by Larry Eder
Abdalelah Haroun, Portland 2016 silver medalist, 400 meters, photo by PhotoRun.net
Some were surprised by the 2017 London World Championship bronze medal run over 400 meters from Qatar’s Abdelah Haroun, who ran 44.48 to take that medal on that cold, breezy night. Haroun, who established himself as a top Asian athlete in 2015, when he defeated Saudi Arabia’s Yousef Masrahi over 400 meters, the two time Asian Champion, with a time of 44.68. His two big victories that year (2015), the Arab and Asian Championships, Abadelah Haroun won both 400m titles, and remarkably, with the same time, 44.68 at each!
In 2016, Abdalelah Haroun was part of Qatar’s 4x400m team, winning the Asian Indoor title. He followed that with a silver medal at the 2016 Portland World Indoors, in 45.59. Haroun’s victory at the World U20 at Bydgoszcz, Poland, in a season best of 44.81, was his second highlight. But, his performance in Rio, a 46.63, gave him only 23rd in the semi finals. Haroun, at 20 years of age, has a long career ahead of himself.
Abdalelah Haroun, Portland 2016, silver medalist, 400m, photo by PhotoRun.net
In 2017, Abdalelah Haroun surprised a few, even after a nice series of 400 meter races, with his bronze at the London World Champs, in 44.48. Haroun kept his head through the rounds, and, then, with the medals on the line, he held on for the bronze.
RunBlogRun did like his runs at the 2017 Asian Indoor Champs, where he won the 400m in 45.68, then a curious run at 800 meters (12th in SF, 2:07.92) and a second in the 4x400m (3:12.58).
2018 started off with Abedelah winning the 400m at the Asian Indoors on February 2, in 46.67, and then, take another gold with Qatar’s 4x400m in 3:10.08.
Abadelah Haroun will no longer be a big surprise over the indoor world, but he could shake up the 400 meter a bit in Birmingham.
Can he defend his 400 meter silver in Birmingham? Well, we will have to see, but Abadelah Haroun has some serious wheels. Watch this Qatari 400 meter runner at the Barclaycard Arena March 1-4, 2018!
