Grace scorches the field, Quek blazes the track
KUCHING: She’s the queen and darling of Sarawak’s track & field team. Yesterday, Grace Wong Xiu Mei hammered her opposition and shattered the Sukma record once again this time at Stadium Sarawak.
In Perlis two years ago, the then 14 year-old caused a sensation when she broke the Sukma record in the hammer throw with 55.82m.
Yesterday, the sof t- spoken Sarikei- born national thrower displayed her prowess with even more ferocity by improving her own record with a new distance of 57.76m, just a metre less than the national record.
It was more than enough to secure top spot on the podium as nearest rival Nurfazira Jalaludin of Selangor only managed 44.77m.
“There was no pressure this afternoon but I tried to go for the national record after I bettered my personal best of 55.82m. However, it was not to be and I’m happy with the feat. I only have to work harder after this,” she told reporters.
Sarawak also took the bronze through Florence Wong Poh Yee with her best of 40.74m to cap a fine afternoon for the hosting state which captured two gold, one silver and three bronze medals.
The second gold was contributed by Quek Lee Yong in the men’s 400m hurdles.
The 18-year- old blasted away from the rest of the field to lead confortably all the way.
He was timed at 52.35sec, while compatriot Reymar Manuel Tabari Coney came in third with a time of 55.20s behind Sabahan Athur Aron’s 54.05s.
“I was confident I could win but we have to respect our competitors regardless. Everybody put up a strong showing,” Quek told reporters.
The gold was definitely sweet for Quek who improved on his 6th placing in the 2014 Sukma.
The Selangau-born hurdler paid tribute to coach Rasia Lutang
I’m happy with the feat. I only have to work harder after this. Grace Wong, hammer throw champion
although his time fell short of his personal best of 52.18sec set in Brunei last year when he won the ASEAN schools title.
“She gave me a lot of technical advice. To be successful, we need discipline, consistent training and always working hard.
“There are no shortcut in this,” he continued, while disclosing that he has received an offer to study at the Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sports School in Johor.
Sarawak’s only silver medal for the day came from the men’s 4x100m quartet of Raphael Asun, Asly Chua An Wen, Jonathan Nyepa and Nixson Kennedy with a time of 41.14sec.
In the women’s 400m hurdles, Ullia Ulanda clocked 68.32sec to finish third behind Saidatul Izzati of Perak and Sabah’s Karmentina Nadia.