Rabat, Morocco - Saudi Mohammed Al Salhi ran 1:44.40, the best 800m time of the year on Saturday afternoon (10) at the Moroccan Olympic meeting at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex during the Moroccan Olympic meeting in Rabat.

The previous fastest time this year was Kuwaiti Mohammad Alazemi’s 1:44.59 run at the IAAF Golden League meeting in Oslo, Norway on 2 June.

Both men are set for a battle on 17 June, as then they will meet in the Area Permit meeting in Rabat.

In second place yesterday was Abubaker Kaki of Sudan (1:45.78 - national junior record, in front of the young Moroccan athlete Said Doulal (1:46.53).

Kaki, 16, is still a youth athlete, born in 1989!

Doulal, is supervised by Abdelkader Kada, the coach of the recently retired World and Olympic 1500m champion Hicham El Guerrouj, and last week ran 3:39.42 for 1500m at the meeting du Raja de Casablanca.

Mohammed Benchrif for the IAAF