Story and photos by Lim Yong Teck/Red Sports

a div b div c div hurdles girls

Tia Louise Rozario (#36) of Singapore Sports School clears the final hurdle during the A Division girls’ 100m hurdles final. (Photo 1 © Lim Yong Teck/Red Sports)

Choa Chu Kang Stadium, Tuesday, April 3, 2018 — Ever since CHIJ Katong Convent and Raffles Institution alumna Jannah Wong won all her hurdles finals at the National Schools Track and Field Championships, no one has come close. No one except Tia Louise Rozario.

The final year Singapore Sports School student pipped Hwa Chong Institution’s Tan Jing Wei to win her sixth sprint hurdles title in 15.17 seconds and became the first athlete to dominate the hurdles crown since Wong did so from 2009-2014. Including her primary school titles, Rozario has won nine straight.

“I’m actually super pleased with my performance because I managed to complete my nine-year streak,” said Rozario.

“The sprint hurdles event really means a lot to me and this is a really good way to end off my final year at Sports School.”

Rozario and Tan were neck-and-neck until the latter fell behind with four hurdles remaining. Tan finished in 15.52s to claim the silver, while Emma Tan of Anglo-Chinese Junior College completed the podium with a timing of 16.48s.

“This year’s race is the most challenging one for me, because the competitors this year are much stronger,” said Rozario, who clipped two hurdles along the way. “I’m just very thankful that I didn’t fall and manage to complete the race.”

While the 18-year-old did not manage to meet her personal best timing of 15.05s, achieved at last year’s edition, her nine-year streak is definitely something to be celebrated.

In the day’s earlier races, Nanyang Girls’ High dominated both the B and C Division sprint hurdles finals. The B Division podium belonged solely to Nanyang Girls, with Valencia Ho coming in first with a timing of 15.52s. Team-mate Skylar Gen Johnson topped the C Division final in 12.74s, with Heiga Chua of Cedar Girls’ Secondary finishing second in 13.35s to foil the sweep.

A Division Girls’ 100m Hurdles Results
1st: Tia Louise Rozario (#45, Singapore Sports School) – 15.17s
2nd: Tan Jing Wei (#265, Hwa Chong Institution) – 15.52s
3rd: Emma Tan (#214, Anglo-Chinese Junior College) – 16.48s
4th: Rachel Loh (#192, Victoria Junior College) – 16.67s
5th: Goh Shi Jie (#87, National Junior College) – 17.57s
6th: Alyssa Goh (#239, Hwa Chong Institution) – 17.71s
7th: Chloe Vanessa Sea (#65, Catholic Junior College) – 19.72s
8th: Theresa Lam (#101, National Junior College) – 21.70s

B Division Girls’ 100m Hurdles Results
1st: Valencia Ho (#443, Nanyang Girls’ High) – 15.52s
2nd: Tiffany Yau (#448, Nanyang Girls’ High) – 15.97s
3rd: Ngoh Ye Xin (#440, Nanyang Girls’ High) – 16.27s
4th: Ho Zhi Xuan (#36, St. Nicholas Girls’ School) – 16.44s
5th: Tyeisha Rene Misson Khoo (#102, Singapore Sports School) – 16.46s
6th: Janelle Tham (#37, St. Nicholas Girls’ School) – 17.01s
7th: Bernice Wu (#55, St. Nicholas Girls’ School) – 17.32s
8th: Dakshinnaah Paalu (#89, Singapore Sports School) – 17.34s

C Division Girls’ 80m Hurdles Results
1st: Skylar Gen Johnson (#401, Nanyang Girls’ High) – 12.74s
2nd: Heiga Chua (#224, Cedar Girls’ Secondary) – 13.35s
3rd: Aleanor Tan (#402, Nanyang Girls’ High) – 13.69s
4th: Belynda Tan (#90, Singapore Sports School) – 14.24s
5th: Erika Lee (#233, Cedar Girls’ Secondary) – 14.31s
6th: Lau Jia Shing (#200, Raffles Girls’ School) – 14.44s
7th: Janelle Lim (#237, Cedar Girls’ Secondary) – 14.68s
8th: Yeoh Yue Qi (#404, Nanyang Girls’ High) – 15.14s

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