Jackie Wong
KUCHING: Some of the state’s best junior athletes will be in action in the 8th Sarawak Junior Athletics Championship at the State Stadium in Petra Jaya today and tomorrow.
They include Sukma XIII hammer throw gold medallist Jackie Wong and MSSM Girls U-12 shot putt gold medallist Grace Wong from Sarikei, Sukma XIII hepathlon gold medallist Kee Siew Lian and Sukma sprinter Ambrose Jilom from Miri.
Sarawak Amateur Athletics Association (SAAA) secretary Datuk Tham Siew Kai said yesterday the two-day competition would serve as a very good exposure ground for the state’s junior athletes.
“A total of 280 athletes from Sibu, Miri, Sarikei and Kuching will participate in the championship for the U-21 athletes,” he said.
He said the number of athletes were lesser from last year as many of the athletes were preparing for the Sarawak Schools Sports Council Track and Field Championship in Miri from Apr 11-14. Tham said the junior championship is the second major event in the SAAA calendar this year.
Twenty-nine events will be completed today starting at 7.30am and another 25 events are slotted for tomorrow’s competition.
“After this meet, Ambrose will be flying to Kuala Lumpur to compete in the Malaysian Amateur Athletics Union Grand Prix followed by a selection trial for the national 4x100m team for the SEA Games in Indonesia,” said Tham.
Grace Wong
Ambrose Jilom