KUALA LUMPUR – Pahang’s Muhammad Ikbolasen Md Kamal Hussain made it a clean sweep as he won all three events he entered at the 20th Malaysian Games (Sukma) here at Bukit Jalil National Stadium.
Having already won the men’s 10,000m race and 3,000m steeplechase, Ikbolasen added a third medal to his tally after crossing the line first in the 5,000m race today.
The 20-year-old set a time of 14m 52.05s after completing 12-and-a-half laps, but what was even more impressive was the fact that Ikbolasen caught up with the back of the pack.
His astonishing pace saw him lap 10 of the other 13 runners on track as he kept his momentum.
“I knew that I had the pace, so once we set off I just gave it my all.
“I did not think much when I was passing the other runners, I was focused on my own run and my time,” he said after the win.
Despite leaving with three gold medals around his neck, Ikbolasen said he was still unhappy with his results.
“I think I can still improve my time, I still have some pace left in me so we will see in the future,” said the runner from Cameron Highlands.
Selangor’s Daren James Nair Rodney James came in second place with a time of 15m 7.14s, while Lucas Wong Sie Hong from Sarawak was just milliseconds behind, clocking 15m 7.40s.
Meanwhile in the women’s 5,000m race, Johor’s Puspa Letchumy came in first with a time of 18m 56.03s, leaving her opponents in her wake as second place Marlin Hing William only crossed the line 28s later, posting a 19m 24.33s finish.
Yesterday, Puspa also won the women’s 3,000m steeplechase after she set a time of 11m 52.58s.
In the 800m events today, Kelantan’s Wan Muhammad Fazri Wan Zahary’s time of 1m 51.66s gave him the win in the men’s race, while Hizillawanty Jamain from Sabah won in the women’s category with her time of 2m 12.83s. – The Vibes, September 17, 2022
_and_Shereen_Samson_Vallabouy._Bernama_pic..png)
.jpeg)
