Jaouad Gharib and Hasna Benhassi were voted as the best Moroccan sports stars of 2005 in the annual awards which are organised by the Moroccan Press Agency - l'Agence Marocaine de Presse (MAP).The poll which canvasses 43 different media spread across different spheres (written, audio-visual, and agencies), saw Gharib dominate with 180pts thanks to his successful defence of the World Marathon title in Helsinki this summer. He is only the second man to have achieved that feat in history (Abel Anton ESP: 1997 / 1999). By winning the MAP award, Gharib, who finished second at last April&rsquo;s London Marathon, ended the record run of eight consecutive victories in the annual poll by double Olympic champion Hicham El Guerrouj, who in total has been awarded the title&nbsp;of Moroccan sportsman of the year on nine occasions.The 33-year-old Gharib now plans participation in either the Lisbon or Milan Half Marathons as part of his preparation for the next London Marathon. However, his long term aims remain the defence of his World title in Osaka in 2007, and an attempt to win at the Beijing Olympics of 2008.Second place in the awards was also taken by an athlete, Adil Kaouch (81pts), the World 1500m silver medallist.In the women&rsquo;s poll, Hasna Benhassi, the World 800m silver medallist who also came second in the World Athletics Final, won with 194 points. Behind the 2004 Olympic silver medallist came another athlete Zhor El Kamch, the 5000m and 10,000m champion from last week&rsquo;s Francophone Games. El Kamch was in fact second equal in the poll along with World Kick Boxing champion, Samira El Haddad. Both drew 35 points each. Benhassi&rsquo;s ambition for next year is to win a second World Indoor title when the next edition is held in Moscow, Russia, next March. She took the 1500m crown in 2001, though she will not decide on whether to contest the 800m or 1500m until she has finished her preparation in Ifrane.Mohammed Benchrif for the IAAFMen 1- Jaouad Gharib (Athl&eacute;tisme)&nbsp;180 Pts.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 2- Adil Kaouch (Athl&eacute;tisme)&nbsp;81. 3- Marouane Chamakh (Football) 78. 4- Jamal Belhasni (Jet ski) 40. 5- Abdelkader Zrouri (Taekwondo)&nbsp;33. &nbsp; Women 1- Hasna Benhassi (Athl&eacute;tisme) 194 Pts. 2- Zhor El Kamch (Athl&eacute;tisme) 35. - Samira El Haddad (Kick boxing)&nbsp;35. 4- Wiaam Dslam (Taekwondo)&nbsp;34. 5- Atika Sabib (Cyclisme)&nbsp;25. - Nawal Bouzlaf (Savate)&nbsp;25.

Jaouad Gharib and Hasna Benhassi were voted as the best Moroccan sports stars of 2005 in the annual awards which are organised by the Moroccan Press Agency - l'Agence Marocaine de Presse (MAP).

Gharib and Benhassi keep Athletics at top in Morocco

Double Olympic champion Hicham El Guerrouj and 800m Olympic silver medallist Hasna Benhassi have been named Moroccan Athletes of the Year following a survey jointly organised by the Moroccan Press Agency, the Moroccan National Radio station and TVM, the main national Television broadcaster. Overall 28 media were involved in the voting process.This year&rsquo;s was El Guerrouj&rsquo;s ninth title as Moroccan Athlete of the Year (the 8th consecutive). 2004 saw El Guerrouj achieve an incredible Olympic double at 1500m and 5000m and claim the Trophy for the Best Performance of the Year presented by IAAF President Lamine Diack at the World Athletics Gala in Monaco. El Guerrouj scored a total of 140 points with Bordeaux football player Marouane Chamakh a distant second with 51 points. Another athlete, Abdel&acirc;ati Iguider who won the 1500m at the IAAF World Junior Championships in Grosseto was third (34 pts). In the women&rsquo;s standings, Hasna Benhassi topped the rankings with 144 points. Cycling star Atiqa Sabib who won five medals (three golds) at the Pan Arab Games in Algiers came in second with 68 points while Siham Hilali, two-time bronze medallist in Grosseto was third with 39 points.Mohammed Benchrif for the IAAF

Double Olympic champion Hicham El Guerrouj and 800m Olympic silver medallist Hasna Benhassi have been named Moroccan Athletes of the Year following a survey jointly organised by the Moroccan Press Agency, the Moroccan National Radio station and TVM, the main national Television broadcaster. Overall 28 media were involved in the voting process.

Gharib and Benhassi keep Athletics at top in Morocco

Hicham El Guerrouj and Hasna Benhassi named Moroccan Athletes of the Year