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Eugene (USA) (AFP) – Six Arab athletes have qualified for the semi-finals of the 800m race at the 18th World Athletics Championships in Eugene, USA.
The runners include Moroccans Mat Zahabi, Al-Hasan Mujahid and Abdel-Adi Al-Khaz, Algerians Jamal Sajjadi and Suleiman Mawla and Tunisian Abdel Salam Ouyoni, with another Algerian, Yassin Hadad, failing to catch them.
In the third group, Zahabi ranked first, Sajadi ranked fourth, Mawla last ranked sixth, Mujahid first ranked second, and Oyoni and Al-Qas ranked fourth and sixth respectively.
Jahabi, who clocked 1:46.15 minutes, said, “I am happy to reach the semi-finals for the first time in the World Championships. I participated in the Doha World Cup in 2019 and did not make it past the first round. I feel good, I am very excited and I can achieve a better result. I can. Why reach the final and medal? Don’t win.”
“After I hit 1:43 last April, I knew I could compete for a medal,” he added.
Sajadi followed Jahafi’s lead to lead the fourth group in 1:46.39 minutes, ahead of Dutchman Toni van Dieben (1:46.39d) and Tunisian Ouyoni (1:46.59d).
Mola positioned himself strongly in the sixth group, finishing first with 1:44.90 minutes ahead of Kenya’s Michelev Kenyamal Gizazai (1:45.08 minutes) and Morocco’s Al-Khaz (1:45.25 minutes).
In the first group qualifier, Mujahid clocked 1:49.29 to finish second behind defending champion and leader Emmanuel Kipkirui Corrier of Kenya (1:49.05).
Algerian Hadad left empty-handed after finishing seventh last in 1:46.05, although his time was sixteenth in the general standings, but he paid the price for the slow pace of the three group races. (first, third and fourth), meaning nine runners (top three in each) qualified directly for the final.
The top three of the six groups of qualifiers qualify directly for the semi-finals, with the six fastest times behind them.
The semi-finals will be held on Thursday evening and the finals on Saturday.
© 2022 AFP
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