BIRMINGHAM: Shereen Samson Vallabouy is a talented runner, but she just needs to pace herself accordingly during races to excel in the women's 400m.
United States-based Shereen wanted to make amends at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in the event after a subdued performance at the recent World Championships.
But the Perak-born athlete again made a similar tactical error by running too fast in the opening 250m. She could not maintain pace and thus finished sixth in Heat 3 with a time of 53.92s
Sada Williams of Barbados won the heat with a time of 51.66, followed by Zoey Clark of Scotland (51.84), Jodie Willimas of England (52.47) and Lydia Jele of Botswana (53.24).
Her effort was more than a second slower than her personal best of 52.68, which she set in the US this year.
In last month's world meet in Oregon, she went too fast in the first 200m as she clocked 53.56 to finish seventh in her heat.
Shereen had hoped to break the 29-year-old national mark of 52.56s set by Rabia Abdul Salam in Birmingham.
The 24-year-old is the youngest daughter of Malaysia's decorated middle-distance running couple, Samson Vallabouy and Josephine Mary.
"Shereen worked so hard this year and learned a lot this summer under the guidance of her coach Mason Rebarchek (at her university).
"She finished 18th out of 32 runners in the heats. Yes, it was not her best performance, but she gave her best.
"She ran well, although she was in Lane 9. It is a good experience, and after a long season, she will take a short break before starting her new season in the US," said Josephine.
Meanwhile, para-athlete Afiq Ali Hanapiah qualified for the men's 100m T11/12 (vision impairment) final after clocking a season-best mark of 11.29 to finish third in Heat 1.
Afiq, who won bronze at the 2018 Gold Coast edition, hopes to go one better in the final tomorrow.
Defending champion Ndodomzi Ntutu of South Africa won the heat in 10.89 while Ananias Shikongo of Namibia finished second in 11.12.
Zac Shaw of England won Heat 2 in 11.01.