In a post on the official Istana Negara Facebook page tonight, the King and Queen congratulated Shereen on her success in breaking the national women’s 400m indoor record at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships in Kansas, the United States, on Saturday.

“Their Majesties expressed hope that the excellent achievement will spur her and the national athletes to continue to work hard to achieve success and glorify Malaysia’s name in future championships.

“Their Majesties wish Shereen good luck and pray that she will enjoy continuous success,” they said.

Shereen is the first Malaysian female athlete to dip under the 54-second mark in the 400m indoor race when she clocked 53.79s in Kansas, thereby not only improving on her personal best of 54.94s, but also smashing the 16-year-old record of 54.58s held by Noraseela Mohd Khalid.

She also broke the 12-year-old Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference record.

Shereen, who is the daughter of middle-distance running couple and former national athletes Samson Vallabouy and Josephine Mary, is currently pursuing studies in the field of recreation and tourism at the Winona State University, Minnesota.