Salem Amer AlBadri Qatar's 800m
wonder
Laura
Arcoleo for the IAAF
12 July 2001 - In the first heat of the mens 800m a tall long legged Qatari takes the start in lane three and from the very first metres it is clear that he is going to set the pace. Neck to neck with Australias Andrew Krumins who eventually finished third of his heat, Al-Badri ran in the front from start to finish.
Today I decided to run like this because I wanted to check my shape and everybody elses. Its not my tactic though, I still dont know if I will run like this in the semi finals tomorrow, said Al-Badri
Winner of his heat in 1:53.81 despite cutting his effort ten metres from the line, Al-Badri was entered in this World Youth Championships with the world seasons under-18 second best of 1:48.51, a time he set in Kassel last June.
Based in Doha, Al-Badri trains five times a week under the guidance of coach Biniak in a group of three athletes.
My coach came with me here to Hungary and this is certainly an important element for my preparation.
With one of the deepest fields 69 participants the 800m is bound to offer an excellent final.
I dont expect anything from Sundays final. Of course I want to be in the final but I dont want to think about it. I will do my best as I always do and we shall see what comes later, said a very relaxed Al-Badri in the mixed zone while waiting for his compatriots Hussain Nassers heat. Second finisher in heat two Nasser was also an automatic qualifier for the semi-finals to be run tomorrow.
It is good that the two of us qualified today, explained Al-Badri, it proves that we have a good team.
A fourth place finisher in last years World Junior Championships in Santiago, Chile, where he clocked 1:48.51 to finish behind the exceptional trio Wachira, Lacasse and Reina, Al-Badri will aim at a better result in Debrecen. He will nevertheless have to count on a strong opposition with Kenyas Elijah Kiprono Boit (15 years-old) who clocked the best time of this mornings heats (1:50.25) and Cosmas Rono, owner of the worlds best performance for his age group in 2001.
We can expect some great duels in the semis, with the best five in round one below 1:52 and the first non-qualifier timed at 1:53.06.
The womens 800m also proved to be of excellent level with the barefoot Kenyas Kipkorir Cherotich Ruto fastest qualifier with a new personal best of 2:07.63 and the first non qualifier under the 2:10 barrier.