Breaking the Elite Mold: How Late-Bloomer Cloey Wong is Rewriting the Script as an ASICS A-Racer
- John Yeong
- Jun 10
- 6 min read
From Track "Obsession" to Elite Podium: Cloey Wong’s Fast-Tracked Journey with the ASICS A-Racers
When people talk about performance running in Singapore, the narrative usually follows a predictable arc: track-and-field stars who have been training since their secondary school cross-country days. But Cloey Wong is rewriting that script.
As a late developer who only found her stride during university, Cloey has experienced a meteoric rise in the local distance running scene. Last year, she sent shockwaves through the community by clinching a spectacular 4th place finish in the Elite 21.1km category at the Great Eastern Women’s Run (GEWR), crossing the line just behind local powerhouse Jasmine Teo.
Proving that breakthrough performance was no fluke, Cloey recently took her talents to the international stage. At the Alliance Bank Borneo International Marathon 2026, she dominated the Women's Open 10KM category.
Clocking in with a phenomenal net time of 00:39:17, her blistering pace not only secured her the category victory but crowned her the overall women's champion for that distance.
Her fierce competitive drive and rapid ascendancy caught the eye of sportswear giant ASICS, who officially signed her to their prestigious ASICS A-Racers programme this year—an initiative dedicated to elevating Singapore's next generation of competitive running talent.
From "Acceptable Obsession" to Elite Performance
Unlike athletes who felt the pressure of early competitive success, Cloey's catalyst wasn't a podium finish or a single dramatic race. Instead, it was born out of the structured rhythm of university life.
"There was not one particular race or defining moment for me," Cloey shares. "It was more of a gradual realisation during my first year of university, when I was preparing for the Road Relay event in the annual Inter Hall Games."
While many runners view high-intensity track sessions as a necessary evil, Cloey fell in love with the data-driven progress of speedwork.
"As strange as it may sound, I genuinely enjoyed the grind of interval training around the track. I enjoyed having something that kept my days structured and it felt like an acceptable 'obsession'.
There was something very addictive about that process—the idea that if I showed up consistently and gave my best, I could become a little stronger and faster each time. So after Year 1, I decided to take it seriously and give myself a chance at this new sport."
Navigating the Hardest Mile: Overcoming Long-Term Injury
Cloey’s rapid progression wasn't without its hurdles. Shortly after discovering her potential, she was sidelined by a severe injury that tested her psychological resilience as much as her physical strength.
"I was injured quite badly for more than a year, and during that period, running slowly became something that gave me more stress than enjoyment," she admits. "It was difficult because the sport had once brought me so much excitement, but at that point, I felt physically limited and mentally drained."
Rather than forcing her way through burnout, Cloey took the unconventional step to step away completely—a decision that ultimately saved her athletic career.
"Eventually, I decided to take a break as I also wanted to experience life outside of running, which I am glad I did because it gave me space to reset and be more convinced that this is a sport I want to pursue. After some time away, there was still a voice at the back of my mind telling me that it was too early to give up. I felt that I had barely scratched the surface of what I could do in the sport."
Returning to the road meant abandoning the ego and focusing entirely on gradual, compassionate rehabilitation. "Coming back required a lot of patience. I had to let go of the need to rush back to where I was before and instead focus on rebuilding slowly.”
“That setback taught me to listen to my body, protect my love for the sport, and be more compassionate with myself. In a way, it made me stronger because I came back with a healthier mindset and a deeper appreciation for running."
The Daily Balancing Act of an A-Racer
How does a high performance A-Racer half-marathoner balance a demanding schedule while squeezing out peak physiological performance?
For Cloey, the secret lies in flawless preparation and high-quality recovery habits.
Cloey Wong's Daily Routine Blueprint | Focus & Strategy |
The Night Before | Foam rolling, targeted stretching, and setting out gear to minimize early morning friction. |
Pre-Dawn | High-intensity training session completed before sunrise while the city sleeps. |
9-to-5 Workday | Strict emphasis on baseline nutrition, consistent hydration, and proactive energy management. |
Post-Work Recovery | Treating sleep and rest as non-negotiable building blocks rather than afterthoughts. |
"The day really starts the night before," Cloey explains. "When training has to fit around a full-time schedule, preparation becomes very important. I try to sleep early, foam roll, stretch, and make sure everything is ready so that the next day is just 'go-go-go'."
Cloey doesn't view this rigid scheduling as a sacrifice, but rather as an automated part of her identity. "The goal is to build it into a routine where it should just be my lifestyle and where I don't have to think too much about it, as all these tiny habits should come naturally to me."
The ASICS Advantage: Smart Training & Gear Integration
Joining the ASICS family has drastically evolved Cloey’'s approach to the sport. Being backed by a top-tier running brand means having access to the precise support required to sustain high-volume training blocks.
When it comes to logging her weekly base mileage, Cloey leans heavily on one specific model in her shoe rotation: the fan-favourite ASICS NOVABLAST™.
"I really enjoy wearing the NOVABLAST™ for recovery runs as it provides a good balance between good cushioning without being too chunky," she notes.
And looking forward into the upcoming Autumn/Winter 2026 (AW26) gear launches, her expectations for the highly anticipated ASICS NOVABLAST™ 6 are simple yet vivid: "I am excited to feel as if I am running on pillows."
Beyond the advanced footwear technology, the partnership has catalyzed a massive mental shift in how she views herself as a competitor.
"Joining the ASICS family has given me the opportunity to explore different gear and better understand what suits my own training needs. Being part of this programme has made me more intentional about understanding myself as an athlete in a highly individualistic sport. I have learned to pay closer attention to what my body needs, what gives me confidence, and what helps me perform sustainably."
Inspiring the Next Generation: Delusion or Internal Belief?
As Global Running Month shines a spotlight on the sport's community leaders, Cloey hopes her journey from a casual university runner to an elite ASICS A-Racer serves as a unique blueprint for newcomers.
Her main advice? Stop looking outward for validation.
"The impact I hope to make on the next generation of Singapore runners is to show that confidence has to come from within—it can even come from nowhere, which some might call delusion," Cloey says with characteristic candor. "Validation from others or results can help, but at the end of the day, you need to be grounded enough mentally and emotionally to believe in yourself first."
For Cloey, local running shouldn't just be measured by podium finishes or digital personal bests on a screen.
"I hope new runners can learn to trust their own journey and stay patient with their progress. Running teaches you a lot about emotional regulation, and I hope to encourage others to see the sport as more than just chasing timings. It is also about building the kind of mindset that carries into the rest of your life."
Join the conversation online by following @asicssg and @sportplus.sg, or use the hashtags #ASICSSG #SoundMindSoundBody #GlobalRunningDay and #TheATeam to share your own running journey.
About ASICS x SportPlus.sg "The A-Team Performance Diaries" Series
This editorial feature is part of a month-long collaborative campaign between ASICS and Sport Plus Media celebrating Global Running Day and Global Running Month.
Throughout the month, this exclusive series shines a spotlight on the journey of elite Singaporean athletes and the next generation of rising stars, the ASICS A-Racers. Through this series, we hope to inspire the local community to find their own joy in movement, elevate the standards of local distance running, and foster a sustainable culture of sportsmanship and athletic longevity.
I really like how HYROX continues to grow as a global fitness racing format. It’s unique in how it combines endurance and strength in a standardized way, which makes performances comparable across different unblur picture free countries and events. That consistency really helps build a strong international community of athletes who can track their progress and compete on a global stage.