Sarawak Sports School sweep national track, field circuit

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KUCHING: Sarawak Sports School SMK Tabuan Jaya once again emerged victorious in the third leg of the inaugural National Sports Schools U16 Track and Field Championship at Gong Badak Sports Complex, Kuala Terengganu in Terengganu last Sunday.

Sarawak Sports School SMK Tabuan Jaya team celebrating their achievement with Rasia (squatting, right) Sharon (squatting, left) and Belun (standing, fifth left) at the end of the championship. (Right pix) Best boy and girls athletes Quek Lee Yong and Norris Foo posing with their trophies and medals.

The 19-member team captured seven gold and two silver medals to beat 17 other teams.

Norris Foo and Quek Lee Yong were the best performers as they bagged two gold medals each in the one-day championship, with Norris winning the Girls 100m hurdles in 14.7s and the 200m in 25.1s while Quek won the 110m hurdles and 200m events with times of 14.6s and 22.1s respectively.

They were adjudged the Best Boy and Best Girl athletes of the meet. The other gold medals were delivered by Ullia Ulanda Rumpang in the Girls 3,000m walk (18:53.67) and 1,500m (5:30.1) and Nix Watson Baring Joe Bugner in the Boys long jump (6.48m).

Meanwhile, the silver medals were won by Nor Khamisiah Wati in the Girls long jump (1.60m) and Eliza Ellie in the Girls 3,000m walk (18:56.86).

SMK Tabuan Jaya, represented by 10 boys and nine girls, was led by head coach Rasia Lutang.

She was assisted by Sharon Kezia Leela Sundararaj and Belun Saran.

SMK Tabuan Jaya principal Hassan Wa’Gani was delighted with the splendid performance of the athletes, saying that they had proven themselves to be the best in the country, beating even the Bukit Jalil National Sports School team. “This is the third circuit of the championship and we have won all three circuits, the earlier two were held in Perlis in May and in Selangor in June,” he said yesterday.

Hassan attributed the athletes’ success due to the hard work, commitment and good teamwork among the athletes and coaches.

“Rasia is a very committed coach and I have faith in her to lead our athletes to glory. We are very proud of the athletes’ achievement and they are even better than their counterparts from national sports schools,” he added.

In term of athletics, Hassan is quite confident that Sarawak can do very well in the national athletics meet next year.

“Our athletes can contribute at least five golds and we shall give the other teams a strong challenge,” he assured.

Hassan hoped that the federal government would allocate higher food allowance to students in the state sports school especially to those who are involved in athletics.

“I do feel sad that after the establishment of state sports school for eight years, our students still receive lower food allowance of RM13 per day when compared to RM40 per day for Sabah State Sports School, RM30 for Bukit Jalil Sports School and RM34 for Bandar Penawar Sports School,” said Hassan.

He also hoped that the Sarawak State Sports Council and the state government would render assistance to the athletes of SMK Tabuan Jaya.

“We helped to develop and groom the athletes who will represent Sarawak in national competitions and we do appreciate some form of assistance from both parties,” he said.

The national championship initiated by the Sports Unit of the Ministry of Education and organised by the Terengganu Education Department saw a total of 18 events for boys and girls being competed.

They are 200m, 400m, 1500m and 110m hurdles (boys), 100m hurdles (girls), shot putt, high jump, long jump and 3,000m walk.

Coming in second and third in the meet were Kuala Lumpur (2 gold, 3 silver, 1 bronze) and Kedah (2 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze) respectively.