Story by Colin Tung/Red Sports. Photos by Marvin Lowe/Red Sports

Youth Olympic track

Goh Wei Ning leaping past her last hurdle on her way to a fourth place finish in her heats. (Photo 1 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)

Bishan Stadium, Tuesday, August 17, 2010 — On a hot first day of athletics competition, Singapore’s Goh Wei Ning and Sean Toh hurdled to similar stories on the track.

Both clocked the fastest reaction times in their heat but could not capitalize on them to finish an identical 16th in their field of athletes — [18 girls in Wei Ning’s 100m hurdles and 17 boys (including one disqualified) in Sean’s 110m hurdles].

Wei Ning finished fourth in the first of three heats, clocking 15.01 seconds. The fastest girl in her heat was Trinity Wilson of the United States in 13.88s.

Wilson’s winning time was the slowest of the three heats, good enough only for sixth overall. Ekaterina Bleskina of Russia and Megan Simmonds of Jamaica clocked the fastest and second fastest times, winning the third and second heats, in 13.32s and 13.64s respectively.

Wei Ning, whose personal best is 14.78s, commented after her race: “I wasn’t thinking anything except to just go faster, faster, faster! Don’t hit the hurdles.”

She also remarked that she’s aiming for a personal best in the “B” final she qualified for as the 16th-fastest qualifier.

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“They are all really fast! I hope I can go sub-14 like them,” she mused.

Sean’s heat was also the slowest with Wang Dongqiang of China emerging top with a time — 13.87s — placing Wang only sixth-fastest overall. Sean clocked 15.09s in his heat, way below his personal best of 13.98s.

A false start, however, marred Sean’s heat and could be the reason for the slow times.

Cesar Ramirez of Mexico was the culprit and as the second buzzer sounded to signal the false start, Sean continued to clear the hurdles oblivious to Ramirez’s error. He only halted when an official stepped in to alert him to the restart.

“I didn’t hear it (the false start alert). I didn’t know what was happening and I didn’t dare to turn around,” Sean explained.

The boys got off to a clean start without Ramirez on the second time, but Sean’s energy had obviously waned. He did not look as smooth over the hurdles as he was on the first start.

“The false start broke my my mental focus and though I think I had a great start the second time, the false start (had) used up the energy I was saving up,” Sean elaborated.

As the 16th-ranked boy in the field, Sean will also be competing in the “B” final.

China’s Wang Dongqiang, on the other hand, is motivated to get a medal when he races in the “A” final. Competing in the same event as compatriot Liu Xiang inevitably brings comparisons with the one-time world record holder.

On Liu Xiang, Wang said: “He spurred China a lot (with his athletic achievements internationally). So when I represent China, I feel a lot of confidence.”

The fastest boy in the heats of the 110m hurdles was Australian Nicholas Hough, who clocked 13.50s. He is also aiming to medal and he said: “I hope to come home at the age of 16 (his date of birth is 20 October 1993) and say I’ve got an Olympic medal.”

The third and last Singaporean athlete competing on the day was Wendy Enn in the 400m girls’ heats.

Wendy placed 21st overall in a field of 27 girls (including one disqualified and one who did not finish). She clocked 1 minute 2.74 seconds to finish sixth in her heat of seven girls.

“I want to faint already,” an exhausted Wendy, who had been too breathless to speak with reporters immediately after her race, said.

She let on that she was at the Thailand Sports School Games not too long ago from August 1 to August 10. Though she was tired, she expressed a desire to go below 60s (her personal best is 1 minute 1.01 seconds) for the 400m.

Looking towards the “B” final, she said: “This time cannot, next time lah!”

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Youth Olympic Athletics Day 2

Day 1 Results
Girls’ Discus Qualification
Boys’ Discus Qualification
Boys’ High Jump Qualification
Girls’ Long Jump Qualification
Girls’ Pole Vault Qualification
Girls’ 3000m Qualification
Boys’ 3000m Qualification
Girls’ 100m Hurdles Heat 1
Girls’ 100m Hurdles Heat 2
Girls’ 100m Hurdles Heat 3
Boys’ 110m Hurdles Heat 1
Boys’ 110m Hurdles Heat 2
Boys’ 110m Hurdles Heat 3
Girls’ 400m Heat 1
Girls’ 400m Heat 2
Girls’ 400m Heat 3
Girls’ 400m Heat 4
Boys’ 400m Heat 1
Boys’ 400m Heat 2
Boys’ 400m Heat 3
Boys’ 400m Heat 4

Youth Olympic track

Goh Wei Ning gives a shout as she bursts towards the finish. (Photo 2 © Marvin Low/Red Sports)

Youth Olympic track

Goh Wei Ning crosses the finish line. (Photo 3 © Marvin Low/Red Sports)

Youth Olympic track

Friendship and sportsmanship are key values of the YOG. Wei Ning gives the thumbs up to Silvia Panguana of Mozambique. Wei Ning had also noticed how every single one of her competitors donned minimalist sports bras that bared their midriffs and she was the only one that was different. “Maybe that’s why they are so fast,” she joked. (Photo 4 © Marvin Low/Red Sports)

Youth Olympic track

Sean Toh leaping over his final hurdle. He too finished 16th overall in his heats. (Photo 5 © Marvin Low/Red Sports)

Youth Olympic track

Sean Toh ponders on what could have been a better timing. Sean burnt precious energy after he continued clearing the hurdles oblivious to Mexico’s Cesar Ramirez false start. The other competitors had begun to walk back towards their starting blocks. (Photo 6 © Marvin Low/Red Sports)

Youth Olympic track

Wendy giving her best in her 400m heats but could only finish sixth in her heat. (Photo 7 © Marvin Low/Red Sports)

Youth Olympic track

Wendy’s exertions left her breathless at the end of her race. (Photo 8 © Marvin Low/Red Sports)

For Singapore fixtures and results, go to our 2010 YOG fixtures page