Rabat—Morocco delivered a dominant performance at the 28th Arab Cross-Country Championship, which ended at Ain al-Shams Park in Mosul, as Moroccan runners claimed the leading positions in both the men’s and women’s 10 km races.
In the women’s 10 km, Sara Zohir crossed the line first in 37 minutes 45 seconds, narrowly ahead of Abd al-Hassana (37:50), with Sabah Essaqalli finishing third in 38:14 to complete a clean sweep for Morocco.
The men’s race followed the same pattern. Mustapha Akkawi took victory in 31:15, while Hassan Touriss (31:44) and Hamid Batfidi (31:50) secured second and third places, giving Morocco full control of the podium once again.
The Arab Cross-Country Championships were first held in 1978 and have served as a regular regional meeting point for long-distance runners from across Arab countries, featuring races for senior and junior athletes. Over the years the event has helped nurture regional talent and strengthen competition among neighboring nations.
In the previous edition, held at the Dead Sea in 2025, Morocco topped the medal table with a haul of 16 medals across multiple age groups and distances.
This year’s championship brought together 111 athletes from eight Arab countries, with competitions taking place in challenging conditions at one of Mosul’s main parks.
Morocco’s results capped off a successful outing and confirmed the team’s strength across long-distance events.
