KUALA LUMPUR: Iskandar Alwi and Khairul Hafiz Jantan gave themselves a boost ahead of the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games next month after impressive performances at the FTKLAA All Comers meet in Bukit Jalil on Sunday.
Pole vaulter Iskandar renewed his own national record after going over 5.31m while Khairul marked his first 100m race since winning Sea Games gold last August with a blistering time of 10.34 seconds.
Iskandar had set his previous best of 5.25m at the 2017 Kuala Lumpur Sea Games in winning bronze and now hopes to go even higher when he makes his second Commonwealth Games appearance.
"I was hoping to break the national record today but I did not expect to go past 5.31m," said Iskandar at National Sports Complex mini stadium.
"This performance gives me the confidence to go higher at the Gold Coast.
"I have yet to hit peak form so I will try to use a 16-step run-up at the Commonwealth Games to record a higher vault," he said.
Khairul, meanwhile, returned from a six-month absence due to a hamstring injury to clock a time even faster than when he won the Sea Games 100m gold medal.
"I got the feel of running the 100m again after recovering from my injury," said Khairul, who ran 10.38 in his last outing at the National Stadium in August.
"In fact, this time equalled the 10.34 I ran in the heats at the Sea Games. This is just a warm-up race and I'm sure I can do better at the Commonwealth Games.
"I also hope to break my national record (10.18) there. So, I will spend the next few weeks working on improving my performance."
Zulfiqar Ismail of Tunku Mahkota Johor Sports School finished second in 10.46 while another TMISS sprinter, Haiqal Hanafi was third in 10.47.
