Dozens of competitors on Saturday made their way into the Tunisian desert at dawn for the North African nation’s first ever ultra-marathon.
The 100km Ultra Mirage El Djerid race, with a course skirting the Sahara Desert’s biggest salt lake, attracted 58 competitors, including eight women and 25 foreign runners.
Morocco’s Mohamed el Morabity battled his way over dunes, rocky hills and a salt plain to win the race in 8 hours, 48 minutes and 49 seconds.
Photo: AFP
He and his brother Rachid both competed this year at the Marathon des Sables, a famed endurance event in the Moroccan desert that inspired the Tunisian event.
The race took place in Tozeur, a southwestern region that served as a set for Anakin Skywalker’s village Mos Espa in the Star Wars films.
“I think there is a real lack of this type of sporting event in the desert,” race director Amir Ben-Gacem said.
Organizers hope to make the event an annual fixture on the international ultra-trail circuit, attracting 500 runners annually within three years.
“Tunisia is extremely well placed to hold this kind of event,” Ben-Gacem said. “We have the beauty of southern Tunisia and we have all the infrastructure to do it.”
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