Nurul finds second wind with American coach

KUALA LUMPUR: At 29, Nurul Faizah Asma Mazlan (pic) is at the tail-end of her athletics career. But she has found her second wind in Malaysian Athletics Federation technical director Dwayne Miller.

The American started training the Kuala Terengganu-born 400m athlete, who has never won an individual medal in the last four SEA Games, in February.

Nurul said Miller was a vastly experienced coach, who has guided American athletes to win medals in the World Championships and

Olympics.

“He is more than happy to help me to make an impact in competitions next year,” said Nurul.

“I trained under coach Miller for one month before the movement control order began on March 18 and felt comfortable training under him.”

Nurul is aiming to improve her personal best of 54.72 in the 400m, which she did four years ago in the Malaysian Open.

“It is frustrating that I have not improved in competitions in the last four years. I am also disappointed for failing to win an individual medal in the last four SEA Games.

“I think coach Miller can help me improve my confidence, strength and fitness to dip below 54s next year.

“Next year will be my last chance to win a medal in the SEA Games as I will be too old by 2023,” said Nurul, a member of the 4x100m quartet which broke the national record in the Asian Championships in India in 2017 by clocking 45.18.

The others in the quartet were Siti Fatimah Mohd, S. Komalam Shally and Zaidatul Husniah Zulkifli. Nurul ran the relay in her debut SEA Games in Laos in 2009 and two years later in Palembang.

She started competing in the 400m in Naypyidaw, Myanmar, in 2013 where she finished seventh. In Singapore in 2015, Nurul came in fifth and two years later in KL, she finished seventh.