KUALA LUMPUR – National runner Shereen Samson Vallabouy has always been on the national athletics body’s radar despite studying overseas as the 24-year-old has been busy breaking records and glorifying the Malaysian name amongst US universities.
Last week, Shereen topped the charts at the US National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships at Pittsburg State University in Kansas, USA.
Her time of 53.79s in the indoor 400m event broke the previous Malaysian record set by Noraseela Mohd Khalid 16 years ago in Germany.
Shereen is the youngest daughter of former national athletes Samson Vallabouy and Josephine Mary.
Josephine said both the Malaysian Athletics Federation (MAF) and the National Sports Council (NSC) have reached out to her and have kept track of Shereen’s progress overseas.
“They told me they will try their best to get some sort of help for her and regularly check in to see how she is progressing,” she said.
She also said the family is thankful for the support given by the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) for her international studies.
“When she (Shereen) first left for the US, OCM gave her RM5,000 under the Tan Sri Alex Lee Athletes Education Fund and we are so thankful for that,” she added.
Speaking to The Vibes, MAF deputy president Datuk Mumtaz Jaafar assured that the federation is keeping a close eye on Shereen and has been in contact with the rising star.
“I’ve spoken to her and her parents − we will try to include her for the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games.
“Rest assured, we are keeping track of her developments,” she said.
NSC director-general Datuk Ahmad Shapawi Ismail told The Vibes that Shereen’s name was already included for the upcoming SEA Games in Hanoi, Vietnam.
“Even before her latest record-breaking results were out, we had already included her name for the SEA Games.
“However, because the (SEA Games) schedule clashes with the NCAA outdoor meets, she won’t be able to represent the country as she is committed to her college, which sponsors her scholarship,” he said.
Shapawi said that international athletes studying overseas is not something new and the clashing of schedules is something that they have been dealing with for quite some time.
“We understand her main focus is to graduate and complete her studies while also representing her university athletics team,” he added.
He also said that they can’t take her indoor event time as the qualification time for the outdoor 400m event.
“I will look at the times again but we can’t use her indoor time for qualification as indoor and outdoor events differ.
“However, her time is very impressive and I’m sure we can sort something out to include her in the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games if her schedule fits,” said Shapawi.
Meanwhile, OCM secretary-general Datuk Nazifuddin Najib said the council would be happy to consider Shereen for the Asian Games in Hangzhou and Commonwealth Games in Birmingham later this year.
“If she qualifies for the events, we have no issue sending her to represent the country in the Games.
“Her details have to be submitted through the MAF as they are the ones responsible for giving us the names of athletes that will be going for the Games,” he said.
Shereen previously won bronze at the 2015 SEA Games in both the 400m and 4x400m and once again in the latter category for the 2017 edition.
She is currently in her senior year studying recreation and tourism on an athletics scholarship at Winona State University in Minnesota. – The Vibes, March 16, 2022
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