The victorious SMK Tabuan Jaya team celebrating their excellent achievement in the championship after the prize presentation.
Gladys Then Yi Chien of SM Lodge receives her award from Alta.
KUCHING: Sarawak Sports School SMK Tabuan Jaya led from the start to finish to emerge the overall champions of the 51st Kuching Zone B Track and Field Championship that ended at Jubilee Ground yesterday.
They made a successful defence of their crown by capturing 45 gold, 19 silver and 13 bronze medals to amass a total of 645 points as well as recording their sixth consecutive victory in the four-day meet that saw the participation of 1,703 athletes from 54 schools.
SMK Lundu were the second best team with 23 gold, 25 silver and 14 silver medals (564.5 points while SM Lodge finished in third place with 217 points from seven golds, six silvers and six bronzes, followed by SMK Santubong (5-7-10), SMK Tun Abang Haji Openg (3-1-8) and SMK Sungai Maong (3-1-3).
The seventh to tenth positions were occupied by SMK Tun Abdul Razak (2-4-5), SMK Lake (2-1-2), SMK Bandar Samariang (2-1-10) and SMK St Teresa (2-1-0).
SMK Tabuan Jaya set five out of the 13 new records in the meet and the achievers were Mohd Nur
Aidel Messelan (400m), Nur Aini Zahirah (200m hurdles), William Agantha Jekey (200m hurdles), 4x100m relay team and 4x400m relay team.
They won further honours when William was adjudged the best athlete in Boys U15 while Myra Aishah Mikail from SMK St Teresa was the best athlete in the Girls U15.
Other awards went to Mohd Norhazim Ahmad from SMK Lundu (Boys U14), Muhammad Denial Iskandar Mulyadie from SMK Lundu (Boys U18), Chung Woon Shyen from SMK Lundu (Girls U14), Gladys Then Yi Chien from SM Lodge (Girls U18).
A total of 111 athletes were selected to represent Kuching at the MSS Sarawak Track and Field Championship championship that will be held in Sibu from April 8-11.
In closing the event, State Education Department Human Development Sector Unit head Alta Abang Katum said winning and losing were part of sports and regardless of results, athletes should take it as a learning opportunity and not lose spirit.
“Events such as this are one opportunity to learn about leadership skills for athletes, and winning and losing are part of sports, thus regardless of winning or losing, I hope that athletes will not lose their spirit and instead look to other athletes and schools that have succeeded and learn from them,” said Alta, who was representing State Education Department director Serina Sauni.
Also present was organising chairman Abdul Razak Ismail.