Speed up for home race

Hungry for more: Shereen Samson Vallabouy is rediscovering her best form after another victory on the track.

PETALING JAYA: Women’s 400m runner Shereen Samson Vallabouy intends to go even faster at the Malaysian Open starting from June 19-21 after her golden feat at the New Taipei City Athletics Open in Taiwan on Saturday.

The 27-year-old crossed the finish line in 52.73s to claim gold ahead of Sri Lanka’s Shenari Ambepitiya Gamage (53.16) and Australia’s Sophia Gregorovic (53.86).

It was her second gold medal of the year, following her victory at the Singapore Open in April.

“I’m grateful. Not many know how long it took me to get where I am today and how hard I have been working,” said Shereen, who had already bettered her season’s best time in the semi-finals with 53.85s, before raising the bar again in the final.

“Hard work pays off. I’m regaining my momentum, rhythm and I’m getting stronger. I can’t wait to post faster times in future competitions.”

As for Umar Osman, who shattered his 400m national record in the semi-finals before settling for silver in the final, he was simply delighted.

‘’It has been three years since I broke a record. There was a lot of training, a lot of ups and downs, but I got the result I was targeting. It is a great gift for me,” he said Umar.

Umar posted 45.73s to eclipse his previous mark of 46.09s, set at the 2023 FISU World University Games in China.

In the final, he placed second after finishing in 46.42s, behind Australia’s Brenton Kerr who took gold in 46.22s. Taiwan’s Wan Chiao Hung (46.43) claimed bronze.

Malaysia’s golden day in Taiwan was not confined to the track.

Hammer thrower Sadat Marzuqi Ajisan recorded a personal best of 65.24m to claim gold – an improvement of nearly four metres on his previous best of 61.95m.

“I did not expect 65 metres – that was not what I predicted. My target was 63 metres, but 65? Wow. Now, my next target is a national record,’’ said Sadat.

Jonah Chang Rigan completed Malaysia’s fine outing with a gold in the men’s shot putt, registering a throw of 18.28m.

Meanwhile, across the globe in St. Polten, Austria, Mohd Irfan Shamsuddin produced a season’s best of 59.08m to finish third in the men’s discus throw at the Liese Prokop Memorial.

He finished behind winner Lukas Weisshaidinger of Austria (63.68m) and Germany’s Marius Karges (62.79m).