Soufiane El Bakkali wins Rabat steeplechase with world leading time

Moroccan runner Soufiane El Bakkali won the 3,000m steeplechase at the Mohammed VI International Athletics Meeting on Sunday in Rabat, posting the fastest time in the world this year with 7:57.25. He finished ahead of Germany’s Frederick Ruppert and Kenya’s Simon Kiprop Koech.

Speaking to the press after his victory, El Bakkali said the Mohammed VI International Athletics Meeting, the third stop on the Diamond League circuit, offers an additional incentive in his pursuit of the world record in the 3,000m steeplechase.

The Moroccan athlete said opening his season with such a performance had boosted his confidence in his quest to break the world record. He noted that achieving such a feat requires specific conditions, meticulous preparation and a clearly defined race strategy.

Commenting on the competition, El Bakkali said the race had been particularly demanding, especially against Kenyan and Ethiopian runners, as well as European athletes who continue to demonstrate their depth of talent year after year. He also described winning on home soil in front of the Moroccan crowd as an immense pleasure.

He added that the result bodes well for the upcoming events on his calendar, including Diamond League meetings in Stockholm and Doha, as well as the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

The third Diamond League meeting of the season brought together athletes from 40 countries, including Olympic and world champions.

The event was organized through a partnership between the Ministry of National Education, Preschool and Sports, the Moroccan National Olympic Committee, the Royal Moroccan Athletics Federation and the Rabat-Salé-Kénitra Regional Council.