The Wanda Diamond League continued in style at the Meeting International Mohammed VI in Rabat on Sunday, as several global stars got their title campaigns underway for 2023.
Six meeting records were broken in the Moroccan capital, with Ukrainian high jumper Yaroslava Mahuchikh and Jamaican sprint star Shericka Jackson among the outstanding performers.
But it was Soufiane El Bakkali's electrifying performance in the 3000m steeplechase which stole the headlines and is this week's Omega Moment of the Meeting.
El Bakkali streaked away from Getnet Wale and Abraham Kibiwot to clock an impressive 7:56.68 in the final race of the night, setting a new personal best and breaking his own meeting record from the year before. The performance delighted the home crowd, who roared him over the finish line as the clock showed the fastest time in the world for 11 years.
“I can't describe my happiness for achieving the meeting record, personal best, and world lead,” he said. “My aim was to break the world record but I got tired on the last lap. Now I will rest to get ready for my next competitions and especially for the World Championships where my aim is to keep my title.”
