The track and field and rowing teams of Yongin City Hall’s Department of Workplace Athletics and Sports are enjoying a golden era as the strongest representatives of the city at the national championships.
At the 77th National Track and Field Championships, held at Jeongseon Sports Complex in Gangwon Province from Nov. 23-26, Yongin City Hall’s track and field team won two gold, one silver and one bronze medal, with all athletes taking home medals, according to the city on Nov. 27.
South Korean high jumper Woo Sang-hyuk cleared 2.33 meters, the best mark of the year.
Woo cleared 2.20 meters to win the event and then challenged himself to 2.33 meters. Uncharacteristically, he asked the crowd to refrain from applauding and concentrated harder, clearing the bar in one fell swoop to join Jubon Harrison and Joen Baden as the top men’s high jumpers this year.
“It feels great to be the world record holder for the first time in a long time,” Woo said, “and I’m looking forward to showing my best at the World Championships in August.”
Lee Hyun-jae won the gold medal in the 안전놀이터 discus throw with a distance of 52 meters (99 feet), while Kim Jae-min took bronze in the shot put with a distance of 17 meters (60 feet). In the women’s 100-meter hurdles, Cho Eun-joo won the silver medal.
The rowing team is also on a roll.
At the 49th Jang Bogi National Rowing Championships, held at the Seonakdong River Rowing Stadium in Busan from April 24-26, the Yongin City Hall team won one gold and two bronze medals in three events.
In the men’s general category, the team of Moon Pil-seung in the eights, Kim Dong-woo in the second, Hong Se-myung in the third, Kim Hyung-wook in the fourth, Lee Jae-yoon in the fifth, Kim Jung-ho in the six, Park Ji-soo in the seventh, Jang Shin-jae in the stroke, and Lee Dong-gu in the coxswain teamed up to win their first title of the season with a time of 6:12.75.
The team also took third place in the muta-pair and quadruple sculls events, giving all competitors medals.
A city official said, “The Yongin City Hall Workplace Athletics Department got off to a great start this year with the kendo team winning first place in both the individual and team competitions at the National Unemployed Kendo Competition. Athletics and rowing have also achieved remarkable results.” “The city’s workplace sports department is proving to be a force to be reckoned with, with athletes who have achieved good results being selected for the national team,” he said.
“We hope that Woo Sang-hyuk and other Yongin City Hall athletes who have been selected for the national team will play an active role in the upcoming competitions.”