KUALA LUMPUR: Teen sprinter Hanssen Yap has been on fire this year.
The Sabahan posted a personal best of 10.37 seconds to win the 100m gold in the Philippines Athletics Championships in Pasig City yesterday. He improved on his previous best of 10.41 registered at the Asian Under-20 Championships in Dubai last month.
In doing so, he surpassed the qualifying mark of 10.55 for the World Under-20 Championships in Lima, Peru, from Aug 27-31.
It was the second fastest time clocked by a Malaysian in the blue riband event in a meet this year after the United States-based Azeem Fahmi clocked 10.24 in the Louisiana State University Invitational last month.
Another Sabahan, Pengiran Aidil Auf Hajam, 18, registered a personal best of 10.52 to win bronze in the 100m while Filipino Assk Anfernee Lopena ran 10.51 for silver.
Pengiran's previous best was 10.62. Earlier he qualified for the World Junior Championships after clocking 21.28 to win the 200m bronze in Dubai last month. Now he has also qualified for the World Under-20 through the 100m.
The Malaysian men's 4x100m quartet of Mark Paladius, Dexter Bedie, Pengiran and Hanssen clocked 40.86 to win gold.
Malaysia also won two silver medals through Jonah Chang Anak Rigan in the men's shot put (17.10m) and women's 100m through Nur Aishah Rofina Aling (11.95).
Malaysian Athletics Federation Technical Director John Ballard said Hanssen's run was remarkable as he is only 18.
"This is a good achievement for the Sabah sprinter as he improved his personal best for the second time in less than a month to qualify for the World Junior Championships."