Relay team set national mark of 39.45s

SINGAPORE — The national 4x100m relay quartet of Mohd Elfi Mustapa, Gary Yeo, Lee Cheng Wei and Muhd Amiruddin Jamal have edged closer to competing this August’s IAAF World Championships in Moscow after posting a national record of 39.45secs at the secondleg of the 2013 Asian Grand Prix in Chonburi, Thailand, yesterday.

At the IPE Chonburi Campus Stadium, the Singaporeans clocked the blistering time to claim the “A” final gold and better the previous mark of 39.58 set at last year’s Asian Grand Prix in Kanchanaburi. China and Oman finished second (39.79) and third (39.82) respectively, with Thailand fourth (39.83).

The Singaporean quartet’s performance saw them ranked second overall among the eight Asian countries — behind Hong Kong’s top speed of 39.17 (final B) — and puts them within reach of the qualification time of 39.20 for the World Championships (Aug 10-18).

Coach Melvin Tan was delighted with his charges’ improvement after a first leg performance in Bangkok on Saturday that saw them clocking 39.98.

“I was surprised because we were aiming for a time close to the old national record (39.58),” he said. “But they ran a fantastic race today, and really ran with a lot of heart. They ran with a lot of fire, the ground speed was faster and baton exchange was good.”

“We will try to do as well in the third leg in Sri Lanka and I am certain they can go even faster.”

The Singaporean sprinters will next feature in the third-leg of the Asian Grand Prix in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Sunday. LOW LIN FHOONG