PUMA Singapore proudly celebrates another historic double achievement as Singapore distance runners Vanessa Lee and Shaun Goh set new national records in the 10,000m at the Queensland 10,000m Championships – and they did it on Singapore’s National Day, making the feat even more special.

Lee and Goh’s record-breaking runs mark a significant milestone for Singapore distance running, further reflecting their relentless pursuit of excellence and PUMA’s commitment to empowering athletes to perform at their peak. Vanessa Lee clocked a remarkable time of 36:15.67, breaking a 30-year-old national record previously held by Yvonne Danson (36:27.39) since 1995. This is Lee’s fourth national record of 2025 and her sixth overall, solidifying her dominance across both track and road distances. She now holds six national records concurrently – for the 1 Mile, 3,000m Steeplechase, 5,000m, 5km Road, 10,000m and 10km Road – a testament to her consistency and elite performance level.

“The Queensland 10,000m Championships is a dedicated 10,000m event, which means there is a good chance of having a highly competitive field. Thus, I knew it would be a great opportunity to run fast. The weather was cool at around 18°C, with some strong headwinds on the home stretch in the first half, but it eased off and I settled into my rhythm, hitting my pace every lap. I’m thrilled to have achieved my goal of breaking the national record,” said Lee.

“Honestly, I was more excited for Shaun. He had a lot riding on this race and getting to watch him compete live was incredible. Breaking a record that’s stood for three decades is surreal; but to have both of us set national records on National Day made it all the more special.”

Shaun Goh crossed the finish line in 31:02.40, rewriting the men’s 10,000m national record that was set by Soh Rui Yong (31:10.70) at the Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia 2023. This marks Goh’s second national record of the year, following his 5km Road performance in Gold Coast last month, and comes just weeks after he came within a fraction of a second of breaking the men’s 2.4km record. Goh now holds three national records across road and track events – 5km Road, 10km Road, 10,000m – highlighting his versatility and speed.

Shaun added, “It feels pretty amazing to break a national record on any day, but doing on National Day made it more meaningful! Sharing that moment with my teammate Vanessa made it even better. I’ll never forget the post-race wave of emotions, knowing all the hard work had paid off. I’m thrilled to have finally hit the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games qualification standard for the 10,000m, a mark I’ve been chasing all year.”

Both athletes’ achievements highlight the strength of Singapore’s distance running scene and reinforce PUMA Singapore’s mission to back athletes with the tools, support, and innovation they need to push boundaries.

Goh Yilin, Teamhead Marketing for Performance South East Asia and Singapore at PUMA, said, “On this National Day, Vanessa and Shaun’s stellar performances in Queensland fill us with pride, not just as PUMA Singapore, but as a nation. They embody the determination, speed, and spirit that PUMA champions, and we are honoured to stand alongside them on their journey.”

The Queensland 10,000m Championships brought together elite athletes from across the region, providing a competitive stage for Lee and Goh to test themselves against some of the best. Their record-breaking performances signal strong momentum heading into the next phase of the 2025 season, as both set their sights on upcoming international competitions.

Photo Credit: PUMA Singapore