Iskandar aims to be Asia’s best pole vaulter

KUALA LUMPUR: Teenager Iskandar Alwi has set his sights on becoming Asia’s top men’s pole vaulter after breaking the national record at the FTAA All-Comers Athletics Championships at the National Sports Council (NSC) Training Track in Bukit Jalil last Saturday.

The 19-year-old Kluang-born athlete leapt to a personal best height of 5.01m to erase the 11-year-old record of 5.00m set by his coach Teh Weng Chang in 2002.

He has also qualified for Myanmar SEA Games by surpassing the qualifying mark of 5.00m, which is the silver medal winning mark of the previous Games.

Iskandar left for Taiwan on Monday to participate in the Taiwan International Indoor Pole Vault championships this weekend with the hope of finishing on the podium.

Iskandar, who took up the event only four years ago, said that he not only wants to return home with a medal but also wants to keep improving.

“My mission this year is to win a medal in the SEA Games and to achieve that I need to clear 5.20m. It will be really great if I can win the gold in the Games and then proceed to be the best pole vaulter in Asia,” said Iskandar.

Iskandar, who also holds the Sukma (Malaysia Games) record of 4.80m, which he set in Kuantan last year, said that hopes to earn a berth to the 2016 Rio de Janerio Olymics.

“My childhood dream is compete in the Olympics and to achieve that I have to clear at least 5.60m,” said Iskandar, who is doing his pre-university studies at the Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS).

Besides Iskandar, two other women pole vaulters Valerie Tan Ee Leen and Chuah Yu Tian, will also feature in the Taiwan meet.

Valerie won gold in the FTAAA All-Comers meet by clearing 3.40m while Yu Tian bagged the silver with a height of 3.20m.

Valerie, who is waiting for her Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination results, won the gold in the Asian School Championships in Surabaya by clearing 3.40m last year.

The two women pole vaulters are slated to take over from four-time SEA Games gold medallist Roslinda Samsu, who retired two months ago.

http://www.thestar.com.my/Sport/Other-Sport/2013/03/13/Iskandar-aims-to-be-Asias-best-pole-vaulter.aspx/

Better Showing From Under-18 Age-group In The MSSM Athletics Meet

KANGAR: Sarawak continued to flex their muscle in the National Schools Athletics Championships (MSSM) by winning an unprecedented 16th overall title.

In the MSSM meet which is the main production line for the country’s future track and field stars, Sarawak collected 15 gold, 20 silver and eight bronze medals at the end of competition in Kangar on Saturday.

Last year’s runners-up Perak ended up in the same position with a 13-16-1 haul while the Federal Territories were third on 9-5-10.

The 54th edition of the meet, which was held at Stadium Utama saw a marked improvement from the Under-18 athletes compared to last year.

ATHLETICS / MSSM CHAMPIONSHIPS: Future Bright With New Talent

HOPE: Total of 13 records broken with six from senior age-group

Perak’s Cheah Yau Chung

 A NEW hope has arisen from the ashes of the scandals that have plagued Malaysian athletics after the emergence of several talented youngsters at the recent Malaysian Schools Athletic Championships in Kangar.

Sarawak Rake In The Most Gold Medals Again

KANGAR: The 54th edition of the National Schools Athletics Championships (MSSM) ended with Sarawak defending the overall title at the Stadium Utama yesterday.

Sarawak dominated the meet with a haul of 15 golds, 20 silvers and eight bronzes. Perak were a close second with a haul of 13-16-1 while the Federal Territory finished third on 9-5-10.

However, the final day was a tad disappointing in terms of performance as only one record was broken.

Perak’s Cheah Yau Chung (pic) clocked 22.45 to break Harith Ammar Mohd Sobri’s 22.50 set in 2009 in the boys’ Under-15 200m event.

Delay Puts An End To Kirthana’s Bid For Triple Gold

KANGAR: A delay in the track and field schedule put paid to sprinter R. Kirthana’s bid for a hat-trick of gold medals at the National Schools Athletics Championships (MSSM) at Stadium Utama.

The Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) student had bagged the girls’ Under-15 100m gold medal on Wednesday and was eyeing the 200m and long jump golds yesterday.

At the end of a chaotic day for her, she only got a gold in the long jump and had to settle for a silver in the 200m sprint.

It all came undone when a delay in an earlier track event resulted in her 200m event clashing with the long jump final.

Best of the best: Johor’s Iskandar Alwi (right) and Kedah’s Noor Shahidatun Nadia Mohd Zuki posing with their trophies after winning the Sportsboy and Sportsgirl awards at the National Schools Athletics Championships (MSSM) at Stadium Utama in Kangar yesterday. — ZHAFARAN NASIB / The Star.

ATHLETICS / MSSM CHAMPIONSHIPS: Blunder Denies Kirthana A Treble

DOUBLE TROUBLE: Sprinter forced to compete in 200m, long jump at the same time

R. Kirthana en route to winning the long jump gold at the Malaysian Schools Athletic Championships in Kangar yesterday. Pic by Amran Hamid

R. Kirthana

R. KIRTHANA displayed gritty determination to win a gold and silver when she was forced to compete in two events concurrently at the Malaysian Schools Athletic Championships in Kangar yesterday.

ATHLETICS / MSSM CHAMPIONSHIPS: Azly, Jonathan Serve Notice

HIGH jumpers are a special breed, one in which Malaysia have never been short of and so it proved at the Malaysian Schools Athletic Championships in Kangar.

Sarawak’s Jonathan won the Under-15 high jump gold. 

  Azly Ghazali came within a whisker of breaking Lee Hup Wei’s 2.15m record from 2005 in the boys’ Under-18 event while Jonanthan Tinggang did manage the feat but in the Under-15 event on Friday.

Norzilawati Gets Drenched But Still Breaks 800m Record At MSSM Meet

KANGAR: As far as Kelantan middle distance runner Nik Norzilawati Nik Wil is concerned, it must have been a shower of blessing.

For not even the rain could stop her from bagging her second gold medal in style in the National Schools Athletics Championships (MSSM) at Stadium Utama yesterday.

The Kelantan lass, all drenched after running in the heavy rain, clocked 2:17.30 in the 800m final to erase K. Ganthimathi’s 2005 mark of 2:18.47 in the girls’ Under-18 category.

ATHLETICS / MSSM CHAMPIONSHIPS: Record Breakers Light Up Kangar

SUPER SHOW: Norzilawati smashes 800m mark to join Wei Heng as golden double winners

Nik Norzilawati Nik Wil sobs after breaking the 800m record yesterday. Pix by Amran Hamid 

TAN Wei Heng and Nik Norzilawati Nik Wil continued to rule the middle-distance events after completing a golden double at the Malaysian Schools Athletic Championships in Kangar yesterday.

Kelantan's Norzilawati also smashed a seven-year-old meet record, one of five registered yesterday to bring the total records rewritten or equalled this week ahead of the final day at the Utama Stadium today to 13.

ATHLETICS / MSSM CHAMPIONSHIPS: Amirul Gets His Revenge In Re-run

REVENGE was sweet for Amirul Mukmin Yusmiza of Pahang after he retained the Malaysian Schools Athletic Championships boys Under-18 100m gold medal in a final re-run in Kangar yesterday.

Amirul Mukmin Mohd Yusmiza won gold in the re-run of the Under-18 100m yesterday. 

Amirul turned the tables on Negri Sembilan's Hakim Faizi Rosli, who had won the final when it was originally held on Wednesday but a technical error necessitated yesterday morning's re-run.

Pahang’s Sharanraj Bounces Back To Clinch 5,000m Gold

KANGAR: Pahang middle distance runner S. Sharanraj exacted sweet revenge over Tan Wei Heng by bagging the 5,000m gold in the National Schools Athletics Championships (MSSM) at Stadium Utama yesterday.

The Bukit Jalil Sports School student put on a scintillating run to clock 16:13.74 and avenge his defeat to Kedah’s Wei Heng in the 1,500m on Wednesday.

Shahidatun Only Manages To Equal Long Jump Record

KANGAR: Problems with her technique continued to plague Noor Shahidatun Nadia Mohd Zuki as she could only equal the long jump record at the National Schools Athletics Championships (MSSM) at Stadium Utama yesterday.

The 16-year-old Kedah girl managed 5.85m to equal the record set by Tg Monoliana Engku Hashim in 2006 after four of her six jumps were disqualified. Shahi­da­tun also had four of her six jumps disqualified in the triple jump on Tuesday.

Sabah’s Stefbilce Sandy Stephen (5.40m) was second with Johor’s Siti Munirah Mohd Issah (5.29m) third.

Tough luck: Noor Shahidatun Nadia Mohd Zuki of Kedah reacts after completing her long jump in the MSSM Championships at the Stadium Utama in Kangar yesterday. — ZHAFARAN NASIB / The Star

ATHLETICS / MSSM CHAMPIONSHIPS: Saranraj Scores In 5,000m

S. SARANRAJ had to be calmed down after he agitated for a fight the moment he crossed the finish line to win the Malaysian Schools Athletic Championships boys' open 5,000m gold medal in Kangar yesterday.

S. Saranraj

   The Bukit Jalil Sports School Fifth Former was clearly unhappy with silver medallist J. Kaviarasan of Perak for what he believed to be a push during the 12-and-a-half lap race.

After being taken away by his coach to cool off, Pahang's Saranraj declined to say much about the incident at the Utama Stadium.

"There was some pushing in the race. It's normal," he said later with a smile back on his face.

"I'm very happy to have won. It's the first time I won the 5,000m.

ATHLETICS / MSSM CHAMPIONSHIPS: Re-run After Technical Rrror

MISTAKE: Jury annuls Under-18 100m final result after false start fiasco

Noor Shahidatun Nadia Zuki leaps to win the Under-18 long jump gold yesterday. Pic by Amran Hamid 

A technical error on Wednesday led to protest by Pahang against the winner Hakim Faizi Rosli of Negri Sembilan, who they alleged should have been disqualified for a false start.NOOR Shahidatun Nadia Zuki completed a jumps double in setting her second meet record in Kangar yesterday but the Malaysian Schools Athletics Championships was hit with controversy after the result of the boys' Under-18 100 metres final was annulled.

National Schools Athletics Cham­pion­ships Results

BOYS
Under-12
100m: 1. Jordan Vestly Yusia (Sar) 12.37, 2. Mohd Nasip Mohd Zain (Sab) 12.37, 3. Mohd Firdauz Rahim (Sab) 12.38.

Under-15
100m: 1. Ahmad Fikri Hakim Abdul Manan (Per) 11.14, 2. Syazwan SyafikMat Rizan (Ked) 11.22, 3. Badrul Hisyam Abdul Manap (Mal) 11.32.

1,500m: 1. Putra Azrul Syazwan Azman (Sel) 4:17.35, 2. Ahmad MuhammadHamizan (Nse) 4:19.47, 3. Lim Aun Hui (Ked) 4:20.25.

Javelin: 1. Mohd Shafizie Hasnol (Mal) 47.17m, 2. Mohd Izzulhaziq Ahmad (Sar) 47.13m, 3. Mohd Nurulharithulfariz Safpaafi (Joh) 46.75m.

Hot Weather No Hindrance To Record Breakers

KANGAR: The hot weather took its toll on the athletes on the second day of the National Schools Athletics Championships (MSSM) at Stadium Utama here yesterday.

But the conditions failed to stop high jumper M. Shandyiani of Selangor and pole vaulter Iskandar Alwi of Johor from strutting their stuff en route to breaking records in their events.

Shandyiani set a new record of 1.72m in the girls’ Under-18 high jump event, erasing Johorean Wong Boon Syian’s 1.71m mark set in 2004.

Shandyiani Sets New MSSM Record

KANGAR: High jumper M. Shandyiani completed a hat-trick in the National Schools Athletics Cham­pion­ships (MSSM) in style with a new meet record at Stadium Uta­ma here yesterday.

The lanky lass cleared 1.72m to erase Johorean Wong Boon Syian’s mark of 1.71m set in 2004. The win yesterday allowed Shandyiani to complete her dominance in the Under-18 event, which she also won in 2010 and 2011.

The Petaling Jaya girl had no problems brushing aside the challenges of Federal Territories’ Yap Sean Yee and Kedah’s Puteri Nur Liyana Megat Abd Hajat, who both finished second with an identical 1.67m on countback.

ATHLETICS / MSSM CHAMPIONSHIPS: Norzilawati Looking At Bigger Picture

THERE must be a perverse logic to forcing young athletes to run middle distance finals under the blazing sun but it did not stop Nik Norzilawati Nik Wil to blitz the field in the Under-18 category.

Nik Norzilawati Nik Wil is eyeing a repeat of the 800m-1,500m double.

After nearly all the runners in the girls' Under-15 1,500m final collapsed upon crossing the finish line, Norzilawati made light of the heat to win the 1,500m gold at the Malaysian Schools Athletics Championships in Kangar yesterday.

It was the Kelantan runner's fifth gold in the series and it would not be her last as she is eyeing a repeat of the 800m-1,500m double she did in Ipoh last year.

ATHLETICS / MSSM CHAMPIONSHIPS: Iskandar Soars To Glory

ACHIEVES TARGET: Johor schoolboy sets Asean junior record in pole vault with ease

Iskandar Alwi needed just four vaults to set the new Asean record of 4.73m at the Malaysian Schools Athletics Championships at the Utama Stadium in Kangar yesterday. Pix by Amran Hamid

ISKANDAR Alwi stole the limelight from the sprinters after setting a new Asean junior record in the Boys' Open pole vault at the Malaysian Schools Athletics Championships at the Utama Stadium in Kangar yesterday.

Champs Sarawak Lead Standings With Six Golds On Opening Day

KANGAR: Defending champions Sarawak got their title defence off to a great start on the first day of the National Schools Athletics Championships (MSSM) at Stadium Utama here yesterday.

The Sarawak contingent bagged six golds, four silvers and a bronze to lead the medal standings. They are followed closely by neighbours Sabah in second place with a haul of 2-3-2 and Perak (2-2-3).

There were also three new records set on the first day of the 54th edition of the MSSM.

Noor Shahidatun Nadia Mohd Zuki of Kedah leapt a distance of 12.36m to set a new mark in the girls’ Under-18 triple jump event. It eclipsed the nine-year-old mark of 12.24m set by Sabah’s Mary J. Nakarans.