A Division 3000m: Belle Tan of ACJC sees off Wan Zahrah and Clara Wong to win gold

By Les Tan/Red Sports and Erwin Wong/Red Sports. Photos by Tan Jon Han/Red Sports and Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports.

Choa Chu Kang Stadium, Monday, April 25, 2011 — Belle Tan of Anglo-Chinese Junior College overhauled Wan Zahrah (Raffles Institution) and Clara Wong (Victoria Junior College) on the final lap to win gold in the A Division 3000m final at the 52nd National Schools Track and Field Championships.

Belle clocked 11 minutes 40.19 seconds, a new personal best. The hand-timed record for the event is 10:34.60s set by Zhang Cuiying of Raffles Junior College in 1991. Pamela Chia set the electronically-timed record of 10:59.21s in 2003.

“I didn’t expect to win. I was told to follow Wan Zahrah but I was expecting Clara or Wan Zahrah to win,” said Belle after the race. “I’ve never done under 12 minutes before. My best was 12:11 in 2010.”

Wan Zahrah was the front runner for most of the race, with Clara and Belle tucking in behind her in a lead pack consisting of just the three of them. At the sound of the bell for the final lap, Belle made her move on Zahrah with Clara following. With Zahrah dropped, the last 300m was a straight race between Clara and Belle, with the ACJC student having the stronger finish.

Belle and Clara won their first medals in the 3000m event at the national schools meet, while Wan Zahrah picked up her fourth 3000m medal – two silvers and two bronzes – in five years.

A Division 3000m Girls Results (Top Eight)
1st Belle Tan (ACJC) — 11:40.19
2nd Clara Wong (VJC) — 11:41.15
3rd Wan Zahrah Bte Ahmad Alif Lim (RI) — 11:53.43
4th Seow Yun Yun (RI) — 12:04.82
5th Debbie Ho (HCI) — 12:12.57
6th Melissa Tsang (VJC) — 12:16.72
7th Melinda Chan (RI) — 12:38.57
8th Chua Wan Ping (ACJC) — 12:49.91

Video embedded with permission of SAA and SSSC

For more photos, go to the next page.