Awards Ceremony for the Winners of the 7th Zayan International Trail

Khenifra – Lake Ouiouane (Khenifra Province) was alive with excitement on Saturday as the 7th edition of the “Zayan International Trail” mountain race took place. The event drew 120 athletes, men and women, from Morocco and abroad, who competed amidst the picturesque landscapes of Khenifra National Park.

Organized by the “Alpes Atlas” Association in partnership with several institutional and local stakeholders, this major sporting event aims to encourage mountain sports, showcase the natural and touristic assets of the Middle Atlas Mountains, and strengthen the province’s reputation as a prime destination for sports and ecotourism.

The athletes participating in the competition were divided into three distinct courses: 10 km (25 runners), 20 km (45 runners), and 35 km (50 runners). The races took place on natural trails winding through majestic cedar forests and along the shores of Lake Ouiouane, in an atmosphere that combined a high level of physical challenge with a profound connection to nature.

Regarding the technical results, athlete Ismail Jarboui dominated the 10km race, completing the distance in 53 minutes and 24 seconds, ahead of Taoufiq Zaghloul, who finished second (2 hours and 41 seconds), while Hassan Atef took third place (3 hours, 45 minutes, 39 seconds).

In the 20km race (Men), runner Omar Akazi claimed first place with a time of 1 hour, 36 minutes, and 26 seconds, followed by Aziz Boulmous (1 hour, 45 minutes, and 2 seconds) and Abderrahim Nid El Haj (1 hour, 46 minutes, and 53 seconds).

In the women’s 20km race, Nadia Benhamama brilliantly claimed the title, crossing the finish line in 3 hours, 53 minutes, and 46 seconds, edging out Yousra Roujil, who finished second with a time of 3 hours, 53 minutes, and 59 seconds.

As for the main event, the 35km race, victory went to Bouazza Salhi, who dominated the race in 2 hours, 25 minutes, and 30 seconds, surpassing Mohamed Abba (2 hours, 59 minutes, and 7 seconds). Abdelhaq Zaghloul completed the podium (4 hours, 50 minutes, and 40 seconds).

The president of the “Alpes Atlas” Association, Nadia Ammar, stated that this 7th edition was a resounding success, thanks to the high quality and quantity of participation from athletes from various regions of the Kingdom and abroad.

The choice of Khénifra National Park, and more specifically the Ouiouane site, provides an ideal showcase to highlight the exceptional natural, ecological, and touristic wealth of the region, she argued.

Ms. Ammar, in this regard, commended the effective commitment and ongoing mobilization of local authorities, elected bodies, and various partners, noting that this event is part of the sustained efforts to promote Khénifra as a must-see ecotourism destination.

Beyond the purely competitive aspect, this year’s program included an ecological initiative to plant trees to contribute to the preservation of cedar forests, a children’s race, a technical meeting for participants, and a festive awards ceremony for the winners.

This international event has now become a key opportunity to showcase the exceptional potential of the Khénifra province, to closely link the practice of sport with the values ​​of sustainability, and to consolidate the attractiveness of the region on the mountain tourism scene.