Moroccan athletes dominate Arab cross-country championship in Iraq

Sunday 25 January 2026 - 11:30

By: Sahili Aya

Moroccan athletes dominate Arab cross-country championship in Iraq

Moroccan runners delivered a stunning performance at the 28th Arab Cross-Country Championship held Saturday in Mosul, Iraq, winning the majority of medals and sweeping the team trophies.

Out of 18 medals awarded across all age categories, Moroccan athletes claimed 16. The national team also topped every team event, including men, women, juniors, and cadets, both boys and girls.

In the men’s 10 km race, Moroccans took all three podium spots, with Mustapha Akkaoui finishing first, followed by Hassan Toriss and Hamid Boutfidi, securing the team trophy as well. The women’s 10 km race saw a similar outcome, with Moroccan athletes filling the top three positions and capturing the team award.

In the junior 8 km race (under 20), Morocco took first and second places, along with the team trophy, while the junior women’s 6 km race also resulted in a Moroccan sweep of all three medals and the team prize.

Among the cadets (under 18), Moroccan runners won first and second place in the 6 km boys’ event and swept the top three spots in the 4 km girls’ race, taking both team trophies.

Eight countries participated in the championship: Morocco, Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine, Yemen, Tunisia, Algeria, and Iraq. The event serves as a preparatory stage ahead of the World Cross-Country Championship scheduled for October in Tallahassee, Florida, USA.