Story by Iman Hashim/Red Sports. Photos by Jerald Ang and Rebekah Abbott/Red Sports.

Ismi Zakiah Bte Kashful Anwar (SSP #40), Tanisha Moghe (RI #130) and Amirah Aljunied (RI #101) in action during the A Division girls’ 200 metres final. Ismi Zakiah clinched the gold with a timing of 26.09 seconds. (Photo 1 © Jerald Ang/Red Sports)

Bishan Stadium, Monday, April 24, 2017 — Singapore Sports School’s Ismi Zakiah Kashful Anwar finally broke a two-year individual gold drought, winning the A Division girls’ 200 metres final at the 58th National Schools Track and Field Championships.

She crossed the finish in a time of 26.09 seconds, while Raffles Institution duo Tanisha Moghe and Amirah Aljunied finished second and third, clocking 26.22s and 26.73s respectively.

“I was actually quite nervous,” Ismi said. “But I just tried to tell myself to keep calm, and that everything will pass by very fast. I wasn’t really aiming for gold, I was really trying to get a personal best. But since I didn’t get it, it’s okay, I’ll try again.”

Winner of the C Division sprint double in both 2013 and 2014, Ismi still holds the electronically-timed (ET) C Division girls’ 200m record of 26.00s she had set in Secondary One, which also remains her personal best.

The fifth-year SSP student acknowledged the intense but amicable competition with Tanisha, the B Division 100m winner last year, and Amirah, the defending champion in this event.

She said, “I think they’re really, really good competitors. They help me push, and give me confidence to do better. They’re actually my close friends, so I’m thankful for them for pushing me and giving a good competition.”

Moving forward, Ismi has qualified second-fastest for the 100m final, behind Tanisha.

On her expectations for the century sprint, Ismi said, “I just hope to run safely, because I don’t want to get injured or anything, and I’m hoping for a personal best as well.”

The 100m and relay finals will take place on April 28 at the National Stadium.

A Division Girls 200m – Top 8
1st Ismi Zakiah Bte Kashful Anwar (#40, Singapore Sports School) – 26.09 seconds
2nd Tanisha Moghe (#130, Raffles Institution) – 26.22
3rd Amirah Aljunied (#101, Raffles Institution) – 26.73
4th Patil Raghavi Pandappa (#141, St. Andrew’s Junior College) – 27.19
5th Hannah Yeo (#195, Victoria Junior College) – 27.58
6th Portia Tan (#220, Anglo-Chinese Junior College) – 27.63
7th Nicole Hu (#111, Raffles Institution) – 27.68
8th Brenda Jansen (#84, National Junior College) – 27.94

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