Story by Iman Hashim/Red Sports. Photos by Rebekah Abbott and Benedict Yeo/Red Sports.

Diane Hilary Pragasam (SSP #81) finishing first in the B Girls 400m final. Zann Oh (SSP #93) was second, followed by Grace Shani Anthony (RGS #226). (Photo 1 © Benedict Yeo/Red Sports)

Bishan Stadium, Thursday, April 20, 2017 — She has emerged victorious in every 400 metres final she has competed in at the National Schools Track and Field Championships.

On Thursday, Diane Hilary Pragasam of Singapore Sports School (SSP) added her fourth 400m title in as many years when she clocked 1 minute 1.04 seconds to come out tops among the B Division girls.

Diane’s winning time was also the fastest across all three girls’ divisions.

“Coming into the race I felt quite confident because I was assured of myself, and I’ve prepared well for it,” Diane said. “So when I got onto the track I couldn’t think of anything except what it would be like to win.”

“That’s what pushed me all the way through. I knew I was the reigning champion from the past few years, so I knew this was the opportunity I couldn’t miss, I couldn’t give it to anybody else.”

The fight for the silver medal was agonisingly close between Zann Oh of SSP and Grace Shani Anthony of Raffles Girls’ School. Zann eventually edged out the latter by one-hundredth of a second, clocking 1:01.69.

Said Diane of her teammate, “I’m very happy for Zann, because I knew her since Secondary One, and I could see her grow as an athlete all the way until now. I would say she has improved a lot in terms of her fighting spirit, and knowing herself and knowing how fast she can go.”

Diane will now look forward to the 200m final, of which she is also the defending champion.

A winner of four gold medals last year – in the 200m, 400m, 4x100m and 4x400m relays – Diane said she is aiming to repeat the same feat.

However, she is wary of the competition.

She said, “There are very strong competitors this time round, so I’m sure it will give me an even better feeling about the race and make me even stronger.”

B Division Girls’ 400m – Top 8
1st Diane Hilary Pragasam (#81, Singapore Sports School) – 1:01.04
2nd Zann Oh (#93, Singapore Sports School) – 1:01.69
3rd Grace Shani Anthony (#226, Raffles Girls’ School) – 1:01.70
4th Amanda Ashley Woo (#437, Nanyang Girls’ High School) – 1:03.06
5th Phoebe Angeline Law (#462, Nanyang Girls’ High School) – 1:03.71
6th Kathya Kodikara (#267, Cedar Girls’ Secondary) – 1:04.89
7th Ainsley Lim (#39, CHIJ St. Nicholas Girls’ School) – 1:05.30
8th Nur Ria Isabelle (#84, Singapore Sports School) – 1:05.92

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