By Jonathan Low Jun Jie (18S06P), Boys’ Captain, Tanisha Moghe (18A01A), Girls’ Captain, Teo Jia Hao Varian (18S06E), Boys’ Vice-Captain and Koh Zhi Xuan (18S03A), Girls’ Vice-Captain
With five event groups and more than 30 members, there is no doubt that the Raffles Track & Field team is the biggest sports CCA in the whole school. Jumps, Throws, Pole Vault, Walks, and Sprints are the five event groups in the CCA. All groups train on Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays for about 2–3 hours each. Despite Track & Field being divided into 5 groups, we are still connected with each other because of the team bonding activities held monthly.
Our competition season is in late March and early April, but we do compete in mini competitions called ‘Series’ and ‘National Juniors’ which are held monthly on a weekend. The sprinters will all agree that the ‘SPH Relay Competition’ is one of the most anticipated mini competitions which leads up to the Nationals. However, nothing (and I say this with complete confidence) beats the atmosphere in the National Stadium on the final competition day. Whether you’re actually competing, or cheering on for your teammates, the presence of 13 000 other enthusiastic school children and athletes never fails to excite and energise.
I’ll be honest, trainings aren’t easy, and well they shouldn’t be. How else will we be able to grow as athletes and overall, as a team? Although Track & Field is an individual sport (except the relay races), every athlete is still aware that they are in a team and their performance not only affects themselves, but the team as whole. This spirit of family binds all the event groups together, despite being separated during trainings. Many of our athletes are in two event groups (eg sprints, jumps and throws) and their training days and timings shift accordingly.
Anyone can join track and field, given that you’re willing to put in the effort and train hard. A resilient attitude is necessary during the hot 3.30pm training sessions and the mindset of a team-player must be present in order for you to truly enjoy being part of the CCA.
You will go through a 40m sprint test and standing broad jump to allow our coaches to suitably place you into an event group where they see you having the most potential in.
Achievements
2017
SSSC National Inter-School Track & Field Championship: Overall A’ Division Boys: 2nd
SSSC National Inter-School Track & Field Championship: Overall A’ Division Girls: 3rd
SPH Schools Relay Championships
Overall Boys: 3rd
Overall Girls: 1st
2016
SSSC National Inter-School Track & Field Championship: Overall A’ Division Boys: 1st
SSSC National Inter-School Track & Field Championship: Overall A’ Division Girls: 3rd
See you at trials! :-)