LEE SLAYS DEMONS, RECORD

Runner overcomes bad ordeal to break national mark in gruelling steeplechase

- David Lee

Vanessa Lee was literally running against herself during the women's 3,000m steeplechase at the Singapore Open Track and Field Championships at the National Stadium on April 18.

As the only competitor in the timed final, Lee used a beeper in her smartwatch to let her know if she was on track at every 100m interval as she went on to break Cheryl Chan's national record of Ilmin 14.70sec set in 2020.

After clocking 11:09.16, the 26year-old collapsed into a sobbing heap because, not only did she achieve a new national mark,pending ratification, she had also conquered her demons.

The distance runner, who usually competes in the 5,000m, 10,000m and half-marathon, said: "In my opinion, the steeplechase is the hardest event. We run a long distance, add hurdles, and as if that is not hard enough, we have a water jump. Whoever invented this event is a monster."

Lee said she resumed racing in steeplechase only this year, after a self-imposed five-year hiatus from the event following a bad experience at the 2018 Asean University Games (AUG) when heavy menstruation affected her race.

The sales executive said: "I started competing in the steeplechase in junior college and set the women's national Under-20 record (11:45.09) at the 2017 Singapore Open. I was very excited about this event because I was close to the national record then.