Malacca’s 4x100m relay team stamp their class
KUCHING: Four new Sukma records were created in the men’s and women’s 4x100m, men’s 200m and women’s hammer throw at Stadium Sarawak yesterday.
Malacca’s 4x100m sprint relay team stamped their authority when they broke the Sukma record with an impressive time of 39.89sec.
First runner Asnawi Hashim already gave his team a slight edge which Badrul Hisyam Manap extended further. By the time third runner Muhammad Azam Masri - who won gold in the 400m two days ago - received the baton, it already seemed like no contest for the chasing pack.
The Sarawak four, who fi nished second in 41.14s, tried their best to keep up.
However, by the time Raphael Asun received his baton for the fi nal leg, Melaka’s new national 100m record holder Khairul Hafi z Jantan was already in full flight to the fi nish line.
Perak finished third with a time of 41.94s.
“Overa l l , i t was a good performance by all of them, although there were a few slight mistakes to make it a clean run. Nevertheless, the team had only one trial run before this race. We are confident that the team can break the national record,” Melaka team coach Mohd Poad Md Kassim told reporters after the event.
Earlier in the afternoon, Khairul ran 21.14sec as the fastest semifi nalist in the 200m to break the Sukma record of 21.33s.
The women’s 4x100m race saw Perak setting a new record of 46.43sec.
Other events saw Saidatul Izzati of Perak clocking 63.65sec to win the women’s 400m hurdles while Kedah’s Noor Shahidatun Nadia Mohammad Zuki recorded 13.37m to win gold in the women’s triple jump.
Fatin Nur Shahiera Che Rahim of the Federal Territories won the women’s javelin with a throw of 43.21m.
In the men’s 3,000m steeplechase, Negeri Sembi lan recorded a one- two finish through Royson Vincent and Devin Roy Vincent who finished in 9: 51.00sec and 9: 51.20 respectively.
Salesnella Gabi of Sabah clocked 11: 50.13 to win the women’s 3,000m steeplechase.
The day started with the women’s 10,000m walk which was won by Elena Goh Ling Yin of the Federal Territories in 53: 57.2sec.