B Div 1,500m: Carys Hor of Nanyang Girls’ wins 4th consecutive gold

By Romaine Soh/Red Sports

Carys Hor (#365) of Nanyang Girls’ High won the B Div 1,500m final in 5:21.10.
Nah Yi Xin (#149) of Cedar Girls’ was second in 5:22.01 while Lee Yuet Zhen (#143, second from right), also of Cedar, was third in 5:25.36. (Photo © Les Tan/Red Sports)

Choa Chu Kang Stadium, Thursday, April 11, 2013 — Carys Hor of Nanyang Girls’ High proved her dominance in the middle distance events when she won her fourth consecutive 1,500 metres gold, stopping the clock at 5 minutes 21 seconds in the B Division 1,500m final at the 54th National Schools Track and Field Championships.

Just a second behind was Nah Yi Xin of Cedar Girls’ Secondary, whose last-minute sprint was not enough for her to catch up to Carys. Lee Yuet Zhen, also of Cedar Girls’, took home the bronze with a time of 5:25.

Tan Yin Lin of Raffles Girls’ School had taken the lead from the start, with Yi Xin and Yuet Zhen contented to follow her pace. Carys opted to stay at the back, a change from previous years when she would take the lead from the very start, and hold it all the way to the end. The first lap was then completed in 84 seconds, on track for a time of 5:15.

However, the second lap timing slowed to 92 seconds, increasing the likelihood that no one would run under a 5:20. Carys slowly made her way up the field, settling in third place behind Yin Lin and Yi Xin.

With 550m left in the race, Peh Jia Wen of Commonwealth Secondary charged into the lead at the beckoning of her coach. However, as the bell sounded for the last lap, Yuet Zhen and Carys started to kick, which Jia Wen was unable to respond to.

In the final 200m, Carys established a huge lead over the rest of the field. Only Yi Xin was able to challenge her, but the finish line came up too soon, and the gold went to Carys.

Regarding her four consecutive 1,500m golds, she exclaimed: “I am really happy that I am able to make such an achievement!”

“I think it is a wonderful way to end my four years of track in secondary school. I hope to hit below 5:15 in the future!” said Carys, whose personal best for the 1,500m is 5:19.

Carys’ track record for the 800m is not too shabby as well, having won the gold every year since 2011. Her personal best for that is 2:28.

Asked about her aspirations for the 800m, she replied: “I hope to rewrite my personal best!”

B Division Girls 1,500m Results
1st Hor Kar Yin Carys (Nanyang Girls’ High, #365) — 05:21.10
2nd Nah Yi Xin (Cedar Girls’, #149) — 05:22.01
3rd Lee Yuet Zhen (Cedar Girls’, #143) — 05:25.36
4th Marianne Elizabeth John (Crescent Girls’, #166) — 05:28.00
5th Jillian See Shu Xin (Chung Cheng High (Main), #252) — 05:28.64
6th Lin Yuxin Kathleen (Crescent Girls’, #165) — 05:30.94
7th Peh Jia Wen (Commonwealth Secondary, #323) — 05:31.16
8th Grace Ng En Hui (Singapore Sports Sch, #81) — 05:32.40
9th Melanie Anne Hui Fen Bickham (CHIJ St Theresa’s Convent, #124) — 05:35.13
10th Lok Xin Ying (Cedar Girls’, #147) — 05:35.56
11th Tan Yin Lin (Raffles Girls’, #216) — 05:36.14
12th Lim Jia Qi (National Junior College, #179) — 05:37.07
13th Lim Peak Kee (CHIJ St Nicholas Girls’, #37) — 05:41.00
14th Annika Mock (CHIJ Sec (Toa Payoh), #102) — 05:44.06
15th Pyone Myat Thwe (Commonwealth Secondary, #324) — 05:48.16
16th Shervon Goh Yue Qi (Commonwealth Secondary, #325) — 05:49.31