Al Haouz: Crowning the Winners of the 5th Edition of the “Soneasid High Atlas Ultra Trail”
The territorial commune of Wierkan, located in the province of Al Haouz, hosted the closure of the 5th edition of the “Soneasid High Atlas Ultra Trail” race on Sunday, celebrated with the crowning of winners in various categories.
Significant International Participation
Organized by the Amal Association for Sport and Sustainable Development, this edition saw the participation of over 1,150 runners, including 30% women, along with athletes from 26 nationalities, confirming the international dimension of the event.
Challenging Mountain Courses
The competition featured six distances: 120 km, 80 km, 60 km, 42 km, 21 km, and 10 km. The routes, particularly technical, alternated between challenging mountain terrains and rugged trails, testing the endurance and tactical skills of the participants.
Main Results
In the 120 km race, Moroccan Saïd Aït Qadi triumphed with a time of 17 hours, 11 minutes, and 20 seconds.
For the 80 km event, Moroccan Khalid Mouden claimed victory among men, while French runner Géraldine Prost distinguished herself as the top female competitor.
In the 60 km race, victories went to Moroccan Majid Bentalha and Frenchwoman Charlotte Dalonso.
For the 42 km distance, Moroccans Nourddine Bchkhi and Azizah Raji topped the men’s and women’s categories, respectively.
In the 21 km race, Moroccan Ahmed Ayoub emerged as the male winner, while compatriot Aziz El Omrani won the female category.
Lastly, in the 10 km race, victories were secured by Abdelali Bousalem among men and Nedira El Abadi among women.
A Successful Edition with an International Focus
The event director, Kawtar Bandomo, highlighted the success of this edition, both in terms of organization and international participation.
She also emphasized the introduction of the 21 km half marathon, which qualifies participants for the “Sierre Zinal” race in Switzerland, one of the most prestigious trail competitions in the world.
A Sports and Tourism-Focused Event
Beyond its competitive aspect, this event also aims to promote mountain tourism in the Al Haouz region and to showcase its natural assets while encouraging the development of outdoor sports in Morocco.
