School sports: Triple jumper Lynette sets a new national record for the third successive year

She had her eyes on the prize, with six attempts to achieve her goal.

After each of her first three attempts, Lynette Lim got up each time wearing a dissatisfied look.

And then came the triumphant fourth try, as the Victoria Junior College student finally broke her own national triple jump record after leaping 11.94 metres at the National Schools Track and Field Championships at the Bukit Gombak Stadium yesterday.

She sat out the next two attempts, confident her new mark was beyond reach.

And so it proved, with Hwa Chong Institution's Siew Lei in second spot (11.07m) and schoolmate Andrea Chong third (10.77m).

Speaking to The New Paper after her win, the 17-year-old said: "I woke up today aiming to break the record that I set last year, and I'm glad I managed to do just that.

"I wanted it really badly. I've been training very intensely, and I think it's been paying off over the last few years because I've recorded some good progress in my jumps."

Lynette is making a habit of breaking records.

She had set and broken the last two national marks at the same meet, recording 11.79m in 2013 before improving to 11.89m last year.

Her coach, John Seem, wasn't surprised by her performance, saying: "That's just Lynette for you. She does things like that all the time in training."

Up next for Lynette is her debut at the South-east Asia (SEA) Games here in June, where she will be the Republic's sole women's triple jumper at the National Stadium.

Seem is realistic about Lynette's chances, considering the three athletes who finished on the podium at the 2013 SEA Games all recorded distances of more than 14 metres each.

"Yes, she is the best female triple jumper in Singapore for three years running but, at SEA Games level, it is a lot different," he said.

"I'm not hoping for any medal from her, but the most important thing for Lynette is about gaining experience. She's still 17, so she can keep getting better."

That is exactly what Lynette is aiming for.

She said: "It will be my first SEA Games, so I hope to learn a few things to help make me a better jumper in the future

"But it would also make for the perfect occasion to set a new personal best and national record.

This article was first published on Apr 21, 2015.
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