Shereen sharpens up for Olympic ticket

Games bronze medallist Shereen Samson Vallabouy (pic) has adjusted to “professional training” and looks set to qualify for the Paris Olympics in July.

She will compete in her first 400m event this season — the

Florida Relays Track and Field meet today.

Shereen needs to run 50.95s in order to qualify for the Paris Olympics.

The 25-year-old Perakian holds the national record of 51.80 set at the Mt. SAC Relays meet in California last April.

Coach Derrick White, who has been training Shereen in Florida since last June, said: “She’s more consistent than last year and has adjusted to professional training.

“It will be her first 400m race this year and I'm expecting her to do a fast opening race.

"I believe she will dip below 52 seconds and she can do something like mid of 51 seconds."

White said Sea Games gold medallist Shereen will run in four 400m races before July.

“Maybe less (races) if she hits the qualifying time early," he added.

Shereen showed she is on track in her Olympic qualifiyng bid by winning the 200m gold (23.63) at the Bob Hayes High School Invitational in Jacksonville on March 16.

Overall it was Shereen's 11th victory, including eight wins in the 400m, in the US since last year.

Meanwhile, sprinter Azeem Fahmi will compete in the 100m in the Tom Jones Invitational on April 12-13 in a bid to qualify for the Olympics.

Azeem, who is studying at Auburn University in Alabama, finished third (10.38) in the 100m at the Yellow Jacket Invitational in Atlanta on March 16. He needs to run 10 seconds flat to qualify for the Olympics.

He holds the national record of 10.09, and last year, he clocked 10.11 to win the 100m bronze at the Hangzhou Asian Games.