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SWIMMERS SHINE
(Highlights From Singapore National Swimming Championships)
By Joshua Tan
National records by swimmers such as Mark Tan and Tao Li. Fine performances by emerging faces like Shana Lim and Zach Ong. SEA Games qualification for the likes of Quah Ting Wen (pix) and Mylene Ong. Yes, the Singapore National Swimming Championships, which end tonight (June 22), have been fruitful.
Encouraging Performance
Among the most encouraging performances was Mark's win in the 200m breast where he broke Desmond Koh's 15-year-old national record (2min 21.87sec) with his time of 2:21.06. The effort earned him a place for December's SEA Games in Thailand. Indonesia's Billy Arfianto (2:21.24.) was second while Leonard Tan was third (2:22.94).
New Mark
Newly-crowned Sportswoman of the Year Tao Li also broke a national record. She won the 100m back in a time of 1min 03.17sec in the heats to surpass her own previous mark of 1:03.71. This eclipsed her winning time of 1:03.83 in the 2005 SEA Games. In the final, she won in 1:03.18, followed by Shana Lim (1:05.92) and Lynette Ng (1:06.49).
Fine Form
Zach Ong was another swimmer in fine form. For example, with his time of 59.65 secs in the 100m back, he broke the Under-17 record of 59.90 secs held previously by Gary Tan. Quah Ting Wen and Mylene Ong shone in the 200m free, qualifying for the SEA Games with times of 2:05.31 and 2:05.41 respectively against the qualifying mark of 2:05.43.
Standing Out
Other swimmers who stood out included Marcus Cheah (4:03.75 in the 400m free), Zhao Lunan (1:13.59 in the 100m breast), and Bryan Tay as well as Russell Ong (52.13 secs and 52.22 secs respectively in the 100m free).
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