JACKSONVILLE: Shereen Samson Vallabouy appears to be on track to qualify for the Paris Olympics on merit following consistent performances in the United States.
The Malaysian has won 11 races — eight in the 400m and three in the 200m — setting three national records since last year.
She holds the national records in the 200m (23.33), 400m (51.80), and 400m indoor (52.57).
However, Shereen must do better to qualify for the Paris Olympics in her forte event — the 400m. The qualifying mark is 50.95.
It will be a challenge, but Shereen, who comes from a family of national runners, will definitely do her best to achieve her dreams.
Her parents, Samson and Josephine Mary, were national champions in the men's and women's 400m and 800m.
With her undivided attention to training and competitions, under the guidance of Derrick White in Florida, Shereen will make her first attempt to qualify for the Paris Olympic 400m event at the Florida Relays on March 30.
On Saturday, she clocked 23.63sec to win the 200m in her first outdoor meet this year at the Bob Hayes High School Invitational in Jacksonville, Florida.
"Winning the event has boosted my confidence for my first 400m outdoor race on March 30. The main goal is to qualify for the Paris Games," said Shereen.
The 25-year-old is overall happy with her progress since moving to the US in 2020.
"I have won eight 400m races and set three national records here. Definitely, I am making progress," she added.
The last female Malaysian athlete to qualify on merit for the Olympics was China-born Yuan Yufang, who competed at the 2004 Athens Games.
Overall, high jumper Lee Hup Wei is the last Malaysian to qualify for the Olympics on merit, having done so for the 2020 Tokyo Games.
Meanwhile, sprinter Azeem Fahmi took third in the men's 100m at the Yellow Jacket Invitational in Atlanta on Saturday.
Azeem clocked 10.38 to finish behind Kanyinsola Ajayi (10.21) and Makanakaishe Charamba (10.28).
Representing Auburn University, Azeem, 19, with Ajayi Dario Matau and Charamba, won the 4x100m relay, clocking 38.57.
Malaysian Athletics Federation technical director John Ballard praised Azeem for his strong comeback to competition from a calf muscle strain problem.
"It was a satisfactory result, considering he had just recovered from a muscle strain."
Azeem, the national record holder (10.09), must clock 10.00 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.
