Tokyo: Morocco’s Soufiane El Bakkali and Salaheddine Ben Yazide have successfully advanced to the finals of the 3000m steeplechase event at the 20th World Athletics Championships. El Bakkali clinched first place in the third qualifying heat with a time of 8:26.99, surpassing Ethiopia’s Lamecha Girma (8:27.79) and USA’s Daniel Michalski (8:28.76).

According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, Ben Yazide also secured a top position in the second heat, finishing with a time of 8:27.21. He narrowly edged out New Zealand’s Geordie Beamish, who clocked in at 8:27.23, and Ethiopia’s Samuel Firewu, who completed the race in 8:27.54. However, not all Moroccan competitors advanced; Mohamed Tindouft and Faid El Mostafa, who participated in the first heat, did not qualify for the final, finishing 9th and 11th with times of 8:35.73 and 8:44.10, respectively.

The World Athletics Championships, held from September 13-21, features Morocco represented by 20 athletes, including 14 men and 6 women. Apart from the steeplechase, oth
er male athletes will participate in events like the 1500m, 400m hurdles, 800m, and marathon. Notably, Anass Essayi, Fouad Mesaoudi, and Hafid Rizqi will compete in the 1500m, while Saad Hinti represents Morocco in the 400m hurdles. The 800m event sees the participation of Abdarrahman El Assal and Abdelaati El Guess, with Othmane El Goumri, Mohamed Reda El Aaraby, and Soufiyan Bouqantar taking part in the marathon.

For the women’s events, Morocco’s contingent includes Bahiya El Arfaoui in the 1500m, Assia Raziki and Soukaina Hajji in the 800m, and Fatima Ezzahra Gardadi, Rahma Tahiri, and Kaoutar Farkoussi in the marathon. Historically, Morocco has achieved significant success in the World Athletics Championships, amassing a total of 33 medals, which includes 12 gold, 12 silver, and 9 bronze.