Singapore runner Shaun Goh, 27, set a new national record for the men’s 10km road race at the Run Prix 10km in Melbourne on 22 September. Goh finished 20th out of 188 runners with a time of 31:00, beating the previous record set by Soh Rui Yong by 37 seconds.
## Background
Soh Rui Yong, 33, had previously set the national record with a time of 31:37 at the Valencia Half Marathon in October 2023. Goh, an information security analyst, shared with Singapore Athletics that he entered the race with the intention of breaking this record. The race conditions were favourable, and Goh felt strong during the first 5km.
## Race strategy and performance
In the second half of the race, Goh focused on overtaking runners who had started too quickly. Despite encountering a rough stretch of headwind that slowed his pace, he managed to finish strong in the final 2km. “I’m very happy with how I was able to close hard at the end of this 10km, and I owe this to my coach, who prepared me well to finish strong at the end of races even though fatigue,” Goh said.
## Soh Rui Yong’s reaction
Soh Rui Yong congratulated Goh on his achievement, acknowledging him as “the fastest Singaporean ever over 10km, road or track.” This endorsement from the previous record holder highlights the significance of Goh’s accomplishment.
## Future plans
Goh has set his sights on the Valencia Half Marathon on 27 October, where he aims to beat his personal best of 69:53. This upcoming race will be another opportunity for Goh to showcase his talent and potentially set new records.
## Related events
Soh Rui Yong recently won the 2023 Pocari Sweat Run men’s race with a 2.4km timing of 6:57, narrowly beating Shaun Goh by about two seconds. This ongoing rivalry between the two runners adds an exciting dynamic to Singapore’s athletics scene, with both athletes pushing each other to new heights.
