Sarawak’s sprint prospects at 2016 MSSM Championships

Mohd Norhazim will be focusing on the 110m and 200m hurdles events.

File photo shows 13-year-old Royhannes Jehffrey Thung (second right) winning a 100m race in 2014.

Akmal Reduan

Dana River Yu

Mohd Rizzuah Iqbal

KUCHING: In the absence of Norris Foo and Quek Lee Yong, Sarawak will not have any proven gold medal contender in the sprints and hurdles at this year’s MSSM national schools championships in Terengganu from May 3-7.

In the three years 2013-2015, Norris won four golds in the 100m and 100m hurdles while Lee Yong picked up five in the 400m, 110m hurdles, 200m hurdles and 400m hurdles.

But both completed Form Five at the end of 2015 and have since been training for the upcoming Sukma in July.

This year Sarawak’s best bet for a hurdling gold is Mohd Norhazim Ahmad who will be competing in his third MSSM meet.

He won a silver in the U-12 80m hurdles in 2013.

Last year, the SMK Lundu student was 6th in the U-15 110m hurdles final (15.0sec).

He has improved that time to 14.2sec this year which compares favourably with the winning time of 14.4 last year.

His best time of 24.7sec in the 200m hurdles this year is below the MSSM record of 24.9.

Mohd Rizzuah Iqbal and Reymer Manuel Tabari are strong medal prospects in the U-18 110m hurdles.

Rizzuah, a student at Bukit Jalil Sports School, finished third in 14.8sec last year just 0.1sec behind the winner.

Reymar, who studies in Miri’s SM Riam Road, has clocked 14.3sec this year.

Another Miri-born Nurhaziqah Izzati Zana is Sarawak’s best hope for a sprint gold medal.

She created waves at this year’s state schools championships by winning the U-15 100m with a time of 12.2sec.

That should be good enough for gold in Terengganu if she maintains her fine form and the other states have not produced a new sprint sensation.

Nurhaziqah will also team up with Dana River Yu (12.4), Myranda Najja (12.9) and Erissca Peter (13.0) to make a strong bid for a medal in the 4x100m relay.

Sarawak’s challenge in the boy’s short distance races will rest on Asly Chua (U-18) and a good crop of U-15 sprinters.

Asly was 6th in the 100m and third in the 200m last year.

He has to produce his personal best of 10.7 and 22.1sec to get into medal contention this year.

Last year, the U-15 4x100m quartet won Sarawak’s only relay gold medal in a time of 43.54sec.

The class of 2016 comprising Akmal Reduan (11.1sec), Dekechsler Spencer (11.2), Royhannes Jehffrey Thung (11.2) and Edward Adau (11.4) can repeat that feat if they click well in Terengganu next week.

Akmal and Dekechsler, both from Tabuan Jaya Sports School, can also spring a surprise in the 100 and 200m.

 

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