By Kayden Tan (27S03C) and Ong Tsz Xiang (27S06M)

All photographs by Orlando Khoo (27S06F) from RIAC unless otherwise stated.

Before the Races

Even before the school events began, the hefty Rafflesian support was already flushed with enthusiasm, with many cheering wildly at the pole vaulters as they showed their aerial prowess and leaped over the pole bars in what was a highly entertaining warm-up. 

The atmosphere only continued to ramp up, with student councillors handing out numerous clappers and applying face paint on the willing in an impassioned demonstration of unity. The Year 5s and Year 6s in attendance showed fervent school spirit right down to the B and C Division events, creating roars that raised a second wind, accelerating the younger runners till the end.

In all the throbbing energy, we—and almost all other spectators— watched every movement on the track by the A Division runners as they finally made their entrance. 

Clearing the Hurdles

The stadium was lit up with the first A Division event of the day: A Girls’ 4x100m relay. Amid the deafening cheers that erupted from the Raffles section of the stadium due to anticipation of the first A Division event, the runners—Yeo Pey Wenn (26S03K), Kyra Seow (27A01C), Chong Lynn Xi (27S03C) and Lai Rei En (26A01A)—performed admirably with a respectable timing of 49.62 seconds, coming in at 4th place. 

The next event, however, raised several eyebrows as the more eagle-eyed spectators noticed that Wang Qiyue (27S05B), an initially planned fixture in the boys 4×100 relay lineup, was noticeably absent on the track. Instead, he was replaced by Tang Haitao (26S02B), who was originally part of the reserve team. 

When asked about this puzzling change after the race, Boys’ Captain Manuj Reddy (26S03B), explained that Qiyue had unfortunately picked up a hamstring injury shortly before the race that rendered him unable to participate. 

As a result, the team had to switch all their positions and bring in the reserve. Manuj, who was originally supposed to run the first leg of the 4×100, ended up running third. 

Predictably, this did not bid well for the spirits of Manuj and his team, and it was a considerable source of stress as the team had not tested their passing and stepping. However, given that the event was starting in a matter of hours, the team just decided to move forward and deliver their best, no matter the circumstance.

“We all huddled together in the call room and talked to each other. We said we would trust each other since we’ve trained together for so long and know each other’s abilities. We just reminded ourselves to give 100% trust, and no matter the outcome, we’d be proud of each other for finishing the race. We kept repeating that to ourselves and eventually loosened up,” he said with a smile. 

Given that his team still reached a podium spot despite the significant setback, it would be difficult for even the most committed devil’s advocate to dispute their achievements. They finished in an impressive 3rd place, an already worthy result made even more meaningful by Manuj’s team rising against all odds to make our school proud. 

On the other hand, Girls’ Captain Elizabeth Chan’s (26S06A) stumbling block came in the form of every athlete’s greatest nightmare: injuries. 

“I think it’s hard to come back from that, especially with the mental and physical strain it puts on yourself. But with the support of the team, it becomes more manageable. I’ve had my own injuries too—shin splints that have been ongoing for a long time. At times, I’ve felt very down because of it. But I’m really glad my team was there for me, just as I was there for them through their own injuries and struggles.”

As she stressed on the necessity of emotional support, she didn’t forget to mention her teammates on the track. “While some of my teammates didn’t do as well as they hoped, I hope they’re still proud of themselves. I think we were able to end this NSG season on a high note. Our boys got first, and our girls got second, and overall everyone was just very happy to finish the season strong,” she said optimistically.

Two captains. Two setbacks. One brilliant outcome.

Where the Race is Really Run

To many in the audience, the afternoon passed by like a relay of its own; one five-minute event handed ceaselessly to the next. Even during the races, the runners were so small that they became indistinguishable figures.

However, to the competitors, the hurdles were not fleeting, but rather, something vastly more expansive and deeply personal. 

While their feet hit the tarmac, the real race is the grueling marathon in their mind. Under the weight of explosive cheers from over ten schools, the watchful eyes of their coaches and the heavy hopes of their fellow CCA mates, the pressure often proves overwhelming. 

For Megan, the starting line was never the chalky slash on the running track. When she began cross country in secondary school, she was a victim of inconsistency, varying from 50th one year to 30th the next. The effort-to-reward ratio was low, and her progress was off to a slow start.

Yet, she cleared this mental hurdle by simply staying positive. “Even if I didn’t make the Top 20, I told myself to go out there and give a performance I could be proud of”, she recalled, thinking back to the support of her peers and family which helped her reach that mentality. 

As for Anson Loh (26S06Q), who shattered both the NSG schools’ national record in shot put, and the discus National U20 record via an external competition in May, maintaining composure did not require special routines. Rather, reminding himself to have faith in his abilities and his long, dedicated preparation, was enough.

Beyond the Finish Line

As the final event—the A Division 4X400m Relay—drew to a close, the crowd erupted in its most passionate cheers yet. Moments later, classmates swarmed relay runner Daryen Ko (27S03C), whose arms were draped around his teammates, with handmade support boards of his face.

His team placed first, capping off an already extraordinary week for the team. Just four days earlier, Daryen had shattered the national record at the 400m hurdles, clocking an impressive 53.75s.

To Daryen, while the momentary exhilaration reaffirmed his potential to keep climbing, his focus remained on the long process.

There is joy in training, in competition, and in running with others. Elizabeth similarly described her biggest takeaway from this season as “having fun”, and that was the most important part of competing. Perhaps that mindset was what drove Daryen to let go of the natural stress that comes along with results, and deliver his best that day.

Yet, for Anson, victory and the joy that came with it was not a signal of completion. Instead, there remains a long way to run, not only for himself or even his CCA, but also for Singapore.

“Singapore’s position in sports is not the strongest globally,” he admitted with a chuckle. The perspective of comparing himself with the expansive sporting landscape was both what gave him purpose to grow, and what helped him avoid unrealistic belief in his ability.

Taking a Step Back

As the day turned to dusk and the weary competitors were engulfed in the whirl of peers rushing forwards to take photographs with them, a heartfelt sentiment among the team stood out in their expressions, conversations, and gestures:

To close it off, Daryen, resisting his friends’ attempts to drag him away to celebrate the day’s achievements, had a final insight to share with us.

Congratulations to the teams who took part in this year’s Track and Field NSG! As you walk on to the next chapter of 2026, the shadow of a victor is the only darkness following behind.

An Overview of the Results on 17 April 2026

A-Division Girls 4×100 Relay—4th place

A-Division Boys 4×100 Relay—3rd place

A-Division Boys 1500m—3rd place and 6th place

A-Division Girls 1500m—12th place and 14th place

A Division Girls 4×400 Relay—4th place

A-Division Boys 4×400 Relay—1st place