Franco-Moroccan Runner Shatters 22-Year-Old French Record in Stunning 1500m Victory

Azeddine Habz, 31 years old, is the new French record holder. With a time of 3’27"49, he won the 1500 meters of the Paris meeting, counting for the Diamond League, on Friday. He thus beat the record set by Mehdi Baala in 2003 (3’28"98). He also recorded the best time of the season and signed the 6th best performance of all time, according to Le Parisien.

"It’s just incredible, I never thought I would run 3’27", he explains at the finish line. I had come to beat the record, to run in 3’28"70 or 80. On the last 400m, I thought the wave light (editor’s note: the light that gives indications on the passage times) had broken down, I said to myself, go on! I saw the passage times, I realized I was on incredible paces. I said to myself, you have to win, if you win, you have the record! This is no ordinary record, it’s a mythical record."

According to Mehdi Baala, present at the Charléty stadium, Habz can still do much better. "The specialists say that when a pacemaker stops 400m from the finish (as was the case on Friday), it’s always difficult to take the race in hand. Azzedine insisted on doing it. He absolutely wanted there to be no one in front of him. He wanted to take responsibility. Beyond the time, it’s the attitude he showed that needs to be highlighted," he commented. And to add: "When I broke the record, I came in second. I was behind maybe the best pacemaker in the world at the time (editor’s note: Hicham El Guerrouj), but what Azzedine did is much stronger!"

After his triumph, the new French record holder has decided to take on a new challenge: to win a world medal in the 1500m at the 2025 World Athletics Championships, which will be held in Tokyo from September 13 to 21, 2025. "The goal is really Tokyo," he said. "Today, I’m really happy. But if I ever win a medal in Tokyo, the season will be a success."