Sean Lim prepares for his vault at the Singapore U-23 Open Championships. He cleared 4.83m to break the old record by 1cm. (Photo © Stanley Cheah/Red Sports)
Choa Chu Kang Stadium, Sunday, October 6, 2013 – Sean Lim, 20, set a new national record when he cleared 4.83m at the Singapore Under-23 Open Track and Field Championships.
He broke the six-month-old record of 4.82m set by training partner Chan Sheng Yao earlier this year at the 52nd National Schools Track and Field Championships. Sheng Yao, 17, did not compete at the U-23 championships because of an ailment.
Sean Lim cleared 4.70m on his second attempt. He then asked for the bar to be raised to 4.83m and cleared it on his third attempt.
Sean then made one attempt and failed at 4.90m before asking for the bar to be raised to 5.00m. He did not clear that height with his remaining two attempts.
Said Sean, who is currently serving his National Service: “I am very happy to have broken the previous record by my training partner Sheng Yao. Once I cleared 4.70m, there was not much between that height and the previous record, so my coach and I decided that we should go for it. But it was still a surprise to set a new national record since I have not been able to train regularly due to my national service commitments.”
The Singapore Athletic Association (SAA) are now presented with a selection headache because Chan Sheng Yao and Edwin Chong have already been selected to represent Singapore in the pole vault at the upcoming South-east Asian (SEA) Games in Myanmar. Edwin, 25, qualified with a 4.70m clearance at the 2012 U-23 Open Championships. Edwin won a bronze at the 2011 SEA Games with a 4.70m clearance.
“I understand that there is still a slight chance of being selected for the SEA Games, but I don’t really know the details. It is up to the national selectors. But hopefully I will get the nod, especially since my last appearance at the SEA Games didn’t end very well when I injured myself in my very first jump!” added Sean.
2013 Singapore U-23 Open Track and Field Championships – full results
(Video © Singapore Athletic Association. Used with permission)
[…] Lim, 20, set a new national pole vault record of 4.83m at the Singapore Under-23 Open Track and Field Championships held on October […]