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Fakhri creates more history
Thursday, August 27, 2015
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Brunei's Md Fakhri Ismail (3rd L) runs with Jamaica's Usain Bolt (2nd L) and other runners in the men's 100m heats at the World Athletics Championships in Beijing yesterday. Picture: EPA


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MD FAKHRI Ismail became the first Bruneian to qualify for the heats of the 100m at the World Athletics Championships yesterday.

Md Fakhri created history again as he progressed into the heats after charging from the back of the field to finish third with a time of 10.73s in the preliminary round at the Bird's Nest Stadium in Beijing yesterday.

The national sprinter, who was aiming to break the national record of 10.59s, was unable to do so in the heats as he finished with a time of 10.72s. Jamaican sprint king Usain Bolt who ran in the same round, won the heat round after he crossed the finish line in 9.96s.

Speaking to The Brunei Times, Md Fakhri said that he was delighted with the overall result. "I felt very happy that I manage to get into the heats and be the first Bruneian to do so," said the sprinter. "Moreover, I feel so lucky to be able to compete with world record holder Usain Bolt.

"However, I am a bit upset that I wasn't able to break the national record. "Hopefully, I can improve more in the future by working harder in the training and getting more exposure to international competitions such as this," added the 24-year-old. Md Fakhri (pic) broke into the national team when he beat a national runner in the 200m event at the 2012 Inter-Ministry Sports Festival.

In 2013, he won a gold medal in the 200m at the Borneo Games in Labuan with a time of 22.23s. The national sprinter was also the holder of the old national record of 10.61s which he set at the Perak Open Athletics Championships in May.

Md Fakhri set the current record at Singapore's Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in June when he ran 10.59s in the heats.

Courtesy from Brunei Times