SIBU: The stage is all set for some of the top local track and field athletes to compete in the Sibu Open Track & Field Championship at Stadium Tun Zaidi from Sept 5-6.
A total of 580 participants have registered including for the first time a team from the Peninsula.
Malacca Sports Council are sending four of their 2016 Sukma athletes.
The four sprinters – Asnawi Hashim, Badrul Hisyam Abdul Manap, Khairul Hafiz Jantan and Muhammad Azam Masri – will compete in the 100m, 200m, 400m, 4 x 100m and 4 x 400m relay events.
Sibu Division Amateur Association secretary (SDAA) Ting Siew Nguong has expressed confidence that the meet would live up to the expectations.
“We are also happy to attract the team from Malacca and we believe this will be an added boost to the local teams as they challenge for the titles,” he said.
On the home front, Sarikei Selected is sending the biggest contingent of 74 athletes.
Among the big names from the Sarikei stable of throwers are national athletes such as discus ace Queenie Ting and Wong Xiao Jing, Wong Nie Nie in the javelin and top hammer thrower Jackson Wong.
A notable absentee is Grace Wong who is currently attached to Bukit Jalil Sports School.
Sarikei Selected team leader Leong Shuen Keong has set a modest target of five to seven gold medals for his team.
“Last year, we manage to wrest 10 gold medals and emerged the first runenrs-up overall. Hopefully, we will continue to produce the same splendid results this time round.”
SMK Tabuan Jaya, spearheaded by state sprinter Norris Foo, is sending a strong contingent of 72 athletes.
But they have to do without top national youth hurdler Quek Lee Yong who is off to New Zealand for overseas competition.
SMK Chung Hua Miri has registered 46 athletes while Axis Petra Jaya Track & Field Club are sending 39 athletes, including 2014 Sukma 400m champion Muhammad Arif Zulhilmi Alet .
Teams from outside Sibu include SM Riam Road (29 athletes), SMK Julau No 2 (20), SMK Lutong (19), SMK Ulu Layar (18) and SMK Julau (16).
From Sibu, the athletes will include those from SMK St Elizabeth (37), SMK Sacred Heart (24), SMK Chung Hua (16) and SMK Sedaya Kanowit (22).
Eight primary schools sending athletes for the Boy’s and Girl’s U-11 events inlude SJK Yee Ting from Kanowit, SJK Su Lai and SK Sacred Heart.
SDAA is believed to be the only athletic association in the country which offer cash prizes to the top three in selected events.
For the prize structure, there is a slight change to the sponsors.
Sibu Marathon Sports Club, which used to sponsor the 3000m and 5000m and Prudential Agnes, for the long jump, have opted out.
However, Kuching Hiap Ghee Seng will replace Prudential Agnes to offer the cash prizes for the long jump.
Other events that carried the prize money incentives included the 100m (Open, U14 and U-11); 80m, 100m and 110m hurdles (U-14 and U-11); discuss (Open and U-14), 800m (Open and U-14), 400m (Open and U-14), long jump (Open and U-14), high jump (U-11 and U-14) and 4x 100m (U-11).
The sponsors include KTS Sdn. Bhd, Ta Ann Holding Bhd, McDonalds, TN Sports, Delta Leasing, SAAA and Kuching Coneli Sports.
The top three winners in ten selected premier events will stand to receive from RM50 to 300.
Record breakers will collect an additional RM50 for the open category and RM20 for the U-14 and U-11 categories.