Lunch Out but the Race Goes On
The Straits Times, Sports
Thursday April 14, 2005

Hundreds of parents, teachers, officials and school children lining the finishing point of the Schools' National Cross-Country Championships knew what Shi Ronghua, 16, had for lunch,

It was indeed a gross sight as the Victoria School's B Division Captainthrew out his fish-and-rice lunch about 500m from the tape at Turf City in Bukit Timah.

Ignoring the bits of rice and vegetable on his perspiring face and neck, the Secondary 4 student sprinted to the finish.

There was just no time to stop and clean up. For there was a race to be run, and a title to be won.

So, instead of stopping, he actually stepped up his pace and overtook at least three other runners to finish second behind Hwa Chong Institution's Kok Kai Ming.

Ronghua, who was still clearing his nose about half an hour after the race, remarked:"Wah, I can't stand the smell. But it's okay, as long as the team wins"

His second-placed finish, coupled with team-mates Alan Kong (5th), Samuel Oh (11th) and Chan Ferrell (18th) finishing in the top 20 - gave Victoria School the B title for the first time in three years.

"It definitely makes up for our third place last year," said Ronghua.

The team had been training six times a week since January in preparation for the championships.

Secondary 2 student Douglas Ng said:"Cross-country is our niche, so it's important for us to win"

There was further joy for the school and its loud , colourful contingent of 1000 supporters, who cheered the various teams every step of the way.

Victoria bagged the C Division team title as well, while Lee Ming Hui made it a hat trick by capturing the C boys' individual title.

Said beaming principal Ang Pow Che.w after the event:"It's a great day out for the whole school. The spirit is just unbeatable.

"I'm just delighted with the boys' performance. We could have swept four titles, but I'm more than satisfied with three."

St Nicholas Girls' School and Singapore Sports School won the C and B girls' titles respectively.

But the big winner of the day was Raffles Junior College. They completed a clean sweep in the A Division , claiming both the boys' and girls' individual and team titles. [what biased nonsense is this?]

So Long...

Nil Sine Labore