Singapore hurdler Kerstin Ong carved out a milestone performance today at the Malaysia Open Athletics Championship in Perlis, clocking a time of 13.86s in the women’s 100m hurdles to break the national record by 0.01s. She clinched the silver after Jeong Yeon Jin of South Korea (13.72s), with Thailand’s Arisa Weruwanarak (14.00s) rounding up the podium.
The 28-year-old manager in a marketing agency had just equalled Nur Izlyn Zaini’s previous record of 13.87s last week at the Singapore Athletics Allcomers Meet 3, becoming the second Singaporean woman ever to go under 14s, but this time went one better as she edged her name into the record books as the fastest hurdler in Singapore history.
“This national record means so much to me,” Ong said. “Ever since I first represented Singapore at the age of 16, I’ve always wanted to be a national record holder. I’ve always wanted to be the best hurdler in Singapore’s history. To finally do this in my late 20s makes it even more special. For a while I thought this dream was over, but I held on these past three years, kept working at it with my coach Ricardo Diez from Singapore Sports School, and slowly saw improvements. To finally achieve it now really means the world to me.”
Balancing Work, Sport and Life
Her achievement comes after years of sacrifice, juggling full-time work and side hustles like her social media campaigns, to fund her training and overseas competitions.
“The journey has been extremely exhausting, not just physically but mentally,” Ong explained. “I juggle a full-time job with training and racing, and take on social media projects to help fund my competitions, since we are mostly self-funded. I do get some support from Singapore Athletics, around S$3,700 a year, but it isn’t enough when I want to compete at higher-level meets.
The satisfaction you get from achieving something in sport is unlike anything else.
“Every morning I wake up tired but still have to push through. At night I’m exhausted but still need to meet work deadlines. Honestly, it has been emotionally and mentally draining, but to see it all pay off makes it all worth it.
“The satisfaction you get from achieving something in sport is unlike anything else,” she added. “That joy, that sense of fulfilment is something I can’t find it anywhere else. That’s why I’ve been trying for so many years and hanging on, even now in my late 20s.”
Pressure to Qualify for SEA Games
Breaking the record wasn’t just about making history. It was also about keeping her hopes alive for the upcoming Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.
“After equalling the national record last week, I felt pressure because I knew these were my final two competitions for SEA Games qualification,” she said. “I knew from the start of the year that I needed to break the national record, because the SEA Games qualifying standard is even tougher. I wanted to get it done earlier, but it took me until the second half of the year. My times were consistent all year, so I knew a breakthrough was coming. I just needed the right conditions and I’m glad it all came together last week and again today.”
Looking Ahead
Ong now awaits confirmation from the Singapore National Olympic Council on whether her record time will secure her a SEA Games berth.
“For SEA Games qualification, I don’t know if I’ve made it yet. Normally it’s based on the bronze medal mark from the previous edition and the last Games were extremely competitive – just 0.1 seconds separated gold from bronze. I hope SNOC will select me, because I know I’m a medal contender and I truly believe I can bring home a medal.”
If selected, it would mark a decade-long dream fulfilled. “The first time I attempted to qualify for the SEA Games was in 2015. Now it’s 2025. It has taken me 10 years, so making my debut would mean a lot.”
Her immediate targets are clear: “This year’s SEA Games is my focus, then the Asian Games next year, and the 2029 SEA Games in Singapore. I definitely want to continue until then, when I can race at home in front of my family and friends. And I don’t just want to shave 0.01 off the record, I want to lower it significantly.”
Fueled by Passion and Sacrifice
For Ong, the record is not just about numbers, but proof of perseverance.
“It takes a lot of mental strength to balance high-performance training, work, and everything else,” she said. “But having a goal has kept me going. Ever since I started this event at 13 years old, I’ve dreamed of breaking the national record and competing at the SEA Games. I’ve never achieved either, until now. It’s my passion that has kept me disciplined and driven.”
She even revealed she is considering going full-time in the lead-up to the Games. “I am thinking about going full-time with training before the SEA Games, so we’ll see how that goes.”
With overseas races costing between S$1,000 to S$2,000 each, Ong has relied heavily on sponsors and her social media work to keep her journey alive. “I race almost every other week, about twice a month, because the competition level in Asia is very strong and racing against better athletes helps me improve. I’m very grateful to the brands that have supported me through sponsorships and campaigns. They may not know it but it goes towards my racing and fuelling my sporting dream.”
