Moroccan athletes dominate NAS Run, Spartan Night Race attracts 2,500 participants

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

Morocco’s Hisham Amghar took top spot in the 10km Open race for men at the NAS Run held at the Meydan on Thursday. Held under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council, and organised by the Dubai Sports Council, the Nad Al Sheba Tournament has been one of the top sporting attractions during the Holy Month of Ramadan since 2013.

The race was graced by by Sheikha Shamsa Bint Hasher Al Maktoum, Sheikha Madiya Bint Hasher Bin Mana Al Maktoum, Saeed Hareb, Secretary General of the Dubai Sports Council and Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the session, Major General Dr Muhammad Abdullah Al Murr, President of the UAE Athletics Federation, Nasser Aman Al Rahma, Assistant Secretary-General of the Dubai Sports Council, Vice-President of the Organizing Committee, Hassan Al Mazrouei, Director of the NAS Sports Tournament.

Hareb crowned the winners NAS Run in the presence of sponsors and strategic partners of this year’s Nad Al Sheba Sports Tournament.

Earlier, Amghar won first place after finishing the race with a time of 27:21, followed by his compatriot Samir Gohar in second with a time of 27:30. Anwar AlGhoz settled for third in 27:35.

In the 10km Open race for women, Australia’s Cholli Oriel won first place with a time of 33:02. Belgium's Lisbeth Weiden finished second in 35:45, and Ethiopia’s Lantern Tekle Asmelash came third in 36:06.

In the 10km Emirati Amateurs-Men category race, Saleh Issa Ali Al Hammadi finished on top with a time of 33:04 minutes, followed by Shams Rashid Al Shamsi in second place with 36:20 minutes. Salem Abdullah Al Hashemi came in third place with a time of 36:26

Moza Al Ghafli dominated the Emirati Amateurs-Women 10km race after finishing with a time of 45:39, followed by Hessa Al Jasmi in second place with 46:00 minutes. Sarah took third spot with 47:44.

In the 5km Open men category race, Kenya’s Denis Nikodi won first place with a time of 14:59, followed by his compatriot Paul Ngojimotori in second with 15:20. Algeria’s Samir Boumslat was third in 15:41.

Spartan NAS Night Race, one of the highlights of the ninth season of the tournament, will take place on Saturday.

In the 5km Open women category, Portugal’s Emilia Mangelian won first place with a time of 19:02, followed by Britain's Jasmine Bateman in second in 20:49, and Morocco’s Linda Lahlah was third in 20:49 minutes.

In the 5k race for Emiratis, Hazza Khaled Obaid won first place with a time of 16:15 minutes, followed by Ayoub Obaid Saeed in second place with 17:11 minutes, and Ahmed Ali Salem Al Dhaheri was third in 17:30 minutes.

The NAS Run lived up to its billing and attracted more than 2,500 runners. Sheikh Abdullah Bin Majid Al Nuaimi, Director-General of the Citizens’ Affairs Office Ajman, Major General Obaid Muhair Bin Suroor, Deputy Director-General of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai, Major General Talal Al Shanqiti, Assistant Director-General of the Air Ports Sector at the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs, and Captain Ahmed Al Muhairi from Emirates Airlines, also took part in the race. 

Captain Muhairi expressed happiness over his participation in the race and thanked the organizing committee for having such an amazing event. He stressed the importance of sport in life.

The stage is also set for the Spartan Nas Night Race, which will take place on Saturday at the specially designed obstacles and tracks for the event.

The one of its kind challenge has attracted more than 2,500 runners from across the UAE for different race categories.

The big course will be divided into various race categories, including the Sprint, Super, and Hurricane Heat.

The Spartan Sprint will be set over 5km, with 20 of the race’s signature obstacles to conquer.

The Hurricane Heat is a very unique event, which will see Spartans running both on and off the racecourse.

Dubai Police, Roads and Transport Authority of Dubai, Dubai Municipality and Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services are the strategic partners for this year’s Nad Al Sheba Sports Tournament, while Tadawi Medical Center, Emirates Foundation (Takatof), Dubai Duty Free, Pocari Sweat, Palazzo Versace Hotel Dubai and TecnoTree have signed up as sponsors for the ninth season of the event, which is one of the biggest events of its kind in terms of participation and prize money.