Grace continues to shine
SIBU: Undisputed shotputt and hammer throw champion, Grace Wong Xiu Mei continued to rule the field at the fi nal day of Sarikei Track & Field Championship with nine more records tumbled yesterday afternoon.
The teenager rewrote a new meet record in the Girls’ Under 18 hammer throw with a new distance of 43.02 m which is shy of the national record.
“It is not far from the national record of 46.62m and given the time, I am confident that it would be within reach in the next couple of years,” Sarawak State Sports Council ( MSNS) chief thrower coach Ling Neng Thung told The Borneo Post yesterday.
Grace who is a national shot putter had been in her element and earlier had shattered the Girls’ Under 14 shot putt 10-year- old national record after she covered a new distance of 11.39m to erase the former national record set by Siti Nurul Ain of Negri Sembilan in 2003.
However, it was Eric Tiong Ing Keun who stole the limelight on the last day of championship when he grabbed the overall Best Boys title.
The 14-year- old student of SMK Tong Hua broke the record in Boys’ Under 14 with a throw of 13.88m to beat the 13.27m set by Ting Aik Hou in Miri in 2011.
Currently training under coach Leong Siong Keong, Eric had been training under his former coach Tiong Ah Kai before he was roped in by Leong for intensive training.
“The writing is already on the walls that Eric is another star in the making,” said Ling while expressing hopes for the teenager may be taking over the mantle once the senior throwers had retired.
The best overall Girls’ title went to Queenie Ting Kung Ni, 16, for her national record- breaking throw in the Girls’ Under 18 with a new distance of 39.70m.
The old mark of 38.75m was established by Phang Hua Mei in 2006.
The other records for the day were achieved by SMK Julau Banended Limau in Girls Under 18 in 5,000m Walk (28: 22.6”), SMK Kai Chung’s Lee Yung Feu in Boys Under 218 High Jump (1.84m), SMK Julau Roy Abit in Boys Under 14 200m (24.8’), Sarikei District Josteweard Rundang in Boys Under 12 200m (26.4’), SMK Bandar Bintangor’s DeliIkau in Boys Under 12 200m (24.9’), Meradong Dirtysrtci Boys Under 12 4 x 200m relay (1: 55.7”), SMK Julau Girls U 14 4 x 100m relay ( 55.6”) and 4 x 400m relay (4: 42.8”)
Earlier records included SMK Julau’s Kesian Sekapi in Boys U 15 triple jump (12.32m), SMK Meradong’s Tilloston Welfered in Boy’s Under 18 10,000m Walk ( 53: 50”), SMK Tong Hua’s Eric Tiong Ing Kuen in Boys’ Under 14 shot putt (13.88m), SMK Julau Lydia Epin in Girls Under 15 high jump ( 1.47m), Sarikei District Clarence Wong in Boys Under 12 shot putt (12m) and Julau District Mac Ronald Labang in Boys Under 12 high jump (1.42m).