KUALA LUMPUR: Khalil Helmi and Aiman Najmi Anuar failed to advance past the heats in the boys' 400m and 400m hurdles respectively in the World Under-20 Athletics Championships in Lima, Peru, yesterday.
Sabahan Khalil, who did a personal best of 47.60 seconds at the Malaysian Open in Kuantan in June to win silver, clocked 48.19 in the 400m to finish sixth in the first heat.
Khalil, who won silver in the Malaysia Games (Sukma) in Kuching last week, finished 37th among 47 athletes.
Aiman from Johor, who won silver in the Sarawak Sukma with a time of 53.20, posted 53.47 to finish fifth in heat one. He emerged 33rd among 46 participants.
Coach Raafi Sahimin was not satisfied with Khalil's timing as it was way off his personal best.
"Khalil couldn't produce his best as he did not have enough time to get used to the chilly weather (13 degrees Celsius) and different time zones (13 hours).
"Khalil is 19, and it was a good learning experience for him," added Raafi.
Meanwhile, Thailand's Puripol Boonson clocked 10.22 to win the 100m silver. South African Bayanda Walaza won gold with 10.19 and his compatriot, Bradley Nkoana, bagged the bronze in 10.26.
Three Malaysians: Pengiran Aidil Auf Hajam, Sayyid Amin Roslan will feature in the boys' 200m and Fiross Faizal in the 110m hurdles later today.