Marathon of CasablancaVictory for
Morocco’s Khanmouni and Russian Ivanova
Mohammed Bencherif
(MAP)
8 January 2002 – The fifth edition of
the Casablanca International Marathon
was won on Sunday by the Moroccan
athlete Rachid Khanmouni for the men and
Marina Ivanova (RUS) for the women.
Khanmouni, a 23-year-old student participating in his first marathon, covered the 42.195 km of the course in 2:12:21, becoming the fourth Moroccan to win the event after Mustapha Damaoui in 1997, Bouker El Afoui, record holder for the event with 2:10:44 in 1999 and Moulay Taher Echadli in 2000. Poland’s Grzegorz Glogosz won the second running in 1998.
Rachid Khanmouni, who finished ahead of Russia’s Andre Sherhov (2:15:31) and his co-national Saaidou Kamal (2:15:38) was among the leaders from the start of the race and took over the lead from the 16th kilometre.
Without any real challengers, he kept up the pace to the finish line to finish three minutes and 11 seconds ahead of Sherhov.
In the women’s race, Ivanova was victorious in 2:57:57, followed at more than six minutes by the Moroccans Nezha Fakir Zarhouni (3:04:11) and Fatima Zahra Sanmane (3:14:38).
The women’s best performance for the competition is owned by Poland’s Christina Pieczulis with her 2:41:36 clocking from 1999.
The president of the Organising Committee, IAAF Council Member and IOC member, Nwal El Moutawakel, expressed her complete satisfaction with both the organisation of the event and the level of participation. The marathon was followed by a number of leading figures from the worlds of politics and sport and many spectators.
A total of nine countries were represented in the marathon.
Leading results:
Men:
1- Rachid Khanmouni (MAR)
2:12:21
2- Cherhov Andre (RUS) 2:
15:32
3- Saaidou Kamal (MAR) 2:
15:38
4- Abderra:im Ben Redouane (MAR) 2:
17:02
5- Hicham Hayane (MAR)
2:19:33
Women:
1- Marina Ivanova (RUS) 2:
57:57
2- Nezha Fakir Zarhouni (MAR) 3:
04:11
3- Fatima Zahra Sanmane (MAR) 3:
14:38
