FOR most people, the Schools National Track and Field Championships usually conjure up images of star school athletes in the thick of competition and being roared on by their flag-waving schoolmates in the stadium terraces.

But the reality cannot be more different for Lossini Jeyapandiyen (Serangoon Garden Sec), Buddha Deepak (Queenstown Sec), Wan Azhar (Chai Chee Sec), Daniel Goh (Kranji Sec), Desiree Tan (St Margaret's Sec) and Fuad Abdul Malik (Ping Yi Sec).

SCHOOLS' SCORECARD Athletics National finals ... more

The six are 'Lone Rangers', as they are the only athletes representing their respective schools at this year's championships at the Choa Chu Kang Stadium. The meet will end next week.

They chose athletics even though their schools do not offer track and field as a co-curricular activity, owing to their love for the sport. Yet, competing in the meet can be a lonely experience.

'It can be very stressful to have no one to talk to,' said Fuad, who ran in the B Boys' 1,500m and 3,000m finals. 'You also don't have anyone cheering you on.'

Lossini knows exactly what Fuad is talking about.

The 18-year-old Serangoon Garden Secondary 4 student's experience in this year's meet is a huge contrast from the four previous championships when she represented the Singapore Sports School.

Then, she trained with her schoolmates at the sports school and enjoyed rousing support during competitions.

'It's much harder now when you don't have anyone cheering you on. But I'm sure some of my schoolmates will be down to support me in next week's finals,' said the A Girls' 800m and 1,500m runner.

Life away from the sports school also means that Lossini, who lives near MacRitchie Reservoir, now has to travel to Gombak Stadium four times a week to train under distance coach G. Elangovan.

Read the full story in Friday's edition of The Straits Times.