Norwegian and Moroccan fans had plenty to cheer in the 2022 Wanda Diamond League, with both Jakob Ingebrigtsen and Soufiane El Bakkali using home advantage to reach record-breaking new heights. In the third part of our “Best of 2022” series, we take a look back at the standout performances in the middle and long distance events.
El Bakkali rocks Rabat
Moroccan 3000m steeplechase star Soufiane El Bakkali is nothing if not a seasoned Diamond League campaigner, having notched up 11 victories on the circuit since his first win in Stockholm back in 2017. His performace at the Stade Moulay Hassan last June will go down as one of his most memorable, however, and proved to be a key milestone on the road to a first ever Diamond Trophy for the 26-year-old.
El Bakkali had already hit world-leading form at the season opener in Doha, clocking 8:09.66 to take an early lead in the qualification standings ahead of his home Diamond League meeting in Rabat. Urged on by an adoring home crowd, the Olympic champion went even better in the Moroccan capital as he dipped under the eight-minute mark with a meeting record of 7.58.28. It was a performance which set the tone for the rest of the season, as El Bakkali claimed gold at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon the following month before wrapping up his first ever Diamond League title with a win in Zurich in September.