Laura Arcoleo
19 October 2000 - The final of the Men’s 800m is likely to be one of the highlights of the Championships here in Santiago. A number of young stars, some of whom have already proved their talent at an international level, have qualified for tomorrow’s final.
French champion Florent Lacasse and Spanish champion Antonio Manuel Reina won their semi finals in 1:48.13 and 1:49.06 respectively, confirming great finishing qualities.
Despite being beaten in his semi final, World Youth champion and second fastest junior in the world this year Nicholas Wachira (KEN), who was second to Lacasse in the semi finals, will probably start as the pre-race favourite for the gold medal.
Lacasse proved to be an excellent tactician in addition to being a very good technician when he easily outsprinted Wachira in the last few metres to take a psychological advantage over the Kenyan.
No one ever has doubted the qualities of the French 19-year-old, who has established national records in all age categories. A very good cross country specialist, Lacasse also has accumulated national titles on the track. His collection includes the under-16 1000m national title, the youth cross country and 1500m crowns and the junior 800m title. In the process he established national youth 1500m and junior 800m records.
"I feel very well. I don’t want to say anything now but I really am in my best shape ever."
At the World Junior Champions in Annecy 1998, his first international competition, Lacasse was eliminated in the heats of both the 800m and 1500m. His plans are different this year: "This is the second time I beat a Kenyan. I am getting used to it and I hope tomorrow will be the third time!"
In the history of the World Junior Championships, after an inaugural victory by Great Britain’s David Sharpe in Athens 1986, European 800m runners have been confronted with the outstanding supremacy of the African continent, which trusted five out of the seven editions already completed (4 for Kenya and 1 for Ethiopia). The remaining world junior title went to Australia’s Paul Byrne who outsprinted Kenya’s Japhet Kimutai in 1994.
Europe, with three representatives in the final, may have the greatest chances ever to regain the 800m world junior crown with Florent Lacasse, while Asia might well make its entrance in the history books. Both Qatari athletes made it through the final, with 14 year-old Salem Amer Al-Badri and 16 year-old Abdul Rahman Suliman.
The Qataris may be by far the youngest in tomorrow’s final but they are surely among the athletes to watch.
