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SEA Games: Singapore women break 4x100m national record

KUALA LUMPUR — The Singapore women’s 4x100m relay team set a new national record on Friday afternoon (Aug 25), clocking 44.96sec to finish fourth at Bukit Jalil Stadium.

Shanti Pereira and Nur Izlyn compete in the SEA Games women's 4x100m relay on August 25, 2017. Photo: Jason Quah/TODAY

Shanti Pereira and Nur Izlyn compete in the SEA Games women's 4x100m relay on August 25, 2017. Photo: Jason Quah/TODAY

KUALA LUMPUR — The Singapore women’s 4x100m relay team set a new national record on Friday afternoon (Aug 25), clocking 44.96sec to finish fourth at Bukit Jalil Stadium.

The quartet of Wendy Enn, Dipna Lim-Prasad, Shant Pereira and Nur Izyln Zaini became the first local women’s team to go under 45s as they erased the old mark of 45.41s, which was set at the previous edition of the Games in 2015.

They missed a podium finish by 0.11s, as Philippines finished third in the race which was won by Vietnam in a new Games record of 43.88s. Thailand clocked 44.62s to take silver.

All but one member, Izlyn, were part of the team that also finished fourth in 2015 and Lim-Prasad admitted it was disappointing to miss out on a medal again.

However, they were still delighted to lower the record and had headed into the race brimming with confidence.

“All of us have been training for it this whole year, we knew we were fast and fit and our passing was very smooth today,” said Lim-Prasad, who had smashed the 400m national record the day before.

“It's just an affirmation that our training has paid off, individually as well, because each leg was very fast, as well as our passing. It’s not just about breaking the record again but also going below 45s, that’s a huge milestone for us and for that we’re all very happy.

“We’re running for each other and the country, so you dig deeper and you run faster than you normally think you can. We proved to ourselves that we are faster than we think we are capable of.”

However, their male counterparts did not do as well and clocked 40.93s to finish sixth out of seven teams, well below the national record of 39.24s that was set at the last SEA Games.

Three of the quartet, Hariz Darajit, Khairyll Amri and Ariff Januri, were making their Games debut and the latter pulled his hamstring while handing over the baton to Yap, who was the anchor.

Yap admitted that things did not work out on the day but backed his team-mates to come back stronger.

“Today the four of us gave our best, we ran as one beating heart and one Team Singapore,” he said, before starting to sob.

“I'm very proud of their courage and determination, even when Ariff pulled his hamstring, he continued to run and passed the baton to me.

“I really want to thank him for that and for their team spirit. This is what the Majulah spirit is. Thank you everyone in Singapore for supporting us, we will come back stronger.”

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