Over one hundred Lebanese athletes took part in the May 27 annual Field Day at the American University of Beirut (AUB) with strong participation from a variety of universities, schools and clubs.
The schedule for AUB’s 110th Field Day encompassed a 100m men race, a 100m women race, a 400m men race, a 400m women race, a 1,500m men race, a 1,500m women race, a 4x100m mixed race and high/long jump for both men and women. Gold, silver and bronze medals were handed to first, second and third place players respectively.
“I am very pleased with the outcome of this year’s event. It is open and free for all and I am so glad we were able to group athletes from many different establishments,” said AUB coach of track and fields Yehya Makki, who organized the event along with the Director of University Sports, Ghaleb Halimi. The universities participating in the event included AUB, the Lebanese American University (LAU), the Lebanese University, Notre Dame University, Université Saint Joseph and the University of Balamand. In addition to this list were schools and sports clubs including International College, American College, Champville, Jamhour, Inter-Lebanon, Al-Ansar, Phoenicia, Road Runners Association and Antonieh.
This year’s event witnessed a new record for Lebanon’s under-fifteen division, when twelve-year old Sara-Joe Kortbawi completed the women’s 1,500m race in five minutes and 11 seconds. “I’m so happy to have made it and it’s all thanks to my coach Eli Saadeh,” she said. The AUB Field Day marked a second record for Champville student Kortbawi, who broke Lebanon’s 2,000m running record last year. Kortbawi intends on visiting France in June to represent Lebanon in the World Championship 1,500m race.
The 400m women’s race saw 2010 Lebanese and Arab Champion, Gretta Taslakian, finish first in 56.0 seconds. Gretta Taslakian broke her own record last year in Romania’s International Championships during the 400m women’s race, clocking 55.31 seconds. “I’m feeling pretty neutral,” said Taslakian, “I could have done better but it’s okay.”
Winner of the men’s 100m race, Ahmad Hazer, completed the sprint in 10.56 seconds. “I feel good, last year I had an injury in my hamstring, so I had to stop competing for eight months,” said Hazer. From Al-Ansar club, Hazer plans on partaking in the Romanian International Championship on the 1st of June to compete in the 10m hurdles and the 200 m race.
Al-Ansar celebrated a second victory at AUB’s annual Field Day when 18-year old athlete Mona Mouallem won the women’s 100m race in 12.01 seconds. Mouallem is to join Hazer in Romania for the International Championships where she will be taking part in the 100m and 200m races.
Winner of the men’s 1,500m race, Zohrab Garabedian, crossed the finish line in four minutes and 18 seconds. “I’m really happy I won,” said Garabedian, “although I am certain that if army soldiers were competing with me today I wouldn’t have come first.”
The men’s 400m race saw Notre Dame University’s marketing student Ramzi Naim come first in 48.98 seconds. “Today’s fast is tomorrow’s slow,” said Naim when referring to the importance of an athlete’s continuous self-improvement. Naim plans on partaking in the World University Games of China in August this year for the 100m, 200m and 400m races.
The men’s long jump competition saw Ali Saleh, from the Road Runners Association, trace a winning mark of 6.57m in the sand, and Crystel Saneh from the women’s division take a victorious surge 4.99m wide. The high jump contest left Carine Bajikian from Champville and Ahmad Hazer from Al-Ansar both victorious with 1.50m and 1.87m leaps respectively.
The mixed race 4x100m in length witnessed Champville attain first place in a span of 48.50 seconds.