SHEREEN SMASHES HER MUM'S 24-YEAR-OLD 400M RECORD

Shereen smashes Josephine’s 24-year-old 400m meet record

KUALA LUMPUR: National runner Shereen Samson Vallabouy underlined her vast potential by breaking a 24-year-old record in the 400m – held by her own mother, former middle distance queen Josephine Mary.

The 19-year-old from Perak outdid her mum in the Perak All-Comers Athletics Championships at the Navy Stadium in Lumut yesterday by clocking 54.79 to better the meet record of 51.11 set by Josephine in 1994.

Zaimah Atifah Zainuddin of Federal Territory clocked 57.29 for the silver while Norsyatul Nadia Mohd Nasri of Kedah timed 61.18 to finish third.

Shereen said it was a proud moment for her family. Her father Samson Vallabouy is also a former national runner.

“Finally, I’ve shattered my mother’s record,” said Shereen, a product of Panther Athletic Club in Ipoh.

“I was not even born when my mother set the record. It’s great to carry on the family tradition in athletics.”

It was Shereen’s second gold in the tournament, having won the 200m on Saturday.

Shereen shot into the limelight when she won a bronze medal in the 400m at the 2015 Singapore SEA Games with a personal best of 54.26 but she was out of action last year due to a hamstring injury.

The 51-year-old Josephine shed tears of joy.

“It’s a joy for a mother to see her daughter doing better. I’m glad that it’s Sheeren, who broke my long-standing record,” said Josephine.

“I hope that she will continue clocking good times in competitions.”

Josephine, who is a coach with Perak Sports Council, said she wanted Shereen to qualify for the Asian Games in Jakarta from Aug 18-Sept 2.

“She needs to clock 53.20 to qualify for the Games. It’s tough but it’s not impossible.”

Muhd Saiful Safwan Saifuddin of Johor also stole the show when he broke a 50-year-old men’s 400m meet record by clocking 47.41 en route to the gold.

His effort erased the previous mark of 47.50 set by Asir Victor of Perak in 1968.

Muhd Ilham Suhaimi of Malaysian Athletics Federation (MAF) clocked 47.77 to finish second and Abdul Wafiy Roslan of Terengganu was third in 47.97.

Like mother, like daughter: Shereen Samson Vallabouy celebrating her record-breaking feat at the Perak All- Comers Athletics Championships in Lumut with her mother Josephine Mary yesterday.