Samba impressive in world-leading effort

Qatar hurdler could be factor at IAAF World Championships in London if he can continue rapid learning curve; Semenya wins rare 300 in preparation for South African Senior Championships in April

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Abderrahman Samba only has three 400-meter hurdles races listed among his career results and the rising talent from Qatar is already a world leader.

Samba, 21, raced against three-time Olympian L.J. van Zyl at the fourth annual Sasol-NWU International athletics meeting Tuesday in Sasolburg, South Africa, and cruised to victory in 48.31 seconds. The South African record holder van Zyl was fourth in 50.48.

Samba improved nearly a full second from his 49.24 effort March 11 in Pretoria, South Africa, and is closing in on the 1998 Qatar national record 48.17 set by Mubarak Faraj Al-Nubi, who captured the IAAF World Junior title in 1996 in Sydney, Australia.

Samba, who opened the season March 4 in Pretoria by clocking 50.53, produced a mark Tuesday that would have been good for sixth at the Rio Olympics.

South Africa’s Caster Semenya, two-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time World champion in the 800, won a 300 in a personal-best 37.22, defeating 2011 World 400 champion Amantle Montsho of Botswana, who clocked 37.44. South African Wenda Nel, 13th in the 400 hurdles at the Rio Olympics, placed third in 37.59.

Semenya opened the season March 15 by winning a 3,000 in 9:36.29 in Potchefstroom – site of the South African Senior Championships, scheduled for April 20-22 – and has considered trying to repeat her trifecta of winning the 400, 800 and 1,500, which she accomplished at last year’s nationals.