As a former athlete and school coach, I can understand the training they must have gone through and the sacrifices they must have made to enable them to break the 34-year-old national record with an electronic time of 46.98 sec - a time not be scoffed at certainly.

The trip which they richly deserved can only spur them to greater effort and improvement and do the country proud.

With Mr Loh Chan Pew, their no-nonsense coach, their youth and their own commitment, I predict a bright future for them in athletics especially after experiencing their first SEA Games.

Chia Hearn Kok