By Lim Yong Teck/Red Sports
Diane Hilary Pragasam (#81) of Singapore Sports School runs the anchor leg of the C Division girls’ 4x400m relay final. Singapore Sports School’s victory means Diane joins a rare group of athletes who have won four golds in a single meet. (Photo 1 © Lim Yong Teck/Red Sports)
Singapore Sports School, Friday, April 24, 2015 — A 4 minute and 19.18 second effort by Singapore Sports School’s quartet of Diane Hilary Pragasam (#81), Nur Ria Isabelle (#85), Raine Oh (#89) and Zann Oh (#93) topped the C Division girls’ 4x400m relay field for the gold medal at the 56th National Inter-School Track and Field Championships.
The girls’ result is an eight-second improvement from the heats, where they clocked 4:27.23.
“We’re really happy to win this because we lost to Nanyang Girls’ High in the SPH relays,” said Diane, who anchored the race.
She added, “I really want to thank my teammates, because they really pushed themselves beyond their limits. We actually didn’t think that we could do so well and we really fought hard for the title.”
Nanyang Girls’ High bagged the silver medal with a timing of 4:22.56, while Cedar Girls’ Secondary finished in third place with a timing of 4:23.21.
With the victory, Diane joins an elite group of athletes with her four total golds in a single meet, including the C Division girls’ 200m, 400m and 4x100m relay titles. Her senior, 15-year-old Ismi Zakiah, achieved the rare feat in last year’s championships as well, when she clinched the C Division girls’ 100m, 200m, 4x100m and 4x400m relay titles.
“I’m really thankful for the result,” said Diane. “Honestly, I’m very surprised because I thought that I couldn’t get four golds within a span of three weeks.”
The quartet’s victory helped Singapore Sports School clinch a third-placed finish in the divisional rankings with a total of 88 points. Cedar Girls’ Secondary and Nanyang Girls’ High finished first and second with 166 and 136 points respectively.
C Division Girls’ 4x400m Relay Results
1st: Singapore Sports School – 4:19.18
2nd: Nanyang Girls’ High School – 4:22.56
3rd: Cedar Girls’ Secondary – 4:23.21
4th: CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh) – 4:26.63
5th: Dunman High School – 4:39.24
6th: Raffles Girls’ School – 4:39.98
7th: CHIJ Katong Convent – 4:43.59
8th: CHIJ St. Nicholas Girls’ School – 4:44.17
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Mr Lim, I hope you don’t mind I highlight pertaining the 4x400m runner , Diane who you mentioned the only runner who has won four gold after Eugenia. It’s not correct as just last year there’s also a girl who had won the same no. of golds . It’s just last year 2014 meet.
Hi Ismi! So sorry for the error. I’ve rectified the post to include the fact. 🙂 Thanks for clarifying.