News27 Feb 2008


Morocco to send eight to Valencia

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Amine Laalou springs a surprise in the 800m - Rome (© AFP / Getty Images)

RabatMorocco will be represented by 8 athletes, 4 men and 4 women at the 12th IAAF World Indoor Championships in Valencia.

The men’s side will be led by Amine Laâlou who scored the nest result for Morocco at the 2004 edition of the championships in Budapest when he finished 4th at 800m. Youssef Baba (1500m), Abdelkader Hachlef (1500m) and Ali Maataoui (3000m) complete the men’s team.

Among the women 800m World silver medallist from Osaka 2007 and Athens 2004, Hasna Benhassi, also the World Indoor champion in 2001 will be absent and therefore  Meriem Alaoui Selsouli will lead the charge

Selsouli was fifth in Osaka’s 1500m. Soltana Aît Hammou, Siham Hilali et Hanane Ouhaddou are the other members of the team.

Morocco has won five gold medals in the history of the World Indoor Championships, two at 3000m by Said Aouita and Hicham El Guerrouj in Budapest 1989 and Lisbon 2001 respectively.

El Guerrouj won another two titles at 1500m in Barcelona 1995 and Paris 1997. The fifth gold was Benhassi’s victory at 1500m in Lisbon 2001.

The team
Men
800m: Amine Laalou.
1500m: Youssef Baba, Abdelkader Hachlef.
3000m: Ali Maataoui.

Women
800m: Soltana Aît Hammou.
1500m: Siham Hilali.
3000m: Meriem Alaoui Selsouli, Hanane Ouhaddou.

Mohammed Benchrif for the IAAF

 

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