In a bolt out of the blue, Sun Chan Sophearith pipped national team sprinter Mao Tola by just two-hundredths of a second in the men’s 100m race of the 2013 Phnom Penh Regional Championships at Olympic Stadium.

The 23-year-old Asia Europe University student had only taken up training for the annual event a month ago, but managed to set a time of 11.50 seconds to put himself in firm contention for a place in the national squad.

“Everything I do is to become a national team runner, and I was sure I could do it,” Sophearith told the Post after won the race.

Sung Mong Dara came third in 11.59.

Meanwhile, Vong Sreypheap capped a recent return from France, where she was training as a gymnast, to take gold in the women’s 100m.

By finishing in 12.94 seconds, Sreypheap dominated the field, which included Olympian Chan Seyha, who came home 1.56 seconds back in third behind second placed Doung Sreypheap (14.16).