By DARYLL NANAYAKARA

WHEN it comes to running, Singapore American School (SAS) students Ruby Hohensee, 15, Jenny Alberts, 15, Linda Kim, 16, and Annie Lydens, 17, will readily admit that they are relatively inexperienced.

In fact, all had started competitive running barely two years ago.

Hence, understandably, they were stunned to win the Tay Cheng Khoon Memorial Trophy at the SPH Schools Relay Championships held at the Bukit Gombak Stadium last weekend.

The trophy, named after the late Straits Times sports editor, was introduced last year to reward the team or individual who breaks a championship record by the largest margin.

But, when they clocked 10min 7.59sec in the A Division 4x800m, smashing the previous record of 10:17.19 (also set by SAS), they had no idea they were in for a special award.

Said Lydens, the team's anchor: "We had no idea there was such an award. But when they announced that we had broken the previous record, our coach came to us and said, 'You girls broke it by quite a large margin so there is a chance you may get the award.'"

They did. Not bad for a team that had required a last-minute change: Hohensee was called up last Saturday to replace another teammate who pulled out due to medical reasons.

Said Alberts: "It was the very first time the four of us had run a race together, but Ruby performed excellently."

With the trophy in their hands, the girls - who also take part in other sports like basketball, rugby, swimming and cross country - have become minor celebrities in their 30-member athletics team.

While the quartet giggled and posed gamely for photos, their teammates teased them endlessly.

With the SPH Schools Relay Championships completed, the girls have set their sights on their next event - a meet against other international schools from the region early next month.

Said Lydens: "That is the main event on our calendar. Hopefully, we can repeat our performance and do well as a whole with the rest of the team."

darylldj@sph.com.sg

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