KUALA LUMPUR: Asian Games 400m bronze medallist Shereen Samson Vallabouy came in third in the Pure Athletics Sprint Elite meet in Florida, United States, yesterday.
She clocked 52.50 seconds. Atalanta's Leah Anderson was first (51.22) and Star Athletics' Kaylin Whitney was second (52.49). Hours later, Shereen ran in the 200m and posted 23.64 to finish eighth.
The Perakian, who is based in Florida under coach Derrick White, was nowhere close to her national record of 51.80 and the Paris Olympic qualifying mark of 50.95. Shereen, 26, has until the end of June to meet the Olympic mark.
In March, Shereen posted a season best of 52.29 in the Florida Relays Athletics meet, which was much better than her 2023 Sea Games winning time of 52.53 and Hangzhou Asian Games time of 52.58.
Malaysian Athletics Federation technical director John Ballard said Shereen is currently ranked 74th on the Road to Paris Olympics qualifying.
"She needs to be ranked top 48 by the end of June to win a place in the Olympics. She will compete in one more race in the United States before she returns to take part in the Malaysian Open in Kuantan (June 14-16)."