Striding forward for good
The kick-off event for Best Foot Forward 2026 delivered its strongest showing yet in its fifth year – with a record turnout, the fastest race timings to date, and an outpouring of unity among the NTU community in doing good.
Text: Vivien Yap
Rain did not dampen the spirts of 500 runners, as a record number of individuals laced up for X Campus Run, which kicked off this year’s Best Foot Forward fundraising challenge at NTU Singapore.
One of them is NTU alumna, Ng Yew Cheo, who crossed the finish line first in the 7-kilometre Open Female category in 34 minutes and 49 seconds, taking home the gold medal.
Last year, she claimed the top spot in the students’ category while pursuing her master’s at the National Institute of Education (NIE). This year, she was encouraged by her alma mater to represent NIE in the open category. Although faced with competition from more seasoned runners this year, her timing improved by a full minute from last year’s race.
Ng Yew Cheo (second from right) moments before she crossed the finish line as the first-place runner in the Open Female category.
Yew Cheo embodies the spirit of Best Foot Forward by encouraging other runners to participate, showing their support for NTU students.
She says: “I am part of an external running club called Cougars Athletic Association, where I help train young runners who need financial support alongside my NIE supervisor and coach, Assoc Prof Balasekaran. I have sponsored some of them to take part in Best Foot Forward so that they can gain more exposure and do good at the same time.”
The competitive race on 6 February 2026 saw the fastest recorded run-times to date – with the top run times for the Open Male, Open Female and Student Female categories surpassing that of last year’s. The average completion timings for the top runners also improved by more than three minutes for the same categories, highlighting a more competitive race this year.
Prof Goh Wang Ling (second from right) flagging off the 7KM competitive race alongside Koen Tan (third from right), President of NTU Runners’ Club, sending runners off into the light drizzle with rousing encouragement.
Lin Jing Chao, an undergraduate in NIE’s Sport Science & Management, who secured first place in the male student category, echoed the same sentiment: “This year’s race was definitely more competitive than the previous runs. The timings for the top runners this time were really close.”
Addressing the participants before the flag-off, NTU Associate Vice Provost of Student Engagement and Experience, Prof Goh Wang Ling said: “Today is about coming together as OneNTU, supporting those in need within our community while also pushing ourselves to do our best.”
ACES turning up the energy before the race with a show-stopping cheerleading routine.
The energy was palpable even before the first stride. A rousing group stretch led by external trainers from BFT Nanyang got muscles warmed up, while NTU’s cheer squad, ACES, delivered a high-octane performance that drew cheers from the crowd.
Among the schools, Nanyang Business School (NBS) fielded the largest contingent of 129 runners. The run held special significance as the school marks 30 years since being officially named in 1995. To date, NBS alumni, staff, faculty and students have collectively raised over S$36,000 for the NBS30 Fund, one of the causes that Best Foot Forward 2026 supports.
Alumni, staff and students of NBS posing in their red school shirts, transforming the race day into a vibrant display of school pride.
“Seeing a sea of red NBS shirts was inspiring,” said Prof Sharon Ng, Professor and Deputy Dean at NBS. “Taking part in this fundraising event reflects our community’s belief in the purpose of the NBS30 Fund and a strong spirit of giving back – not only through financial support but also through active participation and advocacy.”
Student-led NTU Runners’ Club co-organised the event with the University of Advancement Office. Its president, Koen Tan, says: “On a day-to-day basis, everyone is busy pursuing their own endeavours and we rarely think about things like personal fitness or helping those less fortunate than us. The run is a perfect opportunity to practise both, and channel our energies towards something meaningful.”>
Chasing personal excellence and uplifting others
With this year’s winning timings, Best Foot Forward is drawing increasingly serious runners – individuals who push their limits while running for something greater than themselves.
The proud winners of Best Foot Forward/ X Campus Run 2026 7-km competitive race.
| Medal | Open Male | Open Female | Student Male | Student Female |
| Gold | Daniel Yap Chun Mun, 25 mins 38 secs | Ng Yew Cheo, 34 mins 49 secs | Lin Jing Chao, 25 mins 35 secs | Teo Jia Wen, 31 mins 32 secs |
| Silver | Jeremie Houssineau, 25 mins 43 secs | Zhang Xinyue, 35 mins 36 secs | Hugo Edward Pilotaz Winfield, 26 min 12 secs | Charlotte Tan Luo Xian, 34 min 10 secs |
| Bronze | Dominic Saviour, 26 mins 19 secs | Elisa Sophie Presperetti, 36 mins 7 secs | Lucian Wee, 29 mins 56 secs | Boon Yinn Zhao, 34 mins 36 secs |
Best Foot Forward Virtual Challenge continues until 17 April 2026 and welcomes the NTU community and members of the public to move for good. Your registration doubles as a donation to the NTU Bursary Fund or a School Advancement Fund of your choice, sign up here.
Relive the energy of the flag-off run event photos here.
