KUALA LUMPUR: Khairul Hafiz Jantan erased the oldest track record in the country at the Malaysian Open on Tuesday after winning the men's 200m final in 20.90 seconds.
Tan Sri Dr M. Jegathesan's time of 20.92s had stood unchallenged since Octobor 1968 at the Mexico City Olympics until Khairul's feat at the National Stadium's newly-laid turf in Bukit Jalil.
The 19-year-old sprinter, who already holds the 100m record of 10.18 seconds, won by a five-metre margin as Jonathan Nyepa (21.29) and G. Aravinn Thevarr (21.31), second and third respectively, could come nowhere near Khairul.
Khairul, who also claimed the meet record of 20.94s from Kento Terada set in 1996, is now favourite to win a sprint double at the Kuala Lumpur Sea Games next month.
RESULTS
(Malaysians, unless stated)
Men's 200m: 1 Khairul Hafiz Jantan 20.90s (NR), 2 Jonathan Nyepa 21.29, 3 G. Aravinn Thevarr 21.31;
1,500m: 1 Ahmad Luth Hamizan 3:58.55, 2 Damith Kumara (Sri) 3:59.15, 3 Neri Elbren (Phi) 3:59.40;
Long jump: 1 Tyler Ruiz (Phi) 7.34m, 2 Janry Ubas (Phi) 7.33, 3 Aries Toledo (Phi) 7.29;
Hammer: 1 Johny Ling 50.13m, 2 Farhan Hamdi 43.48, Sadat Marzuqi Ajisan 42.49;
Women's 1,500m: 1 Teoh Kim Chyi 4:52.03s, 2 S. Sheela 4:55.46, 3 M. Narmadha 5:14.41;
Pole vault: 1 Chuah Yu Tian 3.70m, 2 Rachel Yang (Sin) 3.60, Nurul Fitriyana Abd Rani 3.20;
Javelin: 1 Evalyn Palabrica (Phi) 44.95m, 2 Nur Fatin Adibah Suharman 44.59, 3 Rosie Villarito (Phi) 43.01.