Story and photos by Iman Hashim/Red Sports. Additional photos by REDintern Julianna Jothi and Stefanus Ian/Red Sports.
Irsyad B Mohammad Said (#137) of Singapore Sports School clears the final hurdle before crossing the finish line first in the B Division boys’ 400m hurdles final, clocking a time of 57.09s. (Photo 1 © Iman Hashim/Red Sports)
Choa Chu Kang Stadium, Monday, March 25, 2019 — In their final time competing in the event for Singapore Sports School (SSP), Tyeisha Rene Misson Khoo and Irsyad B Mohammad Said made it a swansong to remember as they struck gold in their respective B Division 400-metre hurdles finals.
For Irsyad, who hurdled to the finish in the boys’ final in a time of 57.09 seconds, it also happened to be the first individual medal he has won for the school.
“It took me really long (to win an individual medal) because… I’m a late bloomer, I guess,” said the Secondary 4 student. “Last year, I fell during my last race, so that really pushed me, and I worked extra hard this year to improve to get this medal. I would like to thank my competitors also, like Ken Hayashi who has been competing with me for a long time.”
Ken Hayashi of National Junior College finished with the silver in 57.68s, while Damien Koh of Hwa Chong Institution took the bronze in 58.88s.
The victory proved to be redemption for Irsyad, who was in fourth position in last year’s final before a trip over the last hurdle saw him cross the finish line in seventh.
“It definitely spurred me on, especially since I haven’t won any individual medal before,” said Irsyad. “So last year maybe it was kind of a chance for me to win one but I didn’t get it, so it definitely pushed me for this year.”
Irsyad also added that he was determined to earn a medal after failing to do so in the 400m two weeks back, where he finished sixth.
“That also pushed me, because I was hoping to get a medal for that, but again I didn’t. But the fire in me didn’t go down,” said Irsyad, whose switch in training focus from middle distance to sprints in the past one year looked to have paid dividends.
Meanwhile, SSP teammate Tyeisha successfully defended her title in the girls’ event, stopping the clock in a huge personal best of 1:06.01.
It improved on her previous best timing of 1:07.10, recorded just the previous week at the 3rd Asian Youth Championships in Hong Kong.
“I felt very happy and super excited that I managed to get another PB again this week,” said Tyeisha.
“A few trainings haven’t been quite delightful, but those trainings which were delightful, I’ve seen like good timings which I’ve managed in school, and I think this helped me get my medal this year.”
While her winning time of 1:07.58 in last year’s final was just four hundredths of a second faster than runner-up Wu Shu Han of Nanyang Girls’ High School (NYGH), the winning margin over the same competitor was a good three seconds this time.
Shu Han, who also competed at the Asian Youth meet with a time of 1:08.16, finished with the silver again this year in 1:09.27. Crescent Girls’ Tong Yan Yee, who won silver in the flat 400m, clocked 1:10.29 to claim bronze in the hurdles event.
In winning gold, Tyeisha said she has had to overcome the nerves and expectations of being the favourite.
“I had pressure from friends and family, and also the pressure to defend my title,” said the Secondary 4 student, who said this is her last National Schools.
Having concluded their last 400m hurdles finals for SSP, both Tyeisha and Irsyad paid tribute to their supporting factors in the school.
“I feel very happy and grateful for my coaches, my TM, my teachers, my boarding mentors and everyone who helped me achieve this medal today,” said Tyeisha.
Added Irsyad: “I think I will be in the A Division next year, I won’t be representing SSP anymore, but I really want to thank them. I want to thank Ms Jenny and all my coaches, for all the support they have given me.”
Three days after, Tyeisha came in second in the 100m hurdles final, finishing behind championship record-breaker Elizabeth-Ann Tan of NYGH.
Read the story here.
B Division Girls’ 400m Hurdles Final Results
1st Tyeisha Rene Misson Khoo (#734, Singapore Sports School) — 1:06.01
2nd Wu Shu Han (#1053, Nanyang Girls’ High School) — 1:09.27
3rd Tong Yan Yee (#804, Crescent Girls’ School) — 1:10.29
4th Alexia Song Xiaomei (#1023, Nanyang Girls’ High School) — 1:10.58
5th Arshia Bains (#810, National Junior College) — 1:12.43
6th Tori Ng (#679, CHIJ St. Nicholas Girls’ School) — 1:14.96
7th Barbara Chong Wei Xin (#875, Cedar Girls’ Secondary) — 1:16.02
8th Cass Chan Si En (#722, Singapore Sports School) — 1:18.20
B Division Boys’ 400m Hurdles Final Results
1st Irsyad B Mohammad Said (#137, Singapore Sports School) — 57.09s
2nd Ken Hayashi (#238, National Junior College) — 57.68
3rd Damien Koh Chengjun (#547, Hwa Chong Institution) — 58.88
4th Wong Wuwen (#586, Hwa Chong Institution) — 1:00.37
5th Jet Goh (#135, Singapore Sports School) — 1:01.25
6th Gabriel Tang Zhi Yuan (#287, Raffles Institution) — 1:02.09
7th Wayne Tan Ze Ye (#152, Singapore Sports School) — 1:02.22
Wellington Ho Yu De (#312, Raffles Institution) — DNF
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