Algeria is to send 5 athletes to the IAAF World Junior Championships in Grosseto with 800 and 1500 specialist Zerguelaine Antar leading the country’s chances for success.
Discovered by Amar Brahmia three years ago, Antar is an extremely talented middle distance runner who despite a knee injury from earlier this season has been able to qualify for the World Junior Championships.
Born in the high altitude city of Jijel, Antar clocked 1:49.23 for 800m as early as last year and 3:40.99 this year – after the injury.
His 1500m time is the seventh fastest in the World this year and Algeria is hoping for Antar to reach the final in Grosseto, and maybe even a medal.
The other Algerian athletes will be competing in middle distance races: Dahmar Aissa in the 1500m (3:46.33), Makhloufo Rabia (8:57.35) and Labsari Brahim (9:01.40) in the 3000m Steeplechase
There will be only one Algerian woman in Grosseto as Cheboub Chahrazad was the only one to meet the qualifying standards in the 1500m (pb: 4:20.47)
Tahar Righi for the IAAF
