national schools track and field championships

Ruelia (left) of SRJC on her way to winning the A Div 200m final in 25.79. Lynette Goh (right) of HCI was 2nd in 25.84. (Photo 1 © Les Tan/Red Sports)

Choa Chu Kang Stadium, Thursday, April 5, 2012 – Serangoon Junior College’s Ruelia Nesaranjini outpaced Lynette Goh of Hwa Chong Institution to win the Girls’ A Division 200 metres gold medal at the 53rd National Schools’ Track and Field Championships.

The pair matched each other stride for stride from the gun and rounded the bend to the home straight side by side, till Ruelia inched ahead with 30m remaining and held the lead to the finish.

Ruelia, who has won gold, silver and bronze respectively in the last three 200m finals she has competed in, clocked a time of 25.79 seconds, a new personal best.

Lynette, who represented Singapore Sports School in only the 100m at the Schools’ Championships during her four years there, ran a time of 25.84. It was the fourth fastest time of the year recorded by a Singaporean athlete.

The championship record is 24.60, set by Prema Govindan, then of Ang Mo Kio Secondary, in the 1984 final. It was the last time a national record was set in a track event at the National Schools’ Championships. National Junior College’s Lee Yan Lin holds the electronically-timed record of 25.61, set in 2005.

Rachel Koh of Raffles Institution was third, in a time of 26.68 seconds. She was also the bronze medalist in the C Division 200m final four years ago.

Results
1st Ruelia Nesaranjini d/o R R (Serangoon Junior College) – 25.79 seconds
2nd Goh Hui Yu Lynette (Hwa Chong Institution) – 25.84
3rd Koh Hui Fang Rachel (Raffles Institution) – 26.68
4th Joy Chia Jing Xian (Raffles Institution) – 27.60
5th Ching Hui Xian Jessica (Anglo-Chinese Junior College) – 27.63
6th Maria Grazia Lee Shu En (National Junior College) – 27.80
7th Jean Chiew Ling (Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)) – 28.15
8th Shermaine Yeo Xuewei (Hwa Chong Institution) – 28.34

Video © SAA. Used with permission.

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