Ilham sets new 400m record, next target is the national mark

IT is only his first Malaysia Games (Sukma) but Muhammad Ilham Suhaimi (pic) of Selangor created the biggest roar in the athletic competition by breaking a 16-year record in the boys’ 400m.

The 18-year-old was in sizzling form at the Perak Stadium yesterday as he clocked a personal best of 47.02 to shatter the old mark of 47.34 set by Muhd Zaiful Zainal Abidin of Federal Territories in Sabah in 2002.

This is the fastest time clocked by a Malaysian athlete in the 400m this year.

Ilham said he was optimistic of improving his previous personal best of 47.33, which he set in the Singapore Open in April.

“I’ve worked hard. I’m happy to clock the fastest time in the 400m this year. And I came very close to dipping below 47 seconds,” said Ilham from Ampang.

And Ilham is eyeing another of Muhd Zaiful’s record – the national mark of 46.41 set at the Asian Junior Championships in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei in 2001.

“My next mission in the 400m is to break the national record.”

“I’ve a bright future in 400m and I want to continue training with coach Mohd Poad (Mohd Kassim) to keep improving on my time,” said the student from Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sports School (SSTMI) in Bandar Penawar, who will be competing in the 200m and 4x400m next.

Sarawak’s Johnny Ling Siew Hong also made a memorable debut in Sukma by shattering the third Games record in the boys’ hammer event.

The well built Sibu-born athlete did a personal best of 57.37m in the first throw to break the previous record of 56.98m set by Sarawak’s Michael Sia Sung Dak in Kuching, Sarawak two years ago.

The 19-year-old Johnny said it was really hot and humid at the stadium but that did not stop him from improving his personal best by more than three metres.

“My previous best was 54.00m, which I did in the Sibu Open in May. It feels good that my state continue to dominate this event in Sukma,” said Johnny.