Lau Tsun-ling's strategic switch to running lands first major title
Examinations may have stalled Lau Tsun-ling's triathlon career, but it has allowed him to concentrate on running and the rewards came in the junior half marathon yesterday.
While his former Hong Kong triathlon teammate, Ivan Lo Ching-hin, finished overall second in the men's 10km challenge, Lau won the junior men's half marathon challenge in one hour, 19 minutes and 22 seconds for his first major title.
"I am overjoyed, enlightened. I feel like there is a spotlight pointing at me," said Lau.
A first year associate degree student in business administration at Hong Kong Baptist University's College of International Education in Shek Mun, Lau joined the team B of the national squad when he was in Form Two, and then team A in Form Four.
I am overjoyed, enlightened. I feel like there is a spotlight pointing at me. Before today's race, I was an average athlete in both running and triathlon
He used to train at the Hong Kong Sports Institute, but took a break from triathlon to prepare for the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education examinations last February. After the exams, he found the bar for him to re-enter the team set higher in the swimming discipline.
"There was a rise in standards in the team. I wanted to rejoin the team, but athletes of the same age were far ahead of me. I couldn't find an effective way to catch up," said Lau.
He said he became a runner because of encouragement from his coach, Wong Chun-wing, at Watsons Athletic Club.
"I wasn't so sure if I should take up separate running training. But coach Wong saw my potential and asked me to try it out. She has been assisting my training in the running part for triathlon since I was in Form One. She knew me well and I trusted her," said Lau.
"Before today's race, I was an average athlete in both running and triathlon. I finished outside the top 10 when I ran in the 10km race in the past two years. And even though I won some prizes in triathlon, not many [people] recognised my efforts. So this race marked a big day in my sports career," said Lau.
Lau finished his 21.1 kilometres one minute ahead of Chan Wai-tung, but outside the time needed to qualify for the Sports Institute's athletics squad.
"I wanted to become an athlete at the Institute again with another team - the athletics squad. I would have realised that dream if I finished faster than 1.17.02, the time clocked by Chow Hon-nip in last month's Mizuno Hong Kong Half Marathon Championships," said Lau.
"But I wasn't strong enough mentally to use my stamina and potential in the final kilometres."
He said the prize would add weight to his sports degree course application.
