It’s not secret that the current local athletic calendar lack races, in terms of quantity and quality.

Sprint Dynamic, a local sports consultancy, have stepped up to the plate, chipping in their own small way trying to bring back our former glory days of athletics

The firm headed by former national athlete, turned coach, Mr. Tan Wei Leong, has started a series meet.

With this, aside from the mainstay SAA’s sanctioned meets, athletes have another opportunity to put their hard training to the test.

The 2010 SDSC invitational Series Meet to be held this 11th September, which started in 2008, is now in its 3rd year.

It has grown in stature. A success by its own, and growing in participation at each edition, the SDSC Meet has even offered prize money and a challenge trophy for top teams.

I spoke to Mr. Tan Wei Leong briefly regarding the meet, and SDSC:

How did the meet started?

The first SDSC Invitational Meet was held in February, 2008 at Singapore Polytechnic stadium. It was sponsored by United World College. This year’s edition is the series’ third.

SDSC Invitational purpose and objective?

The first meet was aimed at offering athletes of the diverse and growing SDSC family a chance to get together in an atmosphere of friendly competition. It also presented an additional opportunity for them to compete and help SDSC coaches gauge the progress of their charges. During the second meet, Malaysian athletes participated as guests, showcasing their talent and giving SDSC athletes an added push.

In its 2010 edition, teams from Singapore’s universities, polytechnics and clubs have been invited. A team from the Nordin Jadin Club of Malaysia will also compete. To promote competition, all-round development and teamwork, teams will compete for the S$1,200 cash prize and the challenge trophy to be awarded the best team.

This meet offers the last tune-up opportunity for Singapore’s national athletes to qualify for international Games at the Singapore Open meet the following weekend. For athletes from tertiary institutions, if offers a heads-up of the competition at the upcoming Inter-Varsity and POL-ITE Games. And junior athletes, parents, teachers and volunteers can enjoy the carnival atmosphere while gaining experience of running a meet.

What is SDSC. A background of SDSC, its formation and future plans.

Team SDSC. Tan Wei Leong seen top right in the picture (Credit: Photo courtesy of SDSC)

Sprint Dynamic Sports Consultancy (SDSC) was founded by Tan Wei Leong, who is SDSC’s Chief Coach. SDSC’s team of qualified coaches offers professional track and field coaching services to schools, organizations and individuals, who comprise the SDSC family. The SDSC motto is “Challenge Yourself”, which embodies SDSC’s proactive and holistic approach to coaching.

Beyond recognizing, developing and unveiling the full athletic abilities of its athletes, SDSC constantly employs athletics training as a vehicle to inculcate the enduring values of national pride, sportsmanship, responsibility, respect, discipline and caring for others upon its charges. Thus SDSC’s ultimate goal is to help nurture wholesome and healthy adults, parents and citizens of Singapore.

Aside from the local entries, another reason for its popularity is the inclusion of the Malaysian teams.

The Nordin Jadin Club has several Malaysian national members in its squad, and will provide stiff competition to our local lads. For the clueless Nordin Jadin, now a coach, was Malaysia former 400m record holder with a blistering time of 46.56 seconds.

Come September 11th at Innova Junior College, teams and schools such as Nordin Jadin Club, NUS, Wings Athletic Club, United World College, Tanglin Trust School to the local polytechnics will be battling it out for top prize.

So come down and support this local meet. Do spread the word.

2010 SDSC invitational Series Meet Info

Download: 2010 SDSC invitational Series Meet Info Downloaded 27 times

Date: 11th September, 8am to 11am

Location: Innova Junior College

View Larger Map

Credit: Info via SDSC

Personally I believe the Youth Olympic Games has all the right intentions, but how it was handled could have been better. From the ticket fiasco, to the bloating budget, the YOG has been beset by scandals and massive public outcry since the opening ceremony.

Highlights from Day 2

Highlights from Day 3

Although there’s mixed responses by the locals to us hosting the YOG, and since things are already set in motion, why not just support it wholeheartedly.

Cheer for Team Singapore, smile more, to watching the games be it on TV or in person. Let’s leave a good lasting impression to the 6,000 visiting YOG delegates.

Athletics ad for the YOG

I like this ad very much. I recognised Remy Gan, former school-boy distance champion now turned coach at the Singapore Sports School, and our very own Mr. K. Anyone knows who is the uncle taxi driver?

Well Wishing Video

A short well wishing video to encourage our Team Singapore Athletes competing in the Youth Olympic Games to perform well and have fun!

Singapore School Sports Council (SSSC) has added seven new events for next year’s annual Inter-Schools competition.

Expect to see the hammer throw, steeplechase, walks and pole vault as part of the National Schools sporting calendar schedule.

This is excellent news as this could only mean progress within our school scene, as with such awareness, there will be a more specific focus, and generate the needed support for the less ‘popular’ events that has been neglected for so long.

Long-term wise, of course this would translate to a bigger pool of talent as these juniors transition into senior athletes in the coming future.

This is just what we needed to kick-start our initiative to revive, and bringing back the glory days of local athletics.

The following events will be added to the SSSC National Inter-Schools Track & Field Championships:-

1. Open Boys Hammer
2. A Boys 5km Walk
3. A Girls’ 2000m Steeplechase
4. B Girls’ 2000m Steeplechase
5. A Girls 3km Walk.
6. Open Girls Hammer
7. Open Girls Pole Vault

For Open category, schools are limited to 3 entries regardless of A, B or C division. Points won still contribute to their respective division the top 8 finishers belong.

Info courtesy of SAA and SSSC.

16-year-old student Tay Shi Pei was the first torchbearer to mark the start of the relay, after receiving the flame from Education Minister Ng Eng Hen at CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh).

Despite the morning shower, it didn’t dampen the mood, as everyone was looking forward to the spirit of the Olympics.

Day one saw the flames passing through Marymount Road, to MacRitchie Reservoir and ended at Nanyang Polytechnic.

Some 2,400 torchbearers will take part in the 6-day island-wide relay, from August 7 to 13; with a break on August 9 due to National Day.

Day 1 Highlights

Highlights from Day 1 of the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games torch relay and community celebrations.

Singapore’s TV stars at MacRitchie

MediaCorp artistes Randall Tan, Zheng Geping and Calvin Soh who provided star attraction for the first day of the local torch relay.

Shan Wee & Joanne Peh

MediaCorp artiste Joanne Peh and MediaCorp deejay Shan Wee ran with the Torch at Marymount Road to the delight of the residents there.

Official Site: WWW / Results.

Men 100m – Wind : 0.0 m/s

1 Tyson Gay [USA] USA 9.84 4
2 Usain Bolt [JAM] JAM 9.97 2
3 Richard Thompson [TRI] TRI 10.10 1
4 Trell Kimmons [USA] USA 10.11
5 Mario Forsythe [JAM] JAM 10.20
6 Mike Rodgers [USA] USA 10.21
7 Travis Padgett [USA] USA 10.22
8 Monzavous Edwards [USA] USA 10.29

Men 800m

1 Marcin Lewandowski [POL] POL 1:45.06 4
2 Michael Rimmer [GBR] GBR 1:45.11 2
3 Jackson Mumbwa Kivuva [KEN] KEN 1:45.28 1
4 Boaz Kiplagat Lalang [KEN] KEN 1:45.31
5 Nick Symmonds [USA] USA 1:45.32
6 Leonel Manzano [USA] USA 1:45.41
7 Alfred Kirwa Yego [KEN] KEN 1:46.41
8 Andrew Wheating [USA] USA 1:46.51
9 Yusuf Saad Kamel [BRN] BRN 1:46.86
Abubaker Kaki [SUD] SUD DNF
Khadevis Robinson [USA] USA DNF

Men 400m Hurdles

1 Bershawn Jackson [USA] USA 47.65 4
2 Javier Culson [PUR] PUR 48.50 2
3 Angelo Taylor [USA] USA 49.57 1
4 Jehue Gordon [TRI] TRI 49.66
5 Micheal Tinsley [USA] USA 49.83
6 Ricardo Yates [GBR] GBR 49.93
7 Isa Phillips [JAM] JAM 50.00
Felix Sánchez [DOM] DOM DQ

Men 5000m

1 Mark Kosgey Kiptoo [KEN] KEN 12:53.46 4
2 Dejen Gebremeskel [ETH] ETH 12:53.56 2
3 Imane Merga [ETH] ETH 12:53.58 1
4 Eliud Kipchoge [KEN] KEN 12:54.36
5 Chris Solinsky [USA] USA 12:55.53
6 Vincent Kiprop Chepkok [KEN] KEN 12:58.17
7 Titus Kipjumba Mbishei [KEN] KEN 13:00.04
8 Augustine Kiprono Choge [KEN] KEN 13:04.64
9 Thomas Pkemei Longosiwa [KEN] KEN 13:05.60
10 Vincent Kipsegechi Yator [KEN] KEN 13:06.15
11 Joseph Ebuya [KEN] KEN 13:13.14
12 Mathew Kipkoech Kisorio [KEN] KEN 13:14.72
13 Ed Moran [USA] USA 13:20.25
14 James Kwalia C’Kurui [QAT] QAT 13:21.05
15 Juan van Deventer [RSA] RSA 13:22.64
16 Yusuf Kibet Biwott [KEN] KEN 13:25.03
17 Lucas Kimeli Rotich [KEN] KEN 13:31.89
18 Collis Birmingham [AUS] AUS 13:31.96
Gideon Gathimba [KEN] KEN DNF
Galen Rupp [USA] USA DNF
Suleiman Kipses Simotwo [KEN] KEN DNF

Men Shot Put

1 Christian Cantwell [USA] USA 22.09 4
2 Tomasz Majewski [POL] POL 21.01 2
3 Cory Martin [USA] USA 20.73 1
4 Reese Hoffa [USA] USA 20.68
5 Dylan Armstrong [CAN] CAN 20.61
6 Ryan Whiting [USA] USA 20.56
7 Daniel Taylor [USA] USA 20.28
8 Pavel Lyzhyn [BLR] BLR 20.01
9 Maris Urtans [LAT] LAT 19.63
10 Dorian Scott [JAM] JAM 19.07
11 Niklas Arrhenius [SWE] SWE 18.92
Adam Nelson [USA] USA NM

Women 200m – Wind : -0.2 m/s

1 Allyson Felix [USA] USA 22.41 4
2 Shalonda Solomon [USA] USA 22.51 2
3 Bianca Knight [USA] USA 22.59 1
4 Aleksandra Fedoriva [RUS] RUS 22.79
5 Yuliya Chermoshanskaya [RUS] RUS 22.95
6 Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie [BAH] BAH 22.97
7 Consuella Moore [USA] USA 23.32
8 Monica Hargrove [USA] USA 23.66

Women 100m Hurdles – Wind : +0.2 m/s

1 Sally Pearson [AUS] AUS 12.57 4
2 Priscilla Lopes-Schliep [CAN] CAN 12.59 2
3 LoLo Jones [USA] USA 12.70 1
4 Queen Harrison [USA] USA 12.78
5 Perdita Felicien [CAN] CAN 12.79
6 Danielle Carruthers [USA] USA 12.96
7 Vonette Dixon [JAM] JAM 12.98
8 Yevgeniya Snihur [UKR] UKR 13.05

Women 1500m

1 Nancy Jebet Langat [KEN] KEN 4:00.70 4
2 Anna Alminova [RUS] RUS 4:01.53 2
3 Mimi Belete [BRN] BRN 4:01.64 1
4 Abeba Arigawe [ETH] ETH 4:01.98
5 Morgan Uceny [USA] USA 4:02.72
6 Gelete Burka [ETH] ETH 4:02.84
7 Shannon Rowbury [USA] USA 4:02.95
8 Maryam Yusuf Jamal [BRN] BRN 4:03.29
9 Stephanie Twell [GBR] GBR 4:04.25
10 Anna Pierce [USA] USA 4:04.52
11 Christin Wurth-Thomas [USA] USA 4:04.56
12 Ingvill Måkestad Bovim [NOR] NOR 4:04.92
13 Natalya Evdokimova [RUS] RUS 4:07.13
14 Hannah England [GBR] GBR 4:07.86
15 Charlotte Schönbeck [SWE] SWE 4:11.29
Tamara Tverdostup [UKR] UKR DNF

Women High Jump

1 Blanka Vlašic [CRO] CRO 2.02 4
2 Chaunté Howard Lowe [USA] USA 2.00 2
3 Emma Green [SWE] SWE 1.94 1
4 Svetlana Shkolina [RUS] RUS 1.94
5 Irina Gordeeva [RUS] RUS 1.90
6 Ebba Jungmark [SWE] SWE 1.90
7 Stine Kufaas [NOR] NOR 1.90
8 Airiné Palšyté [LTU] LTU 1.85
9 Anna Iljuštšenko [EST] EST 1.85
Levern Spencer [LCA] LCA NM

The Jamaican finished second in a time of 9.97 seconds. This is the first time that Gay has beating Bolt over the blue-ribbon event.

The race was marred by two faulty starts, and Bolt commented that he was annoyed by it.

Wind : 0.0 m/s
1 Tyson Gay [USA] USA 9.84 4
2 Usain Bolt [JAM] JAM 9.97 2
3 Richard Thompson [TRI] TRI 10.10 1
4 Trell Kimmons [USA] USA 10.11
5 Mario Forsythe [JAM] JAM 10.20
6 Mike Rodgers [USA] USA 10.21
7 Travis Padgett [USA] USA 10.22
8 Monzavous Edwards [USA] USA 10.29

The Olympic flame has arrived Singapore after it has travelled some 40,000km from Greece, Berlin, Dakar, Mexico City, Auckland and Seoul.

It arrived at Changi Airport’s VIP complex yesterday at around 2pm in the afternoon.

Initially lit on 23rd July in Ancient Olympia, Greece, the flame will now tour Singapore on a six-day torch relay which will start tomorrow.

Some 2,400 torch-bearers will help in transporting the flame across the far ends of Singapore, and finally ends at Float@Marina Bay, where on August 14 the flame will light the YOG cauldron to mark the start two weeks of the inaugural Games.

The first-ever Youth Olympic Games, is to take place on August 14-26. Some 5,000 athletes and officials from the 205 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) are to be expected in attendance, along with estimated 1,200 media representatives, 20,000 local and international volunteers, and 320,000 spectators.

The Games will see young athletes aged between 14 and 18 years will competing in 26 sports, as a part of a Culture and Education Program.

International Leg Highlights

Follow the Journey of the Youth Olympic Flame as it travelled from Olympia, Greece to five cities in five continents – Berlin, Dakar, Mexico City, Auckland and Seoul before reaching Singapore.

Singapore Leg (5 Aug)

After journeying to the five cities, the Youth Olympic Flame will arrive in Singapore for a 6-day traditional torch relay run. The journey of the flame in Singapore will be from 7-13 August.

Auckland (01 & 02 Aug 2010)

The Flame received a warm and traditional Maori welcome as it reached Auckland, New Zealand for the fourth leg of the Journey of the Youth Olympic Flame.

Mexico City (29 Jul 2010)

The Flame arrives in Mexico City for a two day celebration.

Dakar (25 Jul 2010)

Dakar, Senegal is the next stop for the Flame of the first Youth Olympic Games. Among the highlights was a celebration held to welcome the flame at historical Goree Island,

Berlin (24 Jul 2010)

The Journey of the Youth Olympic Flame continues as the Flame stops over at Berlin, Germany.

Flame Lighting in Olympia, Greece (23 July 2010)

The Flame for the first Youth Olympic Games was lit in Ancient Olympia, Greece on 23 July 2010.

The Interview

Jessica Ennis at the Euro Champ 2010

1 ENNIS, Jessica GBR 6823 CR EL
2 DOBRYNSKA, Nataliya UKR 6778 PB
3 OESER, Jennifer GER 6683 PB
4 CHERNOVA, Tatiana RUS 6512
5 TYMINSKA, Karolina POL 6230 SB
6 YOSYPENKO, Lyudmyla UKR 6206
7 KLUCINOVÁ, Eliska CZE 6187
8 GONCHAROVA, Marina RUS 6186 SB
9 SCHWERDTNER, Maren GER 6167 PB
10 SAMUELSSON, Jessica SWE 6146 PB
11 RATH, Claudia GER 6107 PB
12 AERTS, Sara BEL 6084 PB
13 PANTELEYEVA, Yana RUS 6059
14 MARCUSSEN, Ida NOR 6029 SB
15 IFADÍDOU, Sofía GRE 6004 PB
16 ZÜBLIN, Linda SUI 5912
17 CACHOVÁ, Katerina CZE 5911 PB
18 MAKSIMAVA, Yana BLR 5838
19 SADEIKO, Grit EST 5761
THORSTEINSDÓTTIR, Helga Margrét ISL DNF
STRATÁKI, Aryiró GRE DNF
MELNYCHENKO, Hanna UKR DNF
CASADEI, Nadja SWE DNF
NANA DJIMOU IDA, Antoinette FRA DNF
HERNANDO, Bárbara ESP DNF
KEIZER, Jolanda NED DNF