KUALA LUMPUR: It is rare for a Malaysian runner to consistently win races against American athletes in the United States.
However, reigning Sea Games champion Shereen Samson Vallabouy has been consistently showing her prowess with her latest gold-medal triumph at the Bob Hayes High School Invitational in Jacksonville, Florida.
Shereen, a bronze medallist at last year's Hangzhou Asian Games, posted 23.63sec to top the women's 200m in the one-heat race on Saturday.
Overall, it was Shereen's 11th victory, including eight wins in the 400m, in the US since last year.
It was double joy for Malaysia when sprinter Azeem Fahmi took the third position in the men's 100m at the Yellow Jacket Invitational in Atlanta. Azeem, a bronze medallist at the Hangzhou Asian Games, clocked 10.38 to finish behind Kanyinsola Ajayi (10.21) and Makanakaishe Charamba (10.28).
Representing Auburn University, Azeem, 19, along with Ajayi Dario Matau and Charamba, won the 4x100m relay, clocking 38.57.
It was Shereen and Fahmi's first outdoor meets this year as they aim to qualify for the Paris Olympics in July on merit.
Malaysian Athletics Federation technical director John Ballard praised Shareen and Azeem, who had just recovered from a calf muscle strain, for their performances.
"Shereen is showing progress. Her timing was close to her national record of 23.33.
"She will now focus on her forte event, the 400m, at the Florida Relays on March 30, her first attempt this year to qualify for Paris 2026," said Ballard.
Shereen, 25, must at least match the 400m qualifying time of 50.95 to secure a spot in the Olympics.
The Perak-born athlete holds the national record of 51.80.
On Azeem's performance, Ballard said it was a satisfactory result, considering he had just recovered from a muscle strain.
Azeem, the national record holder (10.09), must clock 10 flat to qualify for the Paris Games.
"Azeem is on a heavy load training programme to improve strength, and it was also his first outdoor race this season.
"He, however, ran an impressive race to win the 4x100m in a fantastic time," Ballard added.