Story by Jiexin Neo/Red Sports. Photos by Clara Yuan and Rebekah Abbott/Red Sports

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Thia Yi Yi of Hwa Chong Institution sprinting towards the finish line. HCI emerged first in the girls’ A Division 4x400m relay final with a timing of 4:12.37. (Photo 1 © Clara Yuan/Red Sports)

Choa Chu Kang Sports Stadium, Wednesday, April 16, 2014 — Hwa Chong Institution (HCI) won the A Division girls’ 4×400 metres relay gold at the 55th National Schools Track and Field Championships.

HCI, led by 800m and 1500m winner Carys Hor, and 200m/400m champion Thia Yi Yi, overtook Victoria Junior College 40m from the end of the penultimate leg to win in a time of 4 minutes 12.37 seconds. VJC came in second in 4:14.87, while Raffles Institution clocked 4:20.32 to claim third.

Hwa Chong Institution led the pack in the first leg and for most of the second, until VJC swept to the lead in the final 100m. It was status quo until HCI’s third runner Carys passed her VJC counterpart late in the home straight.

Yi Yi, who clocked a personal best of 59.50s to win the 400m title, was never threatened and saw out the victory, HCI’s second straight and fourth in the last five years.

“To be honest, we were rather confident, because our runners are strong this year, so that’s why I guess I could say we are confident. VJC were one of our main competitors as most of their runners are also 400 runners. In the last 100m I was using my shadow as a gauge to push myself faster. Good race to all schools,” said Yi Yi.

The A Division 4x400m girls’ relay record is 4:02.47 and was set by HCI three years ago.

A Div 4x400m (Girls) Results
1st Hwa Chong Institution — 04:12.37
2nd Victoria Junior College — 04:14.87
3rd Raffles Institution — 04:20.32
4th Anglo-Chinese Junior College — 04:22.85
5th Catholic Junior College — 04:30.19
6th National Junior College — 04:33.12
7th Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) — 04:43.65
8th Yishun Junior College — 04:45.73

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diPO7Wjxk3c#t=38

Video © SAA. Used with permission.

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