C Div 800m: Joel Yuen of Hwa Chong takes gold in 2:15

By Romaine Soh/Red Sports

Joel Yuen (#426) of HCI finished first in 2:15.77. Ashton Tan (#219) of RI followed him in second with a time of 2:16.44 while Luke Chiang (#360) of Temasek Secondary followed in third with a 2:17.03. (Photo © Les Tan/Red Sports)

Choa Chu Kang Stadium, Wednesday, April 10, 2013 — Joel Yuen of Hwa Chong Institution showed vast improvement from last year’s race, shaving eight seconds off his timing to jump from last year’s third-placing to win the C Division 800 metres gold in 2 minutes 15 seconds at the 54th National Schools Track and Field Championships.

Ashton Tan of Raffles Institution came in a second later to secure the silver. A second after him was Luke Chiang Zai Ming of Temasek Secondary who crossed the line for the bronze. It was the first medal of the championships for Temasek.

Ashton led for the first lap, with Joel, Mohammad Shafiq Anshad of St. Joseph’s Institution and Isaiah Boh of Catholic High tagging along. The first lap was completed in 66s.

The pack remained bound to each other until the final 200m, when Joel decided to up the tempo to avoid a face off in the home straight.

Meanwhile, Ashton, who was tiring from leading the first lap, managed to outlast a hard-charging Luke to the finish line to earn himself the silver.

“I was involved in cross country as well, but I was more focused on track, so I was more confident of getting to the podium,” said Joel.

Joel was also registered for the 400m, but he did not manage to qualify for the final.

C Division Boys 800m Results
1st Joel Yuen Wei En (Hwa Chong Institution, #426) — 02:15.77
2nd Tan Kai Shun Ashton (Raffles Institution, #219) — 02:16.44
3rd Luke Chiang Zai Ming (Temasek Secondary, #360) — 02:17.03
4th Isaiah Boh Yu-Teng (Catholic High, #135) — 02:17.92
5th Muhammad Ibad B Norhisham (Commonwealth Secondary, #400) — 02:18.68
6th Mohammad Shafiq Anshad (St Josephs’ Institution, #261) — 02:18.71
7th Ng Ding Xuan (Hwa Chong Institution, #432) — 02:19.99
8th Ronald Tan Bi Yang (Hwa Chong Institution, #440) — 02:21.23
9th Dylan Tay (Catholic High, #131) — 02:22.33
10th Tan Jun Khiang Keith (Victoria School, #394) — 02:24.77
11th Yew Zhong Rui (Nan Hua Secondary, #470) — 02:25.09
12th Darren Wong Jun Jie (Singapore Sports Sch, #68) — 02:26.77
13th Yap Chee Hong (Nan Hua Secondary, #469) — 02:26.82
14th Bok Shi Yu Elliot James (DHS, #296) — 02:28.37
15th Tan Wei Shuen Lucas (MSH, #44) — 02:29.84
16th Wong Meng Ern Philip (ACS(I), #114) — 02:33.65