Story by Zachary Foo/Red Sports. Photos by Laura Lee and Soh Jun Wei/Red Sports

Swimming_NationalSchools_CBoys_100Back-2

Francis Fong of ACS(I) bettered his previous meet record set in the heats by clocking a time of 59.01 seconds to take gold in the boys’ C Division 100m backstroke event. (Photo 1 © Laura Lee/Red Sports)

Singapore Sports School, Wednesday, April 23, 2014 — Francis Fong of Anglo-Chinese (Independent) swam a meet record of 59.01 seconds in the C Division 100m backstroke to win gold at the 55th National Schools Swimming Championships.

This is the second time Francis has set a record in this event, after his 59.69s effort in the heats broke his mark of 1 minute 1.50 seconds set last year.

Lim Fang Jan of Raffles Institution came in second with a time of 1 minute 05.06 seconds, while Isaac Soo of ACS(I) was close behind with a time of 1:05.53.

Francis said, “It feels really great as I was able to break records in the 50m backstroke and 100m backstroke. I really have to thank the people who have supported me all the way, like Coach Gary (Tan), my parents and my friends. My friends actually came all the way down from school to support me, so I am very grateful. I want to thank God for all His glory and indeed, the best is yet to be.”

Francis is currently the fastest local 14-year-old ever in this event. He broke or equalled the national under-14 record three times last year, culminating in the current mark of 1:00.99. He lowered his PB to 1:00.32 in February this year, after he had already turned 14, before going under the minute mark for the first time in the heats of the Schools’ championships last week. With his latest swim of 59.01s, he nearly went into 58s-territory.

Current national 100m backstroke record holder Quah Zheng Wen first swam below 59 seconds when he was 14 years and 10 months old. Former national record holder Rainer Ng was 16 years and 9 months old when he went below 59s.

Only six local swimmers have gone below 59 seconds. They are Zheng Wen, Rainer, Zach Ong, David Lim, Gary Tan and Mark Chay.

C Division Boys 100m Backstroke Results
1st Fong Jia Yi Francis [Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)] — 59.01s
2nd Lim Fang Jan (Raffles Institution) — 1:05.06
3rd Soo Wen Yong Isaac [Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)] — 1:05.53
4th Cher Chek Loong Benjamin [Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)] — 1:05.63
5th Rachmadi Nicholas (Singapore Sports School) — 1:10.06
6th Oon Qing Ying Ryan (Singapore Sports School) — 1:10.74
7th Lee Jia Yi Jeremy [Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)] — 1:12.62
8th Pang Yu Jie Isaac [Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road)] — 1:14.82

More photos next page