Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie and Jennifer Simpson mark meet records – Athletics news
The Moulay El-Hassan International Athletics Meeting, organised by former veteran athlete, Hicham El Guerrouj observed the commencement of its fourth edition this year after the financial assistance for the event provided by HRH King Mohammed VI.
The event, which was unfolded under the supervision of an athletics veteran, was bound to create a thrill amid the robust field it had put together. Living up to expectations, Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie and Jennifer Simpson marked two new meeting records.
Simpson, the 25-year-old middle distance runner from America, who is also a steeplechase specialist, breasted the tape in 1500m showdown where she clocked a finish of four minutes and 15.07 seconds. Her rival in the meet, Anna Mishchenko from Ukraine, last
year’s victor, could only end her race in four minutes and 15.13 seconds. Hind Chahid, the Morocco-born French athlete, finished third for covering the desired distance in four minutes and 15.55 seconds.
Ferguson-McKenzie, the 200m specialist from Bahamas, who was also a world champion for the distance back in 2001, displayed her spark both in 100m and 200m competitions where she finished her races ahead of Ukrainian duo, Mariya Ryemyen and Hrystyna Stuy.
In Tangiers, two new meet records were observed which were claimed by Canadian Shot Putter, Dylan Armstrong and Waugh Ainsley, the 200m specialist from Jamaica.
The throw marked by Armstrong landed at 21.75m, eclipsing last year’s record landing of 21.43m made by Christian Cantwell, the former world champion who could only end up third this year for finishing at 20.58m. Second place in the event was named by Marco
Fortes from Portugal, whose throw landed at 20.61m.
For covering the 200m distance, and to name the meet record as well as the event title, Ainsley finished the race in 20.71 seconds. The previous record that was held by Stephane Buckland from Mauritius since 2008, fell for a tenth of second. The second place
in the run was claimed by Aziz Ouhadi, who crossed the finishing line in 20.85 seconds.
Other highlights of the event included performances of Isa Phillips from Jamaica, who covered the 400m hurdling distance in 49.62 seconds and defeated Felix Sanchez, the former world champion who finished his run in 50.13 seconds.
Among local performers, athletes who stood out from the crowd were Yahia Berabah, who jumped at 8.04m in the long jump competition and defeated Luis Felipe Meliz from Spain and Cuba’s Wilfredo Martinez. In the 1500m competition, Mohamed Moustaoui bagged
an easy success for stopping the clock in three minutes and 36.33 seconds. Finishing behind him were Abdelaati Iguider and Cornelius Ndiwa from Kenya, who clocked 3:36.57 and 3:38.69 minutes, respectively.
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