Khairul Hafiz Jantan crowns himself SEA Fastest Man
Coaching is much an art as it is a science. The Sculpture can sculpt his finest master pieces when he is given the freedom to do so without disractions or interference.
3-4 Years ago Khairul Jantan of Malaysia was a soccer player. Before Coach Poad took him within 2 years from a beginner in sprints to a 10.18 100M Guy. I’m sure there were a lot of national coaches interested in getting him but Poad was able to use what he had learnt to build a strong athlete.
Poad was rewarded when his man Khairul Jantan at 19 years of age crowned himself SEA Games Champion last night.
What I liked seeing was Jantan actually was trying to find his coach straight after and gave him a big hug.
This to me is a good coach athlete relationship. Where we must also consider that not every athlete and coach is compatible. But this is an example of it working. I wish Coach Poad and his ward Khairul Hafiz Jantan aspire to push themselves to greater feats in the years to come.
It was defending champion Eric Cray of the Philippines who looked best out of the blocks, with Jantan tagging half a stride behind. Jantan however started to draw level with Cray about 30m into the race. Cray had the difficult task of running four races in a day. Despite an appeal that was turned down by the organisers. He had just won a very close 400 Hurdles an hour and a half before. Cray did his best to hold pace with Jantan until 80 Meters when Jantan started to pull away, Cray dived to try and salvage the win. But Jantan already had his hands up in the race knowing he had won the race.
Meanwhile out in Lane 7, Namsuwan of Thailand snuck up to take bronze in 10.43. It took some time as Cray and Namsuwan had rant he same time but the judges went to the 1000ths of seconds to give Cray Silver and Namsuwan Bronze.
Cray is not just the only Filipino sprinter to win the Gold in the 100 Meter Dash in SEA Games (2015) he is the only ever medalist in the 100 Meter Dash for the Philippines in SEA Games since the Philippine joined in 1977.
Jantan who has a PB of 10.18 is Asian Junior Champion. Jantan will be looking to do the double in the 200m having recently improved his 200M PB back in July to 20.90 at the Malaysian Open. He will be challenged by Filipino Sprinter Trenten Beram who was fifth at the Asian Championships in 20.96.
*Pinoyathletics appreciates how SEA Games Commentator is using our content. We are very flattered and think he is doing a very good job. We would be delighted if Pinoyathletics can be mentioned once during the games. 🙂
