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 The
Men's 3000m SteepleChase race reportThe Morrocan, Brahim Boulami, brought the world's attention to Zurich when he broke, his own, world record for the 3000m SteepleChase. He lowered the record to 7:53.17 and judging from this performance he should be able to break this record again, under the right circumstances.
He covered the final 400m in 61.74 and in setting his winning time he had moved away from the rest of the field by 'almost' a full 12secs with Stephen Cherono of Kenya finishing 2nd in 8:05.14. Boulami believes he can break the world record again, with the right pacesetters and knowing the 'passion' with what Kenya regards the SteeplChase as their event, it would be advisable for race meeting organisers not to provide Kenyan pacesetters for a Morrocan capable of lowering the world record even further. [ results below ] The Women's 3000 race report In Berhane Adere (Eth) winning in 8:32.76, she exposed Sonia O`Sullivan to the truth behind how the Irish athlete stills needs to work further to get back to her previous high standards. The 1st Km was passed in 2:50.50 and the person most prominant at this stage was the 'gutsy' O'Sullivan. With the next kilometer covered in a similar time the athletes passed through 2K in 5:42. At this point of the race no other athlete other than O'Sullivan was prepared to maintain the tempo [ a sad decision as a sub 8.30 was definitely on the cards]. Unfortunately, the pace dropped to a 73sec lap, way off the required tempo of 68 or faster. With 400m to go the Irish athlete was visibly fatigued at the front of the field, however Abere held back her attack till the final 200m and only unleashed her kick with 150 to go, moving clear of the field effortlessly. The Ethiopian was not to be troubled on her route to victory and
surprisingly Edith Masai [Ken] was passed by O'Sullivan in the final
50m. The Russian athlete, Tatyana Tomashova, took 2nd in 8:33.40
with O'Sullivan clocking 8:33.62 to Masai's 8:33.83 A victory for Abere, to she accredited to her new tactics. "I changed my tactics and started the final kick only 150m before the finish line. And it paid off. It's a nice feeling but my favourite distance is the 5000m which I'll compete in at the next meetings" [ results below ] The Men's 1500 race report Hicham El Guerrouj's winning time of 3:26.89 was scant reward for a brave attempt on the record. After an opening lasp of 54.34 and the 800m passed through in 1:50.25, the field had been set-up for an ideal opportunity to achieve their objective of fast times. Surprisingly, the field dropped off the pace, eventhough [by his own admission see quote] El Guerrouj did not feel at his best over the last 300m. The 1500m KING, passed through 1200 in 2:46.27 and he was left with the task of completing his last 300m in sub40 seconds if he was to achieve his goal of running 2:25. This did not happen and he came 4 seconds clear of Cornelius Chirchir
(Ken) in 3:30.88, with Rui Silva (Por) taking 3rd in 3:31.22. Strangely,
Silva was up with the pace with 500m to go, however he allowed himself
to be passed by numerous athletes in the 'ensueing' 100m, if he
sets his mind to 'going' with El Guerrouj he will surely become
a 'better' and faster 1500m runner, however until then we will have
to be content with seeing the Portuguese runner pass opponents over
last 50m, but never being in contention to El Guerrouj had this to say : "The pre-race
plan of mine was to run around 3:25. 300m before the end, I lost
my rhythm slightly. And so I ran a very good time again but not
a record. Maybe next time in Brussels." The Women's 800m race report
The 1st 400m was delivered in an efficient 56.65, however Mutola and Ceplak were not up with the pace, they passed through in a time closer to 58sec. The athlete 'covering' the pace was the Australian Tamsyn Lewis. Going into the final 300m both Ceplak and Mutola had moved into contention, however with 250m to go Jearl Miles Clark (USA) had moved well clear of the pair. The final 100m saw Mutola switch from the inside lane and pass Ceplak, the Mozambique athlete went past Miles Clark, who was experiencing the sensation of moving backwards at this time [she was to be passed by 3 athletes in total over the final 50m eventually finishing 4th in a respectable 1:58.41]. Mutola won her 10th title with a time of 1:57.24 compared to Ceplak's 2nd position time of 1:57.78 and was soon heard to be 'wording' the sentiments of her need to win. [quote] The Spanish athlete Mayte Martínez came through to take 3rd in 1:58.29, again improving her Personal Best she had set the previous week in gaining silver at the European Champs. Mutola had this to say : "Zurich is always
a special one. To win it for the tenth time, great, unbelievable.
Of course, I would have liked to have a shot at the world record
but I have to be satisfied winning races, too" [ results below ] The Men's 800m race report
Such is the depth of Kenyan 800m runners that the 1st three [all
Kenyans] in the B race ran below 1:44.07, with William Yiampoy finishing
2nd in 1:43.69 and Japheth Kimutai 3rd [ B
race ]
The Men's 5000m race report Meeting Gaz De France Paris Saint-Denis Results
1500m 3000m 800m Other results : 100 M 1 Jones Marion USA 10.88 2 Gaines Chryste USA 10.95 3 Lawrence
Tayna JAM 11.10 Men's Results 3000m SteepleChase
1500m 800m A Race
5000m Other results : 100 M semi 1
Time-to-Run Track section |
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The race reports and results for 2002 . 
The
pacesetting provided in this event was not ideal, to say the least.
The 1st Km was covered 2:40.28, off world record pace and after
the urgings of Jos Hermens the pacemaker attempted to rectify matters,
however by then one would have thought that the damage had been
done. Enter Boulami, he took matters into his own hands and went
to the front, providing the pace that was needed to break the world
record.
![800m Women Ceplak - Tamsyn Lewis - Mtuloa [obscured] - Calatayud](../../images/1z800w.jpg)
Mutola
has a great relationship with this meeting and had previously won
here on 9 consecutive occasions. Her preparation towards Zurich
in defence of her crown was impeccable and she came into this event
off a 'swift' 400m timing of 51sec, which she achieved in Tuesday's
400m race at the Helsinki meeting. The challenge of Ceplak was very
real, the Slovanian had recently set the world's fastest 800m time
[the fastest in the past 5 years - 1:55] and had also captured the
European title over 800m, the previous week, with the 'utmost' of
ease.
For
me this race was strange, as my attentions were locked on the favourites
to win Kipketer, Mulaudzi, Bucher or Krummenacker. With the race
starting at the 'predictably frantic' pace before settling into
50.58 for the 1st 400m and Kipketer well-placed to apply his attack,
my eyes were focused on the free flowing Kipketer. I waited and
looked at the current world record holder as he moved to the head
of the field, passing all but one. This one athlete being Mutai
who looked more like an athlete at the head of the field setting
the pace for the 1st 400m, than the winner of the race. In the process
he set the world's leading time of 1:43.33, which had earlier been
lowered from Kipketer's Monaco time of 1:43.76 to 1:43.64 by Wilfred
Bungei in the B race of the meeting. [ 
800m
B Race |
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