Mar 16
Breaststroke queen Roanne Ho sealed her qualification to the Asian Games 2018 on day three of the Liberty Insurance 49th Singapore National Age Group Swimming Championships (SNAG) for seniors.
The reigning South East Asian champion in the Women’s 50m breaststroke, representing Swimfast Aquatic Club (SAC), had no problems meeting the Asian Games ‘A’ cut qualifying mark of 32.35s, as she clocked a time of 31.32s in the finals, just shy off her current national record of 31.29s set at last year’s SEA Games in Malaysia.
The 26-year-old had set a time of 31.66s in the morning’s heats.
“This was the second fastest time that I have ever done although I expected better. My toe cramped up at the start. I was hoping to go below 31s or at least just go below the national record, so when I saw the timing, I was like it’s my toe. I am in good shape ahead of Commonwealth Games, so the target remains for me to go below 31s. I am currently not in taper yet, so when I am fully tapered, I hope to achieve that”, said Roanne.
National Training Centre Head Coach, Gary Tan, though, was delighted with Roanne’s progress.
Gary said, “I think the good thing about it is that Roanne has been working really hard in and out of the pool, and the fact of the matter is that she is focusing on a lot more processes, thinking about her times and how the execution of her swims is supposed to be. So hopefully by Commonwealth Games, she will be able to go down to her personal best.”
Her club mates, Zachary Ian Tan and Christie Chue, clocked Asian Games ‘B’ Cut timings in their respective events.
15-year-old Zachary swam a new personal best time of 4:27.57s in the Men’s 400m Individual Medley, meeting the ‘B’ cut time of 4:29.29s. This was significantly faster than his time in the morning heats, which was 4:29.02s.
Christie, 18, touched home in second place in the final behind Roanne with a time of 32.50s in the Women’s 50m Breaststroke, going below the ‘B’ cut of 32.71s. This equalled her time set in the morning heats.
AquaTech Swimming’s (ATS) Christopher Cheong also met the Asian Games ‘B’ Cut timing in the Men’s 50m Breaststroke when he finished first in the final, touching home in a time of 28.90s, under the ‘B’ cut mark of 28.94s.
The Liberty Insurance 49th Singapore National Age Group Swimming Championships for seniors will continue tomorrow at the OCBC Aquatic Centre with the Men’s and Women’s (13 years and above) 400m Freestyle, 100m Breaststroke and 100m Backstroke.
For full list of results and event information, please refer to the following link:
http://swimming.org.sg/SNAG_2018.aspx
Photo: Andy Chua