Rabat – Moroccan athlete Hamza Sahli secured an international victory on Sunday after winning the 37th Valladolid Half-Marathon in Spain in a closely knitted finish.
Competing for Spanish club Atlético Campo Grande, Sahli completed the 21-kilometer race in 1 hour, 8 minutes and 32 seconds, narrowly beating home runner Vicente Viciosa.
The Moroccan crossed the finish line just one second ahead of Viciosa, with the tight margin highlighting the intensity of the closing stages.
Spain’s David Garcia completed the men’s podium in 1:09:21.
Sahli’s victory adds another international result to his athletics career, with the Moroccan holding off his closest challenger in the final stretch to claim the title.
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Spanish athlete Gema Martin won the women’s race after finishing in 1:17:47, while Paula Garcia and Cristina Giurcanu completed the women’s podium.
The Valladolid event attracted more than 4,000 runners, bringing a large field of competitors onto the streets of the Spanish city for the annual race.
The half-marathon covers the standard 21.1-kilometer distance. It formed part of Valladolid’s sporting calendar and drew both elite athletes and recreational runners.
For Sahli, the result provided a notable international success after a finish that came down to the final seconds.
His victory also saw a Moroccan athlete take the top spot in a race featuring a strong field of Spanish competitors.
