The 2019 Singapore National Championships entered its second night of competition, as the country’s best swimmers convened for another intranational showdown. Last night’s climactic opener proved to be a mere warm-up, as the athletes wasted no time in resetting national championship records while turning heads on the world stage.
Lionel Khoo was one of the more notable, as the USC Gamecock returned home to showcase his skills in the men’s 100 breaststroke. Breaking his own meet record from prelims, Khoo left with a gold medal in hand and a national championship title, proceeded by a slew of equally impressive swims.
Men’s 100 Breast
Lionel Khoo’s national championship meet record stood for a few short hours before he shattered it in prelims, turning in a 1:02.26 to seize the gold. Maximillian Wei Ang pushed him to the finish, surging to a 1:02.71 finish of his own to take down Gagarin Nathaniel Yus (1:02.87).
Jing Fu Ng’s time of 1:03.18 was good enough for fourth, as he maintained a healthy distance between himself and Job Tan Xi Jay (1:05.16). Nicholas Cheong and Malcolm Oh battle for sixth, turning in times of 1:06.59 and 1:07.30, respectively. Perry Chua (1:07.70) barley conceded the seventh spot, while Yi Hao Terence Ong (1:09.21) and Azri Azman (1:09.72) rounded out the top ten.
Women’s 100 Breast
Christie May Chue Mun Ee monopolized the women’s side of competition, dropping over three seconds from prelims to nab the meet record with a time of 1:10.12. Eing Pawapotako went stroke for stroke with Gabrielle Jia Yun Wei (1:13.10), with Pawapotako coming out on top with a time of 1:13.36. Alicia Li Ann Soosai crashed the pads with a 1:13.68 to make for a tightly packed top four, as Nurita Monica Sari stroked in for fifth with a 1:15.31.
Lauren Chew (1:15.36) took seventh by a narrow margin over Tian-Yi Charity Lien (1:15.41); while Julia Lium (1:15.91) and Jing Xuan Claresa Liau (1:16.00) took ninth and tenth, respectively.
Men’s 50 Back
Jian Han Tern took his victory lap in the men’s 50 back after an impressive showing this morning, turning in a time of 26.30 for the win. H Dimuth Akalanka Peiris earned the silver with a 26.68 over Jun Jie Mikkel Lee (26.71). Ernest Ching and Tar Thongchumsin claimed fourth and fifth with times of 27.08 and 27.24, respectively; while Chai Jin Soh’s time of 27.40 was good enough for top six. Owen Allwood (27.46) furthered his already impressive individual schedule with a seventh place performance; while Gabriel Yingxuan Koo (27.76), Narang Pornsiriporn (27.84), and Jeremy Kemp (28.19) topped off the heat.
Women’s 50 Back
Jamie Yazhen Koo (29.24) ran away with the women’s 50 back, as Elena Lee Lee Na Pederson (29.72) and Carmen Weller Sastre (29.77) went stroke for stroke for the silver. Maana Patel just eclipsed the sub-30.00 mark with a 30.04, with Katie Henderson (30.33) and Nurul Fajar Fitriati (30.48) at her hip. Faith Elizabeth Khoo put forth an impressive performance of her own, slashing her time from prelims with a 30.70. Suvana Baskar claimed her spot in the top ten with a 30.82, followed by Jamielyn Low (31.30) and Scarlett Nichol (31.53) to make for a tightly packed field.
Men’s 200 Free
Wee Cheng Welson Sim (1:48.86) manhandled the competition in the men’s 200 free, bettering Jonathan Tan’s (1:49.93) mark by over a second. Darren Chua seized the bronze with a 1:50.73, edging out Glen Lim (1:50.80) for a spot on the podium. Neel Roy was not to be ignored, as he surged to a 1:51.32 finish ahead of Omar Abass (1:52.58).
Joseph Isaac Schooling proved his impeccable versatility with another stellar performance, clocking in at 1:53.16 to put distance between himself and Wee Chee Joshua Yeo (1:54.55). It was a loaded field, as Zhong Qing Erasmus Ang (1:54.61) and Luke Tan (1:54.80) sent the meet into its next event.
Women’s 200 Free
Natthana Junkrajang proved she cannot be stopped, as she took the women’s 200 with ease. Crashing the pads with a 2:01.56, Junkrajang made the race her own, as she held off Cherlyn Yeoh (2:03.23) to the end. Jasmine Alkhaldi endured a heartbreaker, as a hundredth of a second separated herself and Yeoh.
Kornkarnjana Sapianchai destroyed her time from prelims, going 2:04.94 to nab a spot in the top four, as Hui Ting Natalie Ho (2:06.62) fell short of the upset. Zi Yi Chan forced her name on the scene with a 2:06.67, as Nicholle Toh Fann Rui came from behind to post a 2:07.31 of her own.
Li-Shan Chantal Liew (2:07.91), Faith Elizabeth Khoo (2:09.28), and Paloma Canos Cervera (2:09.97).
Men’s 400 IM
Sheng Jun Pang (4:26.69) and Advait Page (4:27.94) traded leads throughout the men’s 400 IM, with Pang emerging as the victor. Sebastian Soon remained an outside threat, clocking in at 4:28.36 for third, while Ayman Klzie (4:30.43) stayed within striking distance, falling just outside the top three.
Zhong Qing Erasmus Ang broke into the top five with a time of 4:35.87, bumping Ephraim Tan (4:37.46) to sixth. Owen Ngan made yet another top ten appearance with his 4:38.95, good enough for seventh over WeiYang Malcolm Low (4:41.31). Rui Zhi Ritchie (4:44.51) and Tze Hang Christian Low (4:48.61) completed the nation’s top ten.
Women’s 400 IM
Yi-Xuan Ashley Lim established her dominance on the women’s side, dropping a 4:55.41 for the win and the meet record. The fourteen-year-old left the rest of the field, downing Ressa Kania Dewi (5:06.78) and Sydney Chun (5:06.78), two seasoned veterans. Gabrielle Jia Yun Wei and Xin Ru Charmaine Lee turned heads with times of 5:10.37 and 5:15.10, respectively; while Inka Nur Fadilah Sari (5:19.94) and Wei Hui Rachael Tay (5:22.99) sought to climb in the rankings.
Sydney Londergan (5:25.00) held off Carol Rachmadi (5:30.34) for a spot in the top eight, as Xuan Hui Lynette Some surged home to a 5:32.67 to round out the championship final.
Men’s 400 Free Relay
Aquatech Swimming holds the first national championship relay title of the meet, charging home with a 3:27.38 to steal the win. Swimfast Aquatic Club lived up to its name, clinching second by a wide margin over Kuala Lumpur (3:37.94).
Women’s 400 Free Relay
Stingha Swimming Club stole the show on the women’s side, going sub 4:00 to seize the victory with a time of 3:57.16. Hong Kong Island Stingrays (4:03.32) and Aquatic Performance Swim Club (4:04.71) battled for the silver, with the Stingrays proving victorious this time around.
