World University Games: Hong Kong’s Wong gives selection hopes a boost with hurdles win, targets new city record
- 21-year-old becomes first city athlete to go under 14 seconds for 110m hurdles in 4 years
- Polytechnic University student shatters own personal best during preseason trials at Wan Chai Sports Ground
Addis Wong Lok-hei has become the first Hong Kong man in nearly four years to break 14 seconds in the 110m hurdles, putting him in a good position to qualify for the World University Games in July.
The former Youth Olympic bronze medallist covered the distance in 13.99 seconds at the city’s preseason trials, shattering his own personal best of 14.16 in the process.
“I was super nervous on the starting line because four of the hurdlers have better 2022 personal bests than me,” the Polytechnic University student said.
Lee Ka-yiu, who has a personal best of 14.01, was second in 14.11, while former Hong Kong record holder Cheung Wang-fung finished third in 14.14 in the race at Wan Chai Sports Ground on Sunday.
Rico Cheung Siu-hang, who is ranked No 1 in Hong Kong and has a personal best of 14.00, was fifth in 14.73.
“I felt like a challenger, not only did those seniors have better PBs and even Rico, who is younger also has a better time, that made me feel like I needed to grasp the chance to prove myself,” Wong said. “I’m glad I could turn pressure into motivation, because this is a big year with so many events I want to participate in.”
Wong was supposed to sign out of his final year at the under-20 level with a bang, but the coronavirus pandemic ruined everything for the 21-year-old, who won bronze in the 110m hurdles at the 2018 Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires.
