Athletics - Ned Azemia shatters Seychelles’ 400m hurdles record |21 May 2018

Ned Azemia has dipped below the 50-second barrier for the first time in his young career in the 400m hurdles race for a new Seychelles record.

On Saturday during the NJCAA Division I Men's Outdoor Track & Field Championships at the BG Products Veterans Sports Complex El Dorado, Kansas, USA, Azemia ran a controlled race until he was challenged in the final 100 metres and crossed the finish line in second place in a new Seychelles record time of 49.82 seconds, quicker than his previous best of 50.74 seconds which he achieved on August 15, 2016 during the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

A first-year freshman with the Western Texas College in the USA, Azemia was the fastest qualifier after clocking 51.42 in the third heat.

First place and the gold medal went to Marvin Williams of Asa Miami in a time of 49.60 seconds and Kenroy Williams of Barton County CC completed the medals podium with third place and a time of 50.36 seconds.

Not only is Azemia’s time of 49.82 seconds a Seychelles record, it is also the fastest time achieved by any athlete in a Western Texas College T-shirt.

Earlier in the year, Azemia set a new Seychelles 400m indoor record of 49.26 seconds (23.12 seconds in the first 200m and 26.14 seconds in the second) and he got it in the Texas Tech Red & Black Open competition on Friday January 26.