Olympic champions Pamela Jelimo, Wilfried Bungei, Christine Ohuruogu, and Gerd Kanter will be among the headliners of the Meeting Mohammed VI d' Athlétisme- CAA Super Grand Prix- in Rabat, Morocco on 23 May 2009.

The Meeting Mohammed VI d' Athlétisme is one of a select group of Area meetings at which points can be acquired by athletes to qualify for the IAAF / VTB Bank World Athletics Final, to be held on 12-13 September in Thessaloniki, Greece.

Last year’s meeting was highlighted by Olympic 5000m and 10,000m champion Kenenisa Bekele’s victory in the 5000m, and organisers have again unveiled a stellar field which includes ten Olympic medallists out of which four topped the podium over the course of nine days at the Bird’s Nest stadium in Beijing last year.

Kenya’s Pamela Jelimo, who enjoyed an unbelievable 2008 in her first season in international athletics at 800m, is expected to be the headliner of the event as she makes her 2009 international debut in the Moroccan capital. She opened her year in Kakamega, Kenya on Friday 18 April with a 1500m victory (4:19.31) in an Athletics Kenya weekend meeting

The 19-year-old was the sole winner of the USD 1million AF Golden League Jackpot after dominating throughout the season and improved both the world junior and African senior 800m records in a breakaway year. Her achievements won her various accolades including the World Newcomer of the Year award.

Jelimo will not be alone in her quest for a winning start to the international season. The hosts will have their hopes on Hasna Benhassi, third behind Jelimo in Beijing, gunning for victory in the 800m against Jelimo.

In the sprints, all eyes will be on Olympic and World 400m champion Christine Ohuruogu. The 24-year old won the Great Britain’s only athletics gold medal at the Beijing Games after her fantastic victory in the 400m. Jelimo’s compatriot and men’s Olympic 800m Wilfried Bungei and Estonia’s Olympic Discus Throw champion Gerd Kanter are also slated to compete at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sporting complex.

Other Olympic medallists expected in Rabat include Ukraine’s Olympic 1500m silver medallist Irina Lishchinska, South Africa’s Long Jump silver medallist Godfrey Khotso Mokoena,  and Kenya’s 3000m Steeplechase bronze medallist Richard Mateelong.

The meeting will continue its close cooperation with Brussels’ Memorial Van Damme meeting again this year and the Belgian influence sees Olivia Borlee and Elodie Ouedraogo, part of the Belgian 4x100m women’s team that won bronze in Beijing, taking part in the individual 100m in Rabat.

Elshadai Negash for the IAAF