KUALA LUMPUR – National sprinter Muhammad Azeem Fahmi secured a spot at the World Athletics Championships main heats of the 100m after he recorded the fastest time in the preliminary rounds today.
Despite not reaching his personal best of 10.09s, Azeem recorded 10.24s and outpaced competitors, including Brandon Jones of Belize, to progress to the main event.
Azeem’s personal best, which is also the national record, was set at the World Junior Championships in Cali, Colombia last year.
The 19-year-old sprinter secured his spot in the world meet through a wildcard (invitational) ticket, making him the sole Malaysian participant.
This will set the stage for Azeem as he prepares for the upcoming Asian Games in Hangzhou next month.
Only the top 10 runners from the qualifying round qualify for the next stage of the world meet, being held in Budapest, Hungary which will take place at 1.43am Malaysian time.
Azeem, who is currently under the tutelage of American coach Ken Harnden, was not only the fastest runner in the qualification stage but also the youngest out of the 26 runners who competed.
Guyana’s Emanuel Archibald was in second place with 10.27s, while Gambia’s Ebrahima Camara came third at 10.32s.
Azeem’s best time record this season was 10.11s in Los Angeles in May.
His recent performance at the Asian Championships in Bangkok, where he finished fifth with a time of 10.25, showcased his progress. – August 19, 2023