Fast Times on Day One of Egyptian Nationals; Abdou Qualifies for Athens in 100m Fly

CAIRO, Egypt, February 18. DESPITE having undergone a multitude of changes and having little preparation time, the Egyptian National Team performed extremely well on the first day of competition at the Egyptian National Open Championships in Cairo today.

After undergoing a head coaching change within the last three weeks and the numerous changes that accompany such a move, the team managed many outstanding times, including Ahmed Salah Abdou's meeting the Olympic Games B qualifying time in the 100m butterfly.

New Head Coach, Al Dodson, said: "I was extremely pleased with the first day's results. I have asked for so many changes in training volume, intensity and technique and the swimmers' efforts have been outstanding. In my 37 years of coaching, I have never had a group that was as cooperative."

In addition, there were many outstanding performances from non-national team members. Dodson added "we are very fortunate to have an abundance of great club coaches to develop our talent pool. I foresee a great future ahead for Egyptian swimming."

Egyptian National Championships
Cairo, Egypt

50 meter pool

RESULTS:
Day One: February 18, 2004

Men's 50m Freestyle
1. Mahmoud Amr El Wani 24.34
2. Mohamed Mamdouh Abdel Han 24.37
3. Hossam Mohamed Khattab 24.84

Women's 50m Butterfly
1. May Ahmed Rafaat 30.40
2. Soha Abdallah Ibrahim 30.41
3. Nihal Mohamed Ibrahim 31.53

Men's 100m Butterfly
1. Ahmed Salah Abdouh 55.75 – Olympic B Time Standard
2. Moustafa Attef Abdel Fattah 57.13
3. Ahmed Mahoud El Abady 57.30

Women's 100m Breaststroke
1. Yasmeen Abdel Rahman Mah 1:16.80
2. Reem Sobby Hassan 1:19.34
3. Salma Raouf Gasser 1:19.95

Men's 200m Breaststroke
1. Ayman Mohamed Khattab 2:24.46
2. Sherif Aly Madkour 2:28.74
3. Moemen Monir Kamal 2:30.95

Women's 200m Backstroke
1. Dina Moustafa Khaled Hegaz 2:25.42
2. Soha Abdallah Ibrahim 2:31.75
3. Seham Aham Ahmed El Kouram 2:33.82

Men's 100m Backstroke
1. Haitham Mohamed Hazem 0:58.55
2. Mohamed Tarek Salah El Din 1:00.04
3. Moustafa Alaa El Din Mohan 1:00.75

Women's 200m Freestyle
1. Heba Yehia Abdel Rahmen 2:09.83
2. Samiha Yasine Mubarak 2:11.72
3. Hebatallah Hany Selim 2:12.11

Men's 800m Freestyle
1. Mohamed Abd Elhamed Sero 8:36.79
2. Khaled Mohamed Hanafy 8:38.96
3. Omar Fouad El Gamel 8:42.99

Women's 400m I.M.
1. Asmaa Mohamed Khatareya 5:20.16
2. Rahetab Hassan Mohamed 5:27.82
3. Seham Ahmed El Kourom 5:35.27

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