Story by Cara Wong/Red Sports. Photos by Lim Yong Teck and Eileen Chew/Red Sports.

ivp track and field

Chan Sheng Yao of National University of Singapore in action during the men’s pole vault event. (Photo 1 © Lim Yong Teck/Red Sports)

Bishan Stadium, Wednesday, January 17, 2018 — National pole vaulter Chan Sheng Yao clinched his first ever Institute-Varsity-Polytechnic (IVP) gold medal and set a new men’s pole vault championship record of 4.71 meters to complete a strong comeback after failing to clear any height in last year’s competition.

The National University of Singapore undergraduate, who is also the national under-20 record holder for the event, was determined to apply what he learnt from his first IVP competition in 2017.

“Last year’s experience really taught me what to focus on every training. I realised that last year, I really didn’t penetrate well during competitions. So today, I made sure that I penetrate well on all my jumps, and that was most important,” said the 22-year-old medicine student, who has a personal best of 4.95m.

Sheng Yao already had the gold in the bag after clearing 4.60m, but chose to try his hand at breaking the IVP record.

He took a chance on using a heavier pole which he borrowed from silver medallist Dewey Ng, for his final few attempts.

While he struggled a little initially to get used to the new pole, the switch paid off as the stronger recoil from the new pole helped him breeze past the 4.71m mark on his third and final attempt. The crowd lent a hand by clapping during his run-up to help him keep time.

“My target was really to qualify for the ASEAN University Games. Breaking the record was a bonus, especially since it’s been around for so long,” said Sheng Yao, with a grin.

His record breaking efforts were witnessed by former record holder, Edwin Chong, who was also in the audience. Edwin, who set the meet record of 4.70m at the 2013 championships, exchanged handshakes and smiles with Sheng Yao after the latter’s win.

Dewey Ng of Nanyang Technological University claimed second with a vault height of 4.20m, and third place was snagged by Irvin Goh of Ngee Ann Polytechnic who cleared 3.00m.

Another first-time IVP gold medallist was national mid-distance runner Zachary Ryan Devaraj of NUS, who won the men’s 1500m event with a timing of 4 minutes 15.73 seconds. Schoolmate Chew Xiu Zheng took home the silver with a PB of 4:18:13, and Burton He of SIM was third at 4:21:29.

The rest of the day’s events were also dominated by NUS.

In the women’s 5000m event, NUS’s Vanessa Lee edged out Nicole Low of NTU in the last few laps to clinch the gold medal in 18.56.04s. Nicole came in second with a time of 19:00:54. Both smashed the meet record of 19:32.28 set last year by NTU’s Neo Hoon Suan.

And in the men’s 10000m event, NUS’s Jeevaneesh S/O Soundararajah went home with the gold after he clocked in at 33:25.04. It was a new PB by just over 40 seconds.

The final day of the IVP track and field championships will be held this Saturday, January 20, at Bishan Stadium. NUS are in prime position to claim a fourth successive trio of titles in the men’s, women’s and overall categories.

They have 117 points in the men’s title race, while NTU (74) and Nanyang Polytechnic (31) languish in second and third place.

In the women’s category, NUS have 84 points to Singapore Management University’s 47 and NYP’s 43.

NUS lead the overall title points race with 201. NTU are currently in second with 99 while NYP have 74 points to lie in third spot.

Results
Men’s Pole Vault
1st: Chan Sheng Yao (National University of Singapore) – 4.71m
2nd: Dewey Ng (Nanyang Technological University) – 4.20m
3rd: Irvin Goh (Ngee Ann Polytechnic) – 3.00m

Men’s 1500m
1st: Zachary Ryan Devaraj (National University of Singapore) – 4:15.73
2nd: Chew Xiu Zheng (National University of Singapore) – 4:18.13
3rd: Burton He (Singapore Institute of Management) – 4:21.29

Women’s 5000m
1st: Vanessa Lee (National University of Singapore) – 18:56.04
2nd: Nicole Low (Nanyang Technological University) – 19:00.54
3rd: Belle Tan (National University of Singapore) – 20:38.14

Men’s 10000m
1st: Jeevaneesh S/O Soundararajah (National University of Singapore) – 33:25.04
2nd: Nabin Parajuli (Singapore Institute of Management) – 34:52.99
3rd: Tan Wei Jie (Nanyang Technological University) – 36:49.61

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