Athletes Oualid Jaouadi, representing Marrakech, and Marwa Chihab, from Safi, shone during the 7th edition of the El Jadida half-marathon, contested on Sunday in a festive atmosphere, in celebration of Independence Day.
With an impressive time of 1h05min28sec, Oualid Jaouadi won over the 21 km of the half-marathon, ahead of Abderrahim Douma (1h11min56sec) and Abd Ouidir (1h12min12sec).
Delighted by this victory, the champion declared: “This half marathon was an exceptional experience. The route, both technical and rich in discoveries, allowed me to explore the hidden wonders of this historic city.”
Among the ladies, Marwa Chihab dominated the competition by crossing the finish line in 1h 30min 43sec. His compatriots Badiâ Elmir (1h44min32sec) and Sanae Abdeljabar (1h44min33sec) completed the podium.
“The organization and layout were impeccable. Despite the tough competition, my physical preparation as a national football referee allowed me to achieve this victory,” said Chihab.
An event serving sport and development
Organized under the theme: “Sport in the service of development”, this event, initiated by the Mazagan Association with the support of the province and the urban commune of El Jadida, brought together nearly a thousand participants, aged from 13 to 70 years old, coming from different regions of Morocco.
The director of the half-marathon, Mostapha Boutaleb, underlined the importance of this edition marking the return of the competition after a prolonged interruption due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Our objective is to position El Jadida as a flagship destination for sport and tourism, in harmony with national guidelines for sports development,” he said.
Alongside the half-marathon, a 10 km race was also organized to encourage fans and promote athletics among younger generations. Saïd Boutaleb (Safi) and Sara Mousaid (El Jadida) triumphed in this event.
The closing ceremony, enhanced by the presence of local authorities, elected officials and numerous guests, saw the presentation of trophies to the winners, thus celebrating the success of an event which continues to strengthen the sporting and cultural reputation of El Jadida .
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