The Rabat Diamond League was held on 31 May 2026. The meet was hosted at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium (Complex Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah).
The Meeting International Mohammed VI d’Athletisme is always a great stop on the Diamond League. One of my favorite events is the steeplechase, as Soufianne El Bakkali is a total rock star in Morocco! Here’s my one-on-one interview (Soufianne El Bakkali replied in French to Arabic questions, agent Caroline Feith translated the French into English).
Here’s my five Big Moments from Rabat:
- Soufianne El Bakkali seldom has bad races, and he surely does not have bad races in Morocco. The Rabat DL was an example of the Olympic and WC delivering his second-fastest performance of his career, in 7:57.25 for the win. Soufianne held off Germany’s Frederik Ruppert to a fine 7:57.80, making Frederik the first European under 8 minutes in the steeplechase!
Soufianne El Bakaali runs 7:57.25 for 3000 meters, May 31, 2026, photo by Diamond League Ag - Kenny Bednarek sets a meet record in a dominating win over the furlong. In Bednarek’s signature event, the 200 meters, Kung Fun Kenny is from Rice Lake, Wisconsin, and all of Wisconsin cheered as Kenny ran 19.69, a new Meet record, winning by nearly three-tenths of a second!
Kenny Bednarek, after the semi-final, photo by Brian Eder for RunBlogRun - Max Burgin is a talented British middle-distance runner. Max took the lead and did not let up in Rabat, leading all ten finishers under 1:45. Burgin even held off the quick finisher, Emmanuel Wanyonyi, the World Champion, as Max Burgin takes the World Lead in 1:42.98! Max Burgin was one very happy camper with his victory!
Max Burgin takes Rabat 800m, photo by Diamond League AG - Audrey Werro was the European Athletics Rising Star of 2025. This writer watched her in Apeldoorn 2025, where she impressed, taking 6th. At the World Indoors 2025, Audrey took 4th, and at the World Outdoors, Audrey took sixth. Last year, Audrey Werro won the Diamond League title and set a Swiss NR of 1:55.91. In Rabat, Audrey Werro opened with a 1:56.56 World lead and a new Meet record! Audrey also exhibited another skill set: holding off all comers as she battled through the 800 meters!
Audrey Werro wins in Rabat, photo by Diamond League AG - Joe Kovacs is one tough shot putter. The three-time Olympic silver medalist, two-time World Champs gold, two-time World Champs silver, and one World Champs bronze. (Eight medals since 2015!) Joe Kovacs, in his second round attempt, threw 22.58 meters to set the meet record and world lead. Joe Kovacs won the shot put over Ryan Crouser, three-time World gold, three-time Olympic gold in the shot put.
Joe Kovacs, shot put, Rabat, WL and MR, photo by Diamond League AG - Honorable Mention 1: Tina Clayton wins 100 meters in 10.85 as Jamaicans sweep the 100 meters.
Tina Clayton wins 100m in 10.85, photo by Chiara Montessano - Honorable Mention 2: Emma Zapletalova breaks the Slovak record once again, this time in the 400-meter hurdles, taking the world lead and NR in 52.82!
Emma Zapletalova rusn 52.82 for the 400m hurdles, sub 53 seconds at Rabat, May 31, 2026, photo by Diamond Lague AG - Event-by-Event Review of Rabat: https://www.runblogrun.com/2026/06/el-bakkali-fulfilled-seven-meet-records.html?swcfpc=1
- Complete Results of Rabat 2026: https://www.runblogrun.com/2026/06/meeting-international-mohammed-vi-dathletisme-de-rabat-complexe-sportif-prince-moulay-abdellah-rabat-mar-31-may-2026-2.html?swcfpc=1
- Six Thoughts on Rabat, by Stuart Weir: https://www.runblogrun.com/2026/05/six-things-to-note-in-rabat.html?swcfpc=1
