File photo of Grace Wong in action.
The Sarawak contingent and officials perform the march past during the opening ceremony of the 59th national schools track & field championships at the City Stadium, Penang on Sunday night.
KUCHING: A 83-strong Sarawak contingent is on a mission to retain the overall title at the 59th national schools track & field championships (MSSM) which starts at the City Stadium, Penang today (April 25).
Sarawak, overall champions for six consecutive years from 2010-2015, lost the title to Selangor by a solitary gold last year. The squad will rely on its traditional strength in throwing events.
But a few veterans and new blood will also have to win in the sprints, hurdles or jumps to ensure that the team reaches its targeted 15 gold medals.
National thrower ‘Amazing’ Grace Wong will spearhead Sarawak’s feared phalanx of throwers.
The 17-year-old, who recently broke the national women’s hammer record with a distance of 60.99m, is also entered for the Girls U-18 shot put and discus.
The 2015 SEA Games bronze medalist is highly fancied to add to her already incredible tally of 13 gold medals since she first took part in the 2010 MSSM in Johor when she was in Primary Four!
Eight other throwers, who surpassed or came close to the winning distances of last year’s MSSM, are also expected to shine. They are Kee Jeep Wen, Ngu Ing Biao, Johnny Ling and Ngo Tze Chang (Boys U-18 shot put, discus, hammer and javelin), Zeronnie Felipe Thomas (Boys U-15 shot put and discus), Mohd Ikwan Safaruddin (Boys U-15 javelin), Albert Tiong Kah Hao (Boys U-12 shot put) and Ng Jing Xuan (Girls U-15 javelin).
Two veterans Mohd Norhazim Ahmad in the sprint hurdles and Mcclair Jenggut in the triple jump are among the other gold medal prospects. Both have stood on top of the podium when they were in the U-15. Norhazim, who has competed in MSSM since he was in Primary Six, and Mcclair, who has represented Sarawak at the meet since 2014, will be competing against U-18 athletes in Penang.
Also chasing the elusive gold is Mandy Goh Li who will be competing in her third MSSM. She has won bronzes in the long jump and relay in previous years.
The 17-year-old will compete in three individual events after winning the 100m (12.58sec), long jump (5.34m) and 400m hurdles (66.89sec) at the recent state schools championships.
Two girls represent the team’s best medal prospects among the U-12 athletes: Keren Rejie (13.90 and 27.86sec for the 100 and 200m) and Nadia Jaman (4.48m in the long jump).
The four-day national schools inter-state championships will end on Friday (April 28).