Lebanese runner Youssef Assaker, new holder of the Lebanese record for 100 km, at the World Championships in Ames, Spain. (Credit: National News Agency)
BEIRUT — Lebanese runner Youssef Assaker set a new national record in the 100-kilometer race at the World Championships in Ames, Spain, held under the auspices of the International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU).
Assaker completed the 100 kilometers in 8 hours, 47 minutes and 42 seconds. Chawki Reaidy had held the record since August 2022 with a time of 11 hours, 37 minutes and 14 seconds.
A member of the Let's Run club, the 42-year-old regularly competes in road races, cross-country and trail running events. In 2025, he finished fourth in his category at the Lebanese Masters 10K cross-country championships, with a time of 38 minutes and 4 seconds. He also finished third in the 40-44 age group at a half-marathon between Selaata and Jbeil, completing the race in 1 hour, 23 minutes, and 37 seconds. He has also participated in several trail-running events in Lebanon in recent years.
His performance in Spain beat Lebanon's 100-kilometer national record by 2 hours, 49 minutes, and 32 seconds.
Following the result, Roland Saadeh, president of the Lebanese Athletics Federation, congratulated Assaker on behalf of the federation's administrative committee and the “Lebanese athletics family.” He wished the runner continued success and encouraged him to “keep raising Lebanon's name high on the international stage,” according to the state-run National News Agency.