National Sprinter’s Hopes of Qualifying for NCAA Championships Dashed
KUALA LUMPUR, March 15 (Bernama) – National sprinter Muhammad Azeem Mohd Fahmi’s hopes of qualifying for the 60-metre final at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Indoor Track and Field Championships in Virginia, United States, were dashed when he finished seventh in the second preliminary round heat on Friday.
Early Success and Disappointment
Earlier, the 20-year-old returned with his best performance when he broke the national 60m record with a time of 6.56s when he won the bronze medal at the 2025 SEC Indoor Track and Field Championships earlier this month. The record erased his old record of 6.60s set less than a month ago at the Tiger Paw Invitational Championships at Clemson University, California, USA, thus placing him in the top 10 runners at Auburn University.
Disappointment at NCAA Championships
However, Muhammad Azeem’s hopes of qualifying for the NCAA championships were dashed when he finished seventh in the second preliminary round heat with a time of 6.61 seconds, making him 13th out of 16 competitors overall. Only the top eight competitors from the two heats will qualify for the final stage scheduled to take place on Saturday (Sunday, Malaysia time).
Technical Director’s Comments
Malaysian Athletics Federation (MAF) technical director Robert Ballard expressed optimism about the athlete’s performance, saying that the achievement of stepping into a major championship like the NCAA is a positive sign for the athlete who will continue to produce positive results in the future.
"He did everything to make it to the NCAA championships finals. Running 6.61s in a major event is a real positive sign for future things to come. Muhammad Azeem was just 5/100th outside the top eight for the final," he said.
Conclusion
Muhammad Azeem’s performance at the NCAA championships may not have been what he had hoped for, but his early success and the technical director’s comments suggest that he has a bright future ahead of him. As he continues to compete at the highest level, he will undoubtedly inspire others to follow in his footsteps and push the boundaries of Malaysian athletics.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the 60-metre final at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships?
A: The 60-metre final is a track and field event at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Indoor Track and Field Championships, which is a major collegiate athletic competition in the United States.
Q: Who is Muhammad Azeem Mohd Fahmi?
A: Muhammad Azeem Mohd Fahmi is a 20-year-old national sprinter from Malaysia who competes for Auburn University in the United States.
Q: What is the Malaysian Athletics Federation (MAF)?
A: The Malaysian Athletics Federation (MAF) is the governing body for athletics in Malaysia, responsible for promoting and developing the sport in the country.
Q: What are the NCAA championships?
A: The NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) is a governing body for collegiate athletics in the United States, and the championships are a major competition featuring top athletes from around the world.