KUALA LUMPUR: Ruslem Zikry Putra Roseli hit a hurdle but still managed to shatter the men's 400m hurdles meet record by clocking 54.90s in the second leg of the Higher Learning Institution (IPT) Athletics Championships at Darulmakmur Stadium, Kuantan, today.
The student of Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) erased his previous mark of 55.50s, which he set in the IPT circuit last year.
Aftar Rosli from UPM clocked 55.52 to bag silver, while Adha Ajwad Ahmad of Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) took the bronze (55.71).
Ruslem, 23, was unsatisfied despite rewriting his IPT meet record.
"I wanted to clock 52 seconds in the final, but I hit the eighth hurdle and lost focus.
"Although I managed to better my record, it was way off my personal best of 51.91," said Ruslem, who clocked 52.56 to finish fifth in the recent Phnom Penh Sea Games.
Umar Osman, who specialises in 400m, upset Sea Games bronze medallist Wan Fazri Wan Zahari to win the 800m gold by clocking 2:00.44.
Wan Fazri of Universiti Malaya, who posted 1:53.86s in the Sea Games, clocked a slow time of 2:01.45.
Anas Ariffin of UPM crossed the finish line in 2:01.88 to settle for bronze.
Umar, 20, said he never expected to upset favourite Wan Fazri in the final.
"It feels good, and it has boosted my confidence for the 400m tomorrow. I will be happy if I can dip below 47 seconds," said Umar, a student of Politeknik Ibrahim Sultan in Pasir Gudang.
Jonathan Nyepa of UPM, who won the 200m on Friday, bagged the sprint double by grabbing the 100m gold in 10.60. Zulfiqar Ismail from UPM (10.62) and Yusridwan Danial of UPSI (10.77) took silver and bronze.
Nur Atikah Azman of UPSI won the women's 100m in 13.04.
Lim Kai Tong of Help Institute (13.31) and Nur Najibah Hanim of Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (13.60) bagged silver and bronze.
