Nicholas Kemboi en route to his runner-up finish in London (2007) (© Getty Images)
Strong performances in the middle distances were the key highlights at the premiere edition of the Chabab Hassani International Meeting in Casablanca on Sunday (22).
18-year-old Kenyan Nicholas produced a solid victory in the 1500m, clocking a season's best 3:35.25. Earlier this month, Kemboi finished sixth in the Dream Mile at Oslo's ExxonMobil Bislett Games. Mohamed Moustaoui of Morocco, fourth in the Bislett mile, was well back in second, clocking 3:37.00.
Eight days after celebrating his 26th birthday, Kuwaiti national record holder Mohamed Mutlak Al-Azimi took the 800m in 1:45.79, notching his fourth consecutive victory over the distance. A semi-finalist at the last two World Championships and runner-up at the Asian Games two years ago, Al-Azimi clocked the Kuwaiti standard or 1:44.13 in 2006.
Tarek Boukensa, a 1500m finalist in Osaka last summer, was second in 1:46.36.
Jamal Chatbi produced the most notable home victory, clocking 8:23.65 in the 3000m Steeplechase, a new personal best. The 24-year-old's previous best was 8:25.71 in Rabat last week. His pre-2008 best in the event was 8:29.13. fellow-Moroccan Ibrahim Taleb, who was third in Rabat, was second here clocking 8:24.18.
Other Moroccan victories included Abdelah Felali's 27:40.58 in the 10,000m and Sultana Ait Hammou's win in the 800m in 2:01.44 ahead of her sister Mina Ait Hamou (2:01.45).
Chafik Boukabes and Bob Ramsak for the IAAF