TAMBUNAN: The Tawau contingent emerged overall champions at the Sabah School Sports Council (MSSS) Athletics Championship which concluded at the Sports Complex here on Friday.
Tawau collected 15 gold, 13 silver and six bronze medals followed by Keningau in second place with 11 golds, nine silvers and nine bronzes, while Kota Kinabalu took third spot with ten golds, ten silvers and 12 bronzes.
A total of 24 teams consisting of Tawau, Keningau, Tambunan, Sandakan, Kota Kinabalu, Penampang, Ranau, Semporna, Lahad Datu, Telupid/Tongod, Tuaran, Kota Belud, Kudat, Beluran, Pensiangan, Beaufort, Tenom, Kota Marudu, Papar, Kunak, Pitas, Kinabatangan, Kuala Penyu and Sipitang participated in the championship.
Meanwhile, three male and three female athletes were selected as Sportsmen and Sportswomen at this year’s championships.
The male athletes were Mohammad Jumaidin Abdullah representing Tawau in the 12 boys category who broke two records in the 80m hurdles by clocking a time of 11.23 seconds, surpassing the MSSM record of 11.29s and obtained two golds (200m and 80m hurdles); Dywane Rayner Roberth from Beluran (15 boys category) who broke three records and won three golds – 800m (2:02.22s), 1,500m (4:25.38s) and 2,000m steeplechase (6:42.98s); and Kota Kinabalu’s Earl Isaac Mitzler Fredolin (18 boys category) who broke one record and obtained one gold in the shot put (18.25m).
The female athletes on the other hand, were Kota Kinabalu’s Claudia Mae Mcmanus Sing (12 girls category) – one gold (100m -13.41s) and one silver (200m); Nur Denisha Shazlatie Abdullah from Tawau (15 girls category) who set a new record in the 1,500m (5:09.24s) to win the gold and silvers in 2,000m steeplechase and 3,000m respectively; and Kota Kinabalu’s Alya Marissa Maizul Anuar (18 girls category) who broke three records and obtained three golds – 1,500m (5:10.32s), 2,000m steeplechase (7:45.10s) and 3,000m (11:11.97s).
A total of 47 new records were set in the boys and girls 12, 15 and 18 categories respectively in the 29 track and field events contested over the four days of the tournament.
State Education Department Director Haji Raisin Saidin officiated the closing ceremony and presented prizes to the winners.
Also present at the ceremony were the District Education Officer Dr. Haison Jahudin, Deputy Director, Student Development Sector, State Education Department Muddin Beting, Chief Assistant Director Student Talent Development Unit, Student Development Sector, State Education Department Datu Asrah Datok Ambas, District Officer Sobitun Makajil, heads of state and federal government departments, principals and headmasters, teachers and parents.
