26 Jul. 2015 – The first day of the Lebanese Individual Championship in Athletics took place in Jamhour on July 25 in harsh weather conditions. We noticed some athletes’ returns and new record-performances despite the hot weather. But most of the athletes were affected by the heat.
Photos of the Lebanese Individual Championship in Athletics – Day 1
The first event on that day was the 400m hurdles; Corine FREIHA (CSJ) won the women’s in 1:13.40 and Daniel BASSOUS (CSJ) won the men’s in 57.23. Ali HAZER (Champions) started really well his 400m hurdles, but fell on the curve after 300 meters, which reminds us that the 400m hurdles is the hardest event in athletics, and that one mistake can ruin everything.
“I felt my race was an honest one, a good start and an okay finish. Winning gold for the first time in the Lebanese Senior Championship is an amazing Feeling. I am so grateful and glad to see that all the hard work is paying off. Ali Experienced hard luck and it happens. I respect him. We all know he is the best 400m hurdler out there.” Said BASSOUS.
One of the returns was Maha AL MOALLEM (Inter-Lebanon) in the 100m. Maha holds a very strong personal best of 12.11 as a junior athlete. She disappeared for a while and is now back to her number one passion: sprinting. She finished second in 12.58 after Aziza SBEITY (CSJ) who is dominating the sprints nowadays. Maha ran the semi-final in 12.31 and Aziza ran the finals in 12.18.
In the men’s 100m, Nour HADID (Army) won the title in 10.87. This season is the best for HADID who set a new pb of 10.81 and ran several times now under 10.90. Michel ZEINATI (CSJ) who came in second place in 11.02 ran the semi-final in 11.01 after easing in the last 15 meters. He rarely appeared at the competitions this year but his presence at the Lebanese Championships can’t go unnoticed! He will surely break his 11.00 record in the Open Clubs Championship in two weeks. Jad KHOURY (Champville) who is 16, had a place on the podium among the seniors with 11.17 in the finals and 11.08 in the semi-final.
Nader JABER (Inter-Lebanon) made the 5000 meters run extremely interesting for the spectators, being able to break through the army athletes and to fight against them till the last breath in a sprinting finish. In fact he deserves at least a second place and not a third after being pushed by the Army athlete who moved him from the second to the fifth lane making him run a longer distance and helping his teammate win the title. Nader finally ran the distance in 15.52.84. Bilal AWADA won with 15:52.76 and Zaher ZEIN EDDIN was second in 15:52.79.
Another athlete was able to break through the army athletes during 1500m, Peter KHOURY (Champville) a 15 years old who fought hard but was defeated by the three army athletes in the last 100m.
Farah TAYYAR (CSJ) showed everyone how determination can make you win! She fought hard to overcome Ghiya MTAIREK (Phoenicia) in the last 50 meters of the 800 meters. The girl is only 12 year old and is proving one more time that she is a really strong athlete with a promising future!
Nourhane EL COUCH (Ansar) finally jumped over 1.50 meters in high jump and set a new record of 1.51 meters! (A new Midget record) She was followed by Maysa MOUAWAD (CSJ) who jumped 1.48 meters. But it is not logic to see a 14 and a 12 years old girls on the podium in a Senior championship. At some point they will fill the gap, become senior athletes and inspire other young athletes to follow in their steps.
Finally, Chloe KARAM (Champville) set a new 5km race walk record clocking 32:33.51 and finishing second after her sister Sandy. We should note that more and more athletes are now venturing into Race Walking which is great for the development of this discipline!
*We will provide you with full results on the last day
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