By Lim Yong Teck/Red Sports

55th National Inter-School Track & Field Championships B Division 2000m Steeplechase Boys

RI’s Tan Chong Qi clinched the boys’ B Division 2000m steeplechase gold medal with a timing of 6 minutes 43.17 seconds. (Photo 1 © Lim Yong Teck/Red Sports)

Choa Chu Kang Stadium, Tuesday, April 15, 2014 — Tan Chong Qi of Raffles Institution (RI) defended his boys’ B Division 2000m steeplechase title with a timing of 6 minutes 43.17 seconds at the 55th National Inter-School Track & Field Championships.

Dylan Tan of Hwa Chong Institution bagged the silver medal with a timing of 6:44.78, while Isaac Tan of Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) finished third in 6:46.92.

With the win, Chong Qi completed a treble of victories after his earlier wins at last month’s Schools’ cross country meet and the 3000m here at the Schools’ track and field meet. He is the first athlete since ex-Victoria School runner Narayan Paudel in 1998 to achieve this trio of victories in the B Division.

The 16-year-old commented, “I feel a sense of achievement. I was very afraid that I was going to lose, because I did not really train nor take part in most of the steeplechase events this year. On the other hand, Dylan has been training hard for the event. I want to thank my family, teachers, coaches, and most importantly, my friends.”

Chong Qi met the qualifying mark of 6:43.64 for the Youth Olympic Games Asian Area Qualification in May.

The electronically-timed B Division 2000m steeplechase record of 6:25.24 was set by Victoria School alumnus, Narayan Paudel, in 1998. The hand-timed record is 6:11.2 and it was set by Anglo-Chinese School alumnus, Nigel Foo, in 1993.

B Div 2000m Steeplechase (Boys) Results (Top 10)
1st Tan Chong Qi (#303, Raffles Institution) – 6:43.17
2nd Tan Yong Jin Dylan (#558, Hwa Chong Institution) – 6:44.78
3rd Tan Wei Long Isaac [#176, Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)] – 6:46.92
4th Teng Jian Ling (#513, Commonwealth Secondary) – 6:54.38
5th Glen Brian Palmer (#336, St. Joseph’s Institution) – 6:55.70
6th Ierhan B Muhammad Raushan (#118, Singapore Sports School) – 7:01.78
7th Shamus Lim Shi Hoe (#554, Hwa Chong Institution) – 7:05.50
8th Gideon Phong Wei Sheng [#155, Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)] – 7:10.55
9th Chew Jay Ee [#152, Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)] – 7:13.57
10th Mandip Rai (#485, Victoria School) – 7:15.16

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCkLzw-peIo#t=38

Video © SAA. Used with permission.

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