Kenya’s
Peter Chebet wins the 1st Berkane International Road Race
Mohammed Benchrif
1 April 2001 – Berkane - The first edition of the Berkane International Road Race on Saturday was won as expected by the Kenyans, but it is Hicham El Guerrouj and his charity "Association Beni Snassen" who were the real winners in carrying off the organisation of the biggest international sporting event ever held in the eastern region of Morocco.
Whilst the runners were tracing their steps through the heart of the city, the capital of clementine oranges lived through its road racing initiation embracing the outside world.
We achieved our aim, said El Guerrouj, which was to "show some great racing and at the same time promote the tourist and economic advantages of my home town". An estimated 100 000 people turned out to watch this athletics festival, and for the majority the 1500m world record holder El Guerrouj is their idol.
The World Champion was very pleased with the success of the event: "Overall this event aims to promote Moroccan athletics. But it is also the opportunity for a public used to watching athletics in a stadium, to see the action in the town. Basically I took athletics out of the stadium and into the streets of Berkane.
Despite the withdrawal of several stars due to injury such as World Cross Country Champion Mohammed Mourhit, or commitments to other meetings, like the Kenyans Charles Kamathi and Paul Kosgei, Ethiopia’s Jiffar Habty and Hailu Mekonene, and France’s Driss EL Himer, the 10km race was without a doubt the best race of the day.
Kenyan Peter Chebet, ran the 10km in 28 minutes and one second, to win a total of 80 000 DH (approximately 8000 dollars), admitted that "it was not an easy race with such a high class field of athletes taking part".
Chebet came in first with a three second gap separating him from the runner up Moroccan born Frenchman Abdellah Behar, followed by two other Kenyans: David Chelule ,5th at the Sydney Olympic 5000m (28.14) and Stephen Rerimoi (28.17), who finished 4th and 5th.
The 5th and 6th places went to Moroccans Abderrahim El Goumri (who resides in Norway) and Jawad Gharib, who clocked 28:21 et 28 : 29 respectively.
In addition to the 10km competition, three other races were run, a road Mile, a 5000m (open to men and women) and a 900m race for under 10-year-old children.
The Mile was won by 1500m African Champion Youssef Baba in 3.58, followed by 1998 World Junior 5000m Champion Adill El Kouch , who most recently finished 5th at the World Indoor Championships in Lisbon earlier this year.
Khalid El Amri won the 5000m in 13.19, ahead of compatriots Aissa Dghouri (13.21 ) and Mohammed Issenghar (13.22).
World Military cross country champion Zhor El Kamch, won the women’s race in 14.43, leading her 2001 World Cross Country team-mates Malika Assehsah (15.05) and Wafae Frikech (15.09).
Hicham El Guerrouj’s satisfaction was not only derived from the participation of many different nationalities in the races, but also in the support forthcoming from the residents of Berkane. Several personalities from the field of politics, sport and the arts were present including the Moroccan Minister of Youth and Sport Ahmed Moussaoui, former Olympic champion Nawal El Moutawakel, who is a member of the IOC and IAAF Council, and several renowned Moroccan athletes including the Boulami brothers, Nezha Bidouane, Zahra Ouaziz and Hasna Benhassi.