Shereen breaks 400m indoor record again

KUALA LUMPUR – National women’s athlete Shereen Samson Vallabouy has again broken the national 400m indoor record after she set a 52.27s at the Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships in Virginia, USA. 

Shereen’s time of 52.27s saw her defend the US National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II 400m indoor title while also setting the fourth fastest time in NCAA Division II history.

The 24-year-old Winona State University athlete had previously clocked in 52.87s at the Lewis International in Chicago, Illinois last month, breaking her national record of 53.47s set at the Bearson Gathje Classics in Minnesota in January. 

Even though Shereen’s time was set indoors, she bettered the national 400m outdoor record of 52.56s set by the late Rabia Abdul Salam in Manila, Philippines during the 1993 Asian Championships. 

Speaking to The Vibes, Perak Athletics Association president Datuk Karim Ibrahim said he is confident Shereen will soon break Rabia’s record for the outdoor event. 

“Shereen has broken her indoor 400m record once again with her time, while also having dipped under Rabia’s outdoor record of 52.56s which was done 30 years ago. 

“I think she will be able to break it outdoors in the next few races she competes in,” he said. 

Meanwhile, Karim said breaking an outdoor event record is usually more difficult while competing indoors, but Shereen seemed to have worked her magic. 

Former national sprinter and hurdles runner Noraseela Mohd Khalid had previously told The Vibes that running indoors is much harder than outside as the track is narrower, and the curves are sometimes elevated. 

Karim added that Shereen’s performance shows promise that Malaysia can expect a medal from her during the 2023 Cambodia SEA Games in May. 

“The hope for a medal at the SEA Games is there but I am just not sure what colour will the medal be. 

“She will need to run under 51s at the Sea Games, but I am sure she will be breaking the 400m outdoor record many more times to come,” he said. – The Vibes, March 12, 2023