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Sprinter Azeem clocks season's best, eyes NCAA 60m Grand Final

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian sprinter Azeem Fahmi started the year on a strong note by posting a season's best time in the 60m at a National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) meet in the United States last week.

The 20-year-old clocked 6.67s in the semi-finals of the Orange and Purple Invitational at the Clemson Indoor Track and Field Complex in South Carolina on Jan 24.

A student at Auburn University in Alabama, Azeem went on to finish fourth in the final with a time of 6.68.

He holds the national record of 6.62, set at the Clemson Tiger Paw Invitational in 2023.

Malaysian Athletics Federation (MAF) technical director John Ballard said Azeem's indoor training under coach Ken Harnden is progressing well.

"Azeem clocked very consistent times of 6.73 in the heats, 6.67 in the semi-finals and 6.68 in the final at the NCAA event," said Ballard.

"His best time was also close to his national record.

"The World Indoor Championships qualifying time is 6.55 seconds, but Azeem is not targeting the event.

"His main goal is to rank in the top 18 in the NCAA 60m dash to qualify for the Grand Final on March 14-15."

Azeem also holds the national 100m record of 10.09, set at the World Junior Championships in Colombia in 2022.

The Hangzhou Asian Games bronze medallist made his Olympic debut in Paris last year but recorded disappointing times of 10.42 in the preliminaries and 10.45 in the heats.

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