15th World University Championship Cross-Country
Alger, Algeria - March 24th, 2006
Hassan Chick, OC President
What a Comeback!
The Moroccan delegation hoped to make their comeback in Algiers, and they certainly did!
The city of Algiers took charge of the 15th edition of the World University Cross Country Championship. This was a first for the Algerian University Sports Federation (FASU) which has been a member of FISU since 1965, and fully corresponded to the perspective of the renewal of sports in schools and universities expressed concretely last year by the election of Mr. Hassan Chikh as President of the Algerian Olympic Executive Committee. "My election is the result of our determination to integrate school and university sports in the Algerian Olympic Committee. My duties as Vice-President of FISU no doubt played a positive role in this choice" said Mr. Chikh the day after his election. Clearly, Algeria will be stronger on the international sports scene now that the country also includes the President of the International Swimming Federation (FINA), Mr. Larfaoui, as well as the President of the International Committee for Mediterranean Games, Mr. Addadi. The cross country championship organized in the complex of the Algerian National Sports Federation had the advantage of first-class infrastructures. The magnificent site chosen was a real treat for the runners.
At the last edition that took place in Torino (ITA) in 2004, a 19 year old Moroccan, Mariem Alaui Sel Souli won the women's event, and for the men, there was a great clash between Austrian Gunther Weidlinger and the athletes on the Moroccan team. Gunther was the one who managed to cross the finish line first, winning his third title ahead of El Mabchour (MAR) and Algerian Brahim Chettah. The Moroccan delegation hoped to make their comeback in Algiers, and they certainly did!
Great Conditions for Running
With 168 participants from 15 countries (4 continents), this championship was full up, and the organizers were pleased and proud. The conditions were excellent for running as the women started out first. It was a very close thing between the Algerian athlete Ait-Salem Souad and three runners on the British team, who certainly did run as a team, intelligently controlling the lead. Despite that, when they let up for a moment, Ait-Salem Souad managed to pull ahead and stayed in front to the end. She easily resisted all attacks, to the great satisfaction of the audience, as she took the gold medal, followed by Kate Reed and Eleanor Baker with Dean Hatti in fourth place, three British runners in the top four!
For the men's race, there is not much to add once we have said that Morocco dominated it all. They were after the title and they got it. Mohamed Fadil won the day, sprinting at the end in front of his teammates Abdelkebir Lamachi (silver), Abdelaziz Azzouzi (bronze) and Najim El Qady (4th). Further back there was a very intense struggle between Stephen Mokoka (RSA) Rafael Iglesias (ESP) and Nabil Zerrouak (ALG). The South African finally won the battle for fifth place.
On the strength of this victory, the men's team ranking clearly went to Morocco which the understandably came home with gold, Algeria with silver and Spain with bronze. Logically too, the British team was first for the ladies in front of the Algerians and the "squadra azzurra".
The technical management of this championship was really first class with many volunteers at hand to help participants whenever possible. The ceremonies and the races were also honoured by the presence of many academic, political and military authorities. The next World University Cross Country Championship will be run in 2008 in the French town of Forges-les Eaux.
Organizing Committee
C/o FASU - Fédération Algérienne du Sport Universitaire B.P. 83 Rostomia Alger 16016 Algeria Phone: ++(213.21)925073 Fax: ++(213.21)791427 e-mail: assanchik@yahoo.fr URL: www.fasu-alg.org
FISU Technical Chairman
NEWS
FINAL RANKING
Click on the links below to download the final rankings in pdf format of the Men's, Women's and Team competition.
2006 WUC Cross Country - WOMEN
2006 WUC Cross Country - TEAMS
Women's Podium
Men's Podium
Official hand over of the flag to Mr. Jean-François Renault
