Club Zoom meet makes its mark

SINGAPORE – The second edition of the Akira-Club Zoom Track & Field Carnival was held at Bishan Stadium last Saturday (Aug 16), with a total of 218 local athletes from 32 schools, organisations and clubs competing for honours.

Held just one week ahead of the 76th Singapore Open Track & Field Championships from Sep 23 to 24, the annual meet also featured 26 international athletes from Malaysia, the Philippines, United States and United Kingdom.

The Club Zoom Carnival also saw Filipino Benigo Marayag clinching gold in the men’s long jump in 7.57m to earn a qualifying spot for the 2015 South-east Asian Games. Lai Yong Hui and Alvin Lin of Wings Athletic Club finished second and third respectively in 6.87m and 6.67m. Marayag’s effort saw the 28-year-old meeting the Phillipine’s qualifying mark of 7.53m set for the biennial Games, which will be hosted in Singapore from June 5 to 16 next year.

A bronze medallist at the 2011 SEA Games, Marayag was delighted with his performance at the carnival. “I am participating in the Club ZOOM meet as part of my preparations to qualify for the SEA Games next year, and this is my pre-competition to gauge my level before the Singapore Open next week,” said the long jumper, who works as a coach for a local company. “Before working here, I came to Singapore every year to compete at the Singapore Open. I like the people and the surroundings here. I can’t wait to jump at the Sports Hub!”

Said Club ZOOM’s founding president Tan Wei Leong: “This Carnival aims to help our athletes and coaches to benchmark the progress they make through the hard training they are doing against that of their counterparts in Singapore and the Asian region. We are happy that many athletes - Singaporean, Malaysian, Filipino and even from as far away as the US and UK - have decided to make the most of this opportunity we have created.”

Added Guest-of-Honour, Nee Soon GRC Member of Parliament Lim Wee Kiak in his speech: “I am glad to note that this meet has attracted athletes from foreign countries. I hope that our athletes will perform well in the upcoming Asian Games as well as SEA Games.”