Algerian middle-distance runner Djamel Sedjati reinforced his status as a top contender for the Olympic 800m title by comfortably advancing to the semifinals on Wednesday at Stade de France. Meanwhile, his compatriots Slimane Moula and Mohamed Ali Gouaned remain hopeful of joining him in the semifinals during the repechages on Thursday morning.
Sedjati, the leading performer of 2024 and holder of the third-best time ever recorded in the 800m with a mark of 1:41.46, effortlessly won the fourth qualifying heat, clocking in at 1:45.84. He finished ahead of Britain’s Elliot Giles (1:45.93) and American Hobbs Kessler (1:46.15).
Regarding his aspirations for the 2024 Olympics, after dominating the Diamond League season, Sedjati confirmed he is prepared to live up to his status as the 800m favorite, aiming for the gold medal in Paris.
“I’ve trained all season to become an Olympic champion. I’ll rest well before the next race, which is crucial in the pursuit of the medal,” he noted, emphasizing that his ultimate dream is to etch his name in gold in Algerian athletics history, following in the footsteps of legends like Morceli, Boulmerka, Benida-Merah, and more recently Makhloufi, the last Algerian athlete to win a track event (1500m at the 2012 London Olympics).
The other two Algerian runners in the 800m qualifying heats, Slimane Moula, who finished eighth in the sixth series (1:46.21), and Mohamed Ali Gouaned, seventh in the second series (1:47.34), will attempt to secure their spots in the semifinals during the repechages scheduled for Thursday morning starting at 11:00 AM Algerian time.
In the repechages, Moula will compete in the first of four heats, while Gouaned will race in the last heat. Their sole objective will be to win their respective heats to qualify for the semifinal or to record one of the two best times among the non-winners.
Wednesday also marks the entry of triple jumper Mohamed Yasser Triki into the competition, as he participates in the triple jump qualifications starting at 6:15 PM. In the first qualifying group, Triki (ranked 4th globally with a jump of 17.35m this season) will face top competitors, including world number one Hugues Fabrice Zango from Burkina Faso (17.57m this season), Italy’s Diaz Hernandez Andy (17.61m), and Spain’s Diaz Fortun Jordan Alejandro (18.18m).
Athletes who meet the qualifying standard of 17.10 meters or rank among the top twelve performers will advance to the final and contend for the Olympic podium.
