Soufiane El Bakkali could hardly have asked for a better start to his season. The Moroccan won the men’s 3,000m steeplechase at the Mohammed VI International Athletics Meeting in Rabat on Sunday, clocking a world-leading time of 7:57.25.
Germany’s Frederik Ruppert finished second in 7:57.80, while Kenya’s Simon Kiprop Koech took third in 7:59.44.
Speaking after the race, El Bakkali said the performance had given him extra confidence in his bid to break the world record.
“Starting my season with such a time boosts my confidence in pursuing the world record,” he said.
“This record requires specific conditions, rigorous preparation and a well-defined strategy.”
The Olympic and world champion said the race was far from easy, with strong competition from Kenyan, Ethiopian and European runners.
“The competition was particularly fierce,” he said.
El Bakkali added that his experience competing in Rabat helped him manage the race well and deliver a strong result.
“It is always an immense pleasure to win at home in front of the Moroccan public,” he said.
The race was one for the record books. It was only the third time in history that the top three athletes in a men’s 3,000m steeplechase all finished under eight minutes.
Ruppert’s time set a new European record, while Koech recorded a personal best. Kenya’s Edmund Serem finished fourth in 8:01.61, also a personal best.
El Bakkali said the win puts him in a good position ahead of upcoming Diamond League meetings in Stockholm and Doha, as well as his longer-term preparations for the Los Angeles Olympic Games.
The current world record of 7:52.11 belongs to Ethiopia’s Lamecha Girma, who set it at the Paris Diamond League in 2023.
Sunday’s victory was also El Bakkali’s fifth straight Diamond League win on home soil in Rabat.
The Mohammed VI International Athletics Meeting, the third stop of this season’s Diamond League, brought together athletes from 40 countries, including Olympic and world champions.
