Tunis — According to the first referendum organized by the daily Arabic language newspaper, "Assahafa", Tunisia's foremost woman runner, Habiba Ghribi, was elected as the best runner in 2009.

The award was handed to her on Monday by the Minister of Communication, Mr. Oussama Romdhani, in the presence of Mr. Mansour Mhenni the Director General of SNIPE La Presse's "new company for printing press and publishing" and Mr. Abdujalil Bougara , the Director, Editor in Chief of "Assahafa" newspaper.

Habiba Ghribi received 128 votes ahead of the judo athlete Houda Miled, who collected 86 points and the Handball player, Mouna Chaabah, 48 points.

30 journalists from the written press and audiovisual press, as well as electronic media, participated in the referendum.

Born in 1984 in Kairouan, Habiba Ghribi is Tunisia's best performer on 1500m, 3000 m steeple and 5000m races. She won several Arab and international competitions and represented Tunisia at the Beijing Olympic games and in various IAF events.