Morocco ranks 5th at World Athletics Championships

Morocco ranked 5th at the World Athletics Championships held last week in Seville, Spain.

The Moroccan team won five medals (two gold, two silver and one bronze). Gold was brought by Hicham El Guerrouj in the 1,500 m and Salah Hissou in the 5,000-m. The silver was captured by Bedouane in the women's 400-m hurdle and Zahra Ouaziz in the women's 5000 m while the sole bronze medal was grabbed by Adil Ezzine in the 3,000 m steeplechase, which was dominated by the Kenyan armada.

The USA team dominated the championships gleaning 17 medals (11 gold, 3 silver and 3 bronze). Russia came in 2nd with 13 medals (6 gold, 3 silver and 4 bronze) followed by Germany and Greece.

Morocco, which ranked 5th, is the first African and Arab country appearing in the medal-table advancing Cuba, Spain, Ethiopia, Rumania, Czech Republic, Britain, Kenya, Italy and France.

In the World Athletics Championships held in Athens in 1997, the Moroccan team finished 6th.