By Elizabeth Chan, Girls Captain (26SO6A), Manuj Reddy Krishna Reddy, Boys Captain (26S03B), Jasmine Lee, Girls Vice Captain and Jumps IC (26S03M), Khalel Bin Zaid, Boys Vice Captain and Pole Vault IC (26SO6G), Jaden Chew, Throws IC (26S06I), Henry Zhao Shuheng, Sprints IC (26S06K), Huai Feng Tan, Secretary (26S03H)
Every time the world’s biggest sporting stage rolls around, we are reminded of the breathtaking feats athletes achieve – runners flying across the track, jumpers soaring through the air, throwers hurling their great distances, and pole vaulters defying gravity. Watching them, it’s natural to wonder: how do they even do that?
Well, if you are looking for an answer, look no further! Raffles Track and Field is the place to start making your dreams of becoming a track star come true.
Of course, winning is a dream that everyone has, but true value lies in the connections and friendships formed along the way. We often say that the strongest bonds are forged in adversity—when you’re battered and spent and you can’t depend on your body to move on, what you count on are your teammates. Though training is tough with the sun shining relentlessly on your face, when you look back on your journey, the fruits of your labour will all be worth it.
As a large team of almost 40 people spanning across 4 different sections, it may seem daunting getting to know everyone. But fret not, because the annual track camp as well as the highly anticipated post-NSG dinner will no doubt pull members together, bonding over shared experiences and memories, and of course, good food!
Pole Vaults
First in line, we have our pole vaulters – the sky warriors of track and field. Like master Airbenders, they command the air with explosive speed, raw power, and razor-sharp precision. They sprint down the runway like lightning, then unleash a vault that launches them skyward in a controlled burst of energy and grace. Every attempt is an adrenaline-charged spectacle of athleticism and courage, demanding discipline, technical mastery and ironclad mental resilience. Pole vaulters aren’t just competitors; they are fearless flyers, turning the track into a runway to the clouds. Here, gravity is optional and flight is mandatory. Push your Limits. Own the sky.
As the Mondo Duplantis once said:
“I’m going to try and take pole vaulting as high as I can. I want it to be as popular as it can be.”
Jumpers
Jumping into the next section, we have…drum roll, please… the jumpers! (To no one’s surprise.) Heading down to the track, you’ll never miss hearing the impeccable songs playing through our speaker, and seeing our jumpers hard at work. Be it the rhythmic triple jump, the powerful long jump or the gravity defying high jump, there will be an event that appeals to you.
Every jump combines speed, strength and skill, making the jump events some of the technically toughest yet most rewarding events in the entirety of Track and Field. As our coach Mr Chan always likes to remind us, “practice makes permanent, only when there’s perfect practice will practice make perfect.” The jumps section is open to all who are willing to put in the effort. So, to those who are looking to leap to greater heights, what are you waiting for?
Throwers
Throwers in a track and field team are amongst the most well rounded (pun intended) athletes, because of our specialised skills and rigorous training programmes. We specialise in the 3 main events of throwing: shot put, discus and javelin, with each event requiring a unique blend of strength, technique, and precision.
Throwers undergo rigorous training to master their craft, working not only on strength, but also speed, agility, flexibility and a ton of technical drills. Each event requires its own distinct technique. Shot putters focus on explosive power and precise releases, discus throwers aim to achieve a blend of speed and rotation in their technique, and javelin throwers combine speed, agility and rhythm to launch the spear as far as possible. Despite our buff and intimidating appearance, we are one of the most approachable groups of athletes. You’ll often hear us laughing and joking about during training, but once we enter the circle or the runway, we mean business.
Sprints
Last but not least, the sprints section. From the quick-fire 100m dash to the hurdles, sprints are the embodiment of speed, focus, and power. The hurdles event adds an extra twist, with athletes leaping over obstacles in a display of power and grace. It’s common to see us sprinters lying on the ground, huffing and puffing after an intense workout—a testament to our dedication and passion for the sport.
Sprints is the perfect place to hone one’s mental grit and to forge strong camaraderie between peers. Though we may go through gruelling training, we train hard together, hurdling over obstacle after obstacle. Our journey is beyond the finishing line; it’s about the confidence and discipline instilled in us, and the friendships we make along the way.
In track and field, regardless of whether you’re a novice or a veteran, there are a whole range of events throughout the year open to athletes of all ages and competency levels to test their mettle and push their limits, such as the Singapore Athletics All Comers Meets and Singapore National T&F Championships. And who can forget the highly anticipated annual National School Games — the highlight of many trackers’ athletics careers, usually taking place in April.
During the pre-season period in Term 3, training sessions, which are twice per week, are targeted to ensure athletes have enough time to rest, recover, and master the techniques and basics.
When the regular season (Term 1, 2 & 4) starts, training intensity increases to 3 times per week with more push periods and strenuous training sessions planned out to ensure our athletes can handle the rigour of competitions during the season. After reading all this, you may think to yourself: how do I know if track is for me? The simple answer is: you won’t know until you try! Even if this is your first foray into the world of athletics, fret not, for our team of dedicated coaches and seniors will be there to help you out. Together in track and field, we spur one another on—Faster, Higher, Stronger.
Citius, Altius, Fortius.
