Moroccan Federation President Abdeslam Ahizoune and Hicham El Guerrouj with the men's 1500m podium in Rabat: runner-up Amine Laalou, winner Abdalaati Iguider, and 3rd place finisher Mohammed Shaween (© Mohammed Benchrif)
World and Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser was the undisputed attraction of the 3rd meeting International Mohammed VI of Rabat held at the Prince Moulay Abdellah sporting facilities for the 8th stop of the IAAF World Challenge on Sunday (6).
Fraser crossed the line in 11.13 a mere hundredth of a second ahead of Bahamas’ Chandra Sturrup to take the women’s 100m with American Tianna Madison in third at 11.41.
The Jamaican was thrilled by her win which she said was part of her build up for the IAAF Diamond League series of which she is an official Ambassador.
Among other notable performances of a meeting which was attended by His Royal Highness Prince Moulay Rachid of Morocco and IAAF President Lamine Diack, a clear win by France’s Mahiedine Mekhissi over 3000m steeplechase was the most impressive.
The Olympic silver medallist scored a convincing win in 8:08.82 defeating both the World champion and season World leader Ezekiel Kemboi and World silver medallist Richard Mateelong both of Kenya.
In the men’s High Jump Dmitri Aleksey of Russia cleared 2.31m only 2 centimetres off the World’s best performance held by Dusty Jonas. Anna Piatykh also of Russia took the women’s Triple Jump with a best effort of 14.68m.
One of the most anticipated races by the home crowd, the men’s 1500m saw Abdelati Iguider, former World Junior champion and silver medallist indoors in Doha, defeat compatriot Amine Laalou, who was 10th at the Berlin World Championships last summer.
?Iguider out-sprinted Laalou in the very last steps of the race and stopped the clock at 3:34.25 a mere hundredth of a second clear of his elder team-mate. ?
In the men’s 800m all eyes were on Sudan’s Abubaker Kaki who was second to David Rudisha in Oslo in one of the most thrilling 2-lap races of the year just two days before. Kaki didn’t seem at all affected by his Norwegian outing and closed in 1:46.71 well off his Oslo time of 1:42.23 which stands as the second fastest in the world this year.
?Algeria’s Anter Zerguelaine was second in 1:47.60 with Kenya’s Richard Kiplagat taking third in 1:47.91.
?Kenya was much stronger in the 5000m race were they swept the top seven spots with John Kemboi prevailing in 13:01.64 ahead of Sammy Mutai (13:02.54) and Abraham Chebi (13:03.11).
Olympic champion Nancy Lagat added another good race to her already convincing beginning of the season. After wins in Doha and Hengelo she was undisputed in Rabat and clocked 4:05.80 to take the women’s 1500m ahead of Moroccan duo Mouna Tabessart (4:06.25) and Btissam Lakhouad (4:07.73).
The women’s 800m saw a surprise victory by Halima Hachlaf in 2:00.63 over her more experienced compatriot Hasna Benhassi who twice won silver at the IAAF World Championships. Maggie Vessey of the USA was third in 2:01.55.
Wallace Spearmon and Dwight Phillips did not fail in their role of pre-event favourites with respective wins of 20.35 in the 200m and 8.26 in the Long Jump. Virgilijus Alekna took the Discus Throw contest with a best effort of 61.75.
In total 8 meeting records were broken – men’s HJ, 400m, 5000m and women’s 100, JT, 1500, 800, TJ – in an evening which was concluded with the exceptional concert of Rai singer Cheb Khaled.
Mohammed Benchrif for the IAAF
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