman Hashim/Red Sports. Photos by Jerald Ang and Rebekah Abbott/Red Sports.
Randall Choo (HCI #281) elated by his first gold. (Photo 1 © Rebekah Abbott/Red Sports)
Bishan Stadium, Monday, April 24, 2017 — His last taste of victory in inter-school track and field competition was back in primary school. After almost six years of secondary school and junior college, Randall Choo of Hwa Chong Institution finally broke his gold duck when he won the A Division boys’ 400 metres hurdles gold at the 58th National Schools Track and Field Championships.
He clocked 57.57 seconds, while Raffles Institution’s Isaac Toh (58.81s) and Anglo-Chinese Junior College’s Loh Yuan Yee (59.32s) were second and third respectively.
“Today, I’m extremely grateful,” Randall said. “I came out here knowing it’s my last individual race after six years in the sport, 10 years including my primary school days. I just wanted to go out there, do my best, give my all, and whatever the result, I’ll be happy with it. And to get the gold medal is extremely humbling, and I’m extremely grateful for it.”
Randall paid tribute to a few special people, including his graduated senior Ow Yeong Wei Bin, who had set the championship record in the event last year.
“I’m grateful for the support my friends have given me every step of the way, my family, my coach, and my senior as well, Wei Bin. His guidance was definitely invaluable, and I’m extremely grateful for all of them,” Randall said.
Recollecting his post-race thoughts, he said, “Actually for the final, I wanted to stick to my race plan and save some energy for the last burst. But I guess I was a bit too hyped up and I went all out from the start, and lost a bit of steam towards the end. But to able to still get the gold medal, I’m extremely grateful and really happy.”
Randall’s victory makes up for the disappointment of getting two straight silvers in his pet event, the 110m hurdles.
However, he had no regrets about his performance in the sprint-hurdles final.
“To be honest, my pet event was always the 110m hurdles,” he said. “Although I lost that race, I gave it the hardest fight I could, and I think although I didn’t get a new personal best, I equalled it – I definitely gave my all for that race.”
A Division Boys 400m Hurdles – Top 8
1st Randall Choo (#281, Hwa Chong Institution) – 57.57 seconds
2nd Isaac Toh Beam (#160, Raffles Institution) – 58.81
3rd Loh Yuan Yee (#242, Anglo-Chinese Junior College) – 59.32
4th Luke Chiang (#168, St. Andrew’s Junior College) – 59.61
5th Samuel Ng (#244, Anglo-Chinese Junior College) – 1:01.85
6th Shaun Hin Fei (#155, Raffles Institution) – 1:02.98
7th Joseph Low (#243, Anglo-Chinese Junior College) – 1:03.30
8th Malcolm Tay (#113, Catholic Junior College) – 1:05.02
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