Cambodian runner Wanheab Pin set a personal best time over 100 metres at the Swiss Athletics Championships on Friday. PHOTO SUPPLIED

Cambodian sprinter Wanheab Pin recorded a personal best time of 10.88 seconds on Friday during the semifinal of the men’s 100 metres competition at the 2011 Swiss Athletics Championships held in Basel. His performance saw him finish sixth and miss out on qualification for the final by just four hundredths of a second.

The 26-year-old athlete, who holds Swiss nationality, is expected to represent the Kingdom at the 26th SEA Games hosted by Indonesia in November.

Wanheab did, however, progress to Saturday’s final of the men’s 200 metres event, where he came in fourth on 22.34 seconds, two hundredths of a second behind bronze medalist Alves Diego of Brazil.

The 1.75-metre tall runner expressed his disappointed at the result, having held strong hopes to grab a podium place. “My performance in the 200m was very bad,” he said after the race. “I was so tired today. I tried to catch up with the others in front of me but couldn’t make it in the last 50 metres.”  

Pin Wanheab was born in Aaraa, Switzerland, to Cambodian parents. His mother hails from Morng Russei district of Battambang province while his father is a native of Phnom Srok district in Banteay Meanchey province.

“I really want to do well for my fatherland,” said Wanheab. “I am proud to be a Cambodian even though I was born in Switzerland.” The athlete is listed as a Swiss national in the official results from the Championships in Basel.  ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY DAN RILEY