Moroccan athletes take lead at Van Damme Memorial meet

Two Moroccan athletes took the lead Friday in the Van Damme Memorial meet, part of the Golden League: Hicham El Guerrouj won the 3,000 meter race and his compatriot, Nezha Bidouane, won the 400 meter-steeples.

With a time of 7:23.11, El Guerrouj, double world champ of the 1,500 m, recorded this year's best performance and beat the meet record. However, he missed the world record by 2.56 seconds.

On her part, Nezha Bidouane, silver medalist of the Seville world championship won the 400 m-steeples, ahead of the world champion, Cuban Daimi Pernia.

Another Moroccan female athlete, Zahra Ouaziz, came in second in the 3,000 m race.