A Div 100m: Donovan Chan of HCI sets record of 10.70 in gold medal run

Donovan Chan (right) on his way to winning in a championship record time of 10.70. (Photo © Les Tan/Red Sports)

Choa Chu Kang Stadium, Tuesday, April 10, 2012 — Donovan Chan of Hwa Chong Institution clocked 10.70 seconds to set a new A Division Boys’ 100m record at the 53rd National Schools Track and Field Championships.

Despite the wet track and the three-hour delay due to lightning, Donovan burned up the track to smash Poh Seng Song’s electronically-timed record of 10.80 set in 2001 while wearing the colours of Anglo-Chinese Junior College. Hamkah Mohd Afik holds the hand-timed record of 10.70 which he set in 1990 while representing Chai Chee Secondary.

The national record is 10.37 set by U K Shyam in 2001 at the World University Games held in Beijing.

Muhammad Haikal Bin Ismail of Millennia Institute had the early lead but he was caught and overhauled by Donovan Chan at about the 50m mark.

Haikal came the closest to winning a medal of any colour for MI when he finished fourth in 11.29. He was only one of two athletes from MI taking part in the championships.

Tan Zong Yang, also of HCI, was second in 10.92 while Ezra Toh of Raffles Institution was third in 11.14.

Donovan and Zong Yang were the only two athletes who went under 11 seconds.

Results
1st Chan Zhiyuan Donovan (Hwa Chong Institution) — 10.70 [New Championship record]
2nd Tan Zong Yang (Hwa Chong Institution) — 10.92
3rd Toh Ren Yi Ezra (Raffles Institution) — 11.14
4th Muhammad Haikal Bin Ismail (Millennia Institute) — 11.29
5th Wong Ming (Serangoon Junior College) — 11.30
6th Darren Koh Chee Yung (Raffles Institution) — 11.31
7th Prince Leleon Lau (Victoria Junior College) — 11.49
8th Law Zer Wei Joshua (Anderson Junior College) — 11.65