Hamdan Odha Al-Bishi (400m) and Hadi Souán Al Somaily (400m Hurdles) two of the Kingdom of Saudia Arabia’s internationally established stars were winners on the second day of Athletics competition at the 10th Pan-Arab Games yesterday in Algiers, Algeria.

Al-Bishi, the former World Junior champion, whose best global senior showing has been his sixth place finish in the 2001 World championships, won the 400m in Algiers in 45.04 seconds. The time was his fastest for the season improving on the 45.29 he ran in Malmo on 2 August. He reached the semi-final stage in Athens, as he also did in the Sydney Olympics.

The 23 year-old Saudi was followed home by 18 year-old Ali Nagmeldin Abubakr of Sudan, the 2003 World Youth champion and 2004 World Junior silver medallist, who was also recently crowned Arab Junior champion. His time was 45.84.

Another Sudanese star was 17 year-old Muna Jabir Adam, a semi-finallist in this year’s World Juniors, who came home to win the women’s 400m in a new personal best of 53.34.

In the men’s 400m Hurdles, Sydney Olympic silver medallist Hadi Souán Al-Somaily, who didn’t progress past the semi-final stage in Athens, was the winner in a quality 48.77 second clocking. This was a season’s best performance for the 27 year-old improving as it did on his Athens semi-final time of 48.98.

The only other athlete under 50 seconds was his young Saudi compatriot Ibrahim Al-Hamaidi, the 2004 World Junior bronze medallist, who powered home in 49.31. The time was his second fastest ever following behind the Area Junior record of 48.94 with which he had taken the World Junior medal.

Baya Rahouli who had won the women’s Triple Jump on Monday (Day one) returned to take the Long Jump too with a leap of 6.19m.

Elsewhere, Brahim Boulami won the men’s 3000m Steeplechase in 8:25.62 and Morocco’s women took the 4x100m relay after the disqualification of the Algerian winners.

IAAF

Selected Results – Day Two (Tue 5 Oct)
with thanks to Chafik Boukabes

Women

400m
1- Mouna Djaber Adam (Sud) 53.34
2- Aît Hamou Amine (Mar) 53.54
3- Naouel El Djek (Sud) 54.37

4x100m
1- Morocco 46.32
2- Sudan 48.32
 
Shot
1- Amel Ben Khaled (Tun)15.52m
2- Ismail Ouafa El Baghdadi (Egy) 14.98m

Long Jump
1- Baya Rahouli (Alg) 6.19m
2- Latifa Ezziraoui (Mar) 6.03m

Men

400m

1- Hamdan Odha Al-Bishi (KSA)  45.04
2- Nagmeldin Ali Abubakr (Sud 45.84
3- Reda El Ghali (Tun) 46.11

400m H

1- Hadi Souán Al-Somaily (KSA)   48.77
2- Ibrahim Al-Hamaidi (KSA) 49.31
3- Zahreddine Nedj  (Syr) 50.55

1500m

1- Youcef Baba (Mar) 3:46.32
2- kamel Boulehfane (Alg) 3:46.36
3- Adil Kaouch (Mar) 3:46.70

3000m Steeplechase
1- Brahim Boulami (Mar) 8:25.62
2- Khamis Abdulla Saifeldin (Qat) 8:38.68
3- Ould Bouchiba Marzak  (Alg) 8:40.20

20km Race Walk
1- Hatem Ghoula (Tun) 1:28:34.19
2- Moussa Aouanouk (Alg) 1:29:39.31
 
Discus
1- Omar El-Ghazaly (Egy) 61,06m

Decathlon
1- Hamdi Eddouiri (Tun) 7595 points