C Division 3000m: Thineshwaran of Bendemeer Secondary wins in more ways than one

By REDintern Soh Rui Yong. Photos by Tan Jon Han/Red Sports

Choa Chu Kang Stadium, Monday, April 25, 2011 — Reigning national schools C boys’ cross country champion Thineshwaran S/O Krishnakumar of Bendemeer Secondary overhauled race leader Shohib Bin Abdul Wahab Marican of Raffles Institution (RI) in the final 250m to add the 3000m title to his cross country crown. He clocked a personal best of 10 minutes 12.79 seconds to hold off a late charge by Shohib, who finished less than a second behind in 10:13.56.

“It’s undescribable,” said Thinesh about how he felt after the race. “The last 200m, 100m, I kept looking for his (Shohib’s) shadow. Shohib was leading all the way but I kept close to him and overtook at the last 150m. My father said to use my speed to overtake him.”

Thinesh’s previous personal best was 10:50.

After surprising Shohib and another Rafflesian, Mohamed Imran Jashirudeen, to win the C boys’ gold medal at the National Inter-school Cross Country Championships last month, the 3000m final was being touted as a rematch between Thineshwaran, the two Rafflesians, as well as Leroi Lee of Nan Hua High, the cross country bronze medalist.

Imran made his intentions clear right from the start, moving swiftly to the front of the pack and leading the field through the first 400m in 73 seconds. Shohib joined him at the front soon after and the two teammates looked content to control the race and set the pace for the rest of the athletes.

450m into the race though, disaster struck. The runners began to crowd in a bunch as the pace slowed down considerably after the first lap. They began to look uneasy running so closely together. Then, Imran’s foot was clipped from behind as the the athletes behind him jostled for position, and he lost his balance, tumbling towards the track.

Confused by the flurry of events, the chasing pack struggled to take evasive manoeuvres, with those unable to react in time ending up running straight into the back of Imran. At this point, Thineshwaran, who had been running in the middle of the pack, slowed down and attempted to render assistance to his fallen opponent, encouraging Imran to get back on his feet.

After overcoming his initial state of of shock, Imran bounced back onto his feet and gave chase immediately. Thinesh and Imran managed to catch up with new race leader Shohib within the next half of a lap, though Imran was visibly shaken from his stroke of misfortune. Left alone at the front, Shohib now had the unenviable task of setting the pace for the rest of the field, who were content to just hang back and watch him.

Shohib shouldered the burden of setting the pace courageously, however. He ran consistent lap splits of 84-86 seconds, even winding up the pace in the last two laps to shake off most of his pursuers before eventually succumbing to Thinesh’s ferocious sprint in the closing 250m of the race.

C Boys’ 3000m results

Position/Name/School/Time
1 Thineshwaran S/O Krishnakumar, Bendemeer Secondary — 10:12.79
2. Shohib B Abdul Wahab Marican, Raffles Institution — 10:13.56
3. Leroi Lee Rong Zu, Nan Hua High — 10:18.04
4. Leong Sheu Xiang, Hwa Chong Institution — 10:23.24
5. Keith Yong Sheng Wei, Singapore Sports School — 10:24.07
6. Mohamed Imran Jashirudeen, Raffles Institution — 10:37.05
7. Kennedy Yap Poh Chong, North Vista Secondary — 10:54.09
8. Chua Shao Shxuan, Raffles Institution — 10:54.81
9. Dylan Tan Yong Jin, Hwa Chong Institution — 10:56.16
10. John Tio Chee Hon, Commonwealth Secondary — 11:06.73
11. Scott Ho Hao Yi, Catholic High — 11:14.50
12. Joel Koh Zhi Xuan, Hwa Chong Institution — 11:14.90
13. Ivan Consuelo Hong, Bendemeer Secondary — 11:15.39
14. Muhammad Danial Lim B A A L T, Victoria School — 11:19.43
15. Gerald Soh, Chung Cheng High — 11:39.93
16. Douglas Yeo Zhi Xiang, Nan Hua High — WDL

Video shown with permission of SAA and SSSC

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