Extra training edges it for Natalie

She was not among the top 20 finishers in the Schools' National cross-country championships in 2012 and 2013.

But, yesterday morning, Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' School runner Natalie Soh clinched the Girls' B Division title at Bedok Reservoir Park.

The 16-year-old finished the 3.6km route in 14min 28.7sec, a marked improvement from last year's 16:24.54 that saw her finish 40th.

In 2012, Natalie came in 30th at 17:00.25.

After the race, the Secondary 4 student revealed that winning the Under-15 800m race of the Singapore Athletic Association's Series 7 last December motivated her to train harder.

CONFIDENT

Natalie said: "It was last year when I participated in Series 7 and won the 800m race that I realised that, hey, I could actually do this.

"Once you taste success, it becomes a real confidence-booster.

"I realised I could do this so I started to train harder, training very regularly and even in my free time."

On top of training three times a week, Natalie trained alongside her older brother Thaddeus, who recently completed his full-time National Service.

"I began training with my brother who has just finished his NS," she said. "I'd go to East Coast Park to run with him sometimes, so that definitely helped.

"Apart from that, I also did more interval training. The sprints training really helped because I only caught up at the end to win the race."

It was certainly a tight finish as Natalie overtook the leaders with 50m to go, finishing just 1.5 seconds ahead of runner-up Nah Yi Xin of Cedar Girls' Secondary School.

Having signed off her time with the PLMGS cross-country team victoriously, Natalie is now eyeing the Schools National track and field championships. She also intends to continue running in junior college.

"This is my last cross-country race of the year and I felt a combination of relief and 'Wow, I did this and it's over'," she said.

"Usually when I start running, I tell myself to push for 15 minutes and enjoy the rest after that.

"It's an amazing feeling and I still can't really believe that I won."

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