The Women's 3000m race report
Gabriella Szabo of Romania made her intentions known early, she was in Zurich for a quick time before the Paris World Championships. This would hopefully cement her position as favourite to take the Women's 5000m crown in the forthcoming weeks.

This was not to be. Instead of delivering a race of stellar proportions she underlined her vunerability this year. She was able to post the fastest time over the distance this year. However, the manner in which she faded off a target time of sub 8:20 to a finishing time of 8:30 plus, must be concerning for her. With 2 minutes on the clock, Szabo was close to 40m ahead of the rest of her challengers, who were being towed along by the USA's Deena Drossin. Going through 1K in 2:45.12, Szabo was closely tucked behind the pacesetter Olga Komyagina, and a fast time was on the cards. Szabo's determination was evident, her desire was pallable, however the ability of Komyagina was sorely lacking. She was unable to maintain a pace of 66 seconds per lap and was passed before the 1600m mark was reached. Szabo passed through 2K in 5:39.18 [2nd K 2:54.06] still some 8 to 9 seconds clear of the pursuing pack.

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Szabo was never threatened as her pace began to falter from 67's to 70's to 71 seconds. Her finishing time was 8:33.96 [ last 1K 2:55.78 ] For the Irish it was great to see Sonia O' Sullivan, rounding into good shape just before Paris, coming home in 8:37.55 for 2nd spot. I don't see anything spectacular happening for the Irish heroine come the Champs, however she has something to build on.

Of interest are Szabo's lap splits : Laps 2 to finish : 66.33 - 67.74 - 70.52 - 71.38 - 70.97 - 68.23

Quote : Gabriella Szabo (Rom) "You are right. Today, there was a new and more clever Szabo. I was practicing so hard and then I lost quite a few races in the finish. So I tried a new version tonight. Concerning the proposal to delete all the world records achieved between 1980 and 2000, frankly speaking, it doesn't interest me." [ results below ]

The Men's 3000m SteepleChase race report
Do we chalk this down as a first Golden League win for Qatar ? Well, mm, Yes. Stephen Cherono, now known as Saif Saeed Shaheen delivered on his first day out as a representative of his new country. Cherono or should we say Shaeen, holds the fastest times for the year for both 5000m and 3000m SteepleChase and came to Zurich with intentions of capturing the World Record for the distance.

John Langat of Kenya, delivered the first 1K in 2:37.25 which was on target for the 7:55.28 WR they were aiming at. By 2K the pace had slowed to 5:21.83 at 2000m [2nd K in 2:44.58] and all chances of a record were disapearing quite rapidly. Just past the 2K mark and Cherono/Shaheen tried to inject some further pace into race. Accelerating over the water jump to pass the tiring 2nd pacesetter, the sudden surge placed pressure on Kenyan, Abraham Cherono, which was highlighted by clipping the barrier and crashing face first into the water-jump. At that stage Cherono was lying 2nd and the mistake no doubt played havoc on his chances, eventually recovering to finish 4th in 8:13.14

With 2 laps to go and going into the backstraight the former Kenyan's technique seemed to fly out the window as he shortened his stride and stuttered. Ezekiel Kemboi [Kenya] who with 2 laps to go was some 15m back in 3rd place began to make up ground rapidly in the backstraight and moved to within 1m by the water-jump. Qatar's newest running prospect was now involved in a race and Kemboi seemed to be bidding his time and when he attempted to come alongside Shaheen, yellow vested ex-Kenyan picked up the tempo. Upright with arms flowing he gave a slight glance to his right to check on his opposition and began his drive towards the water-jump. Coming off the bend Kemboi began his final onslaught towards the finish line and attempted to pass Shaheen, who responded and was the first to land coming over the final barrier. However, Kemboi began his final sprint towards the line and it seemed as though he would power away to victory. Not so, the World Leader over the distance for 2003, fought back and they were involved in a shoulder to shoulder battle all the way to the line, with 100th's of a second separating them at the finish.

And the winner on the photo, Saif Saeed Shaheen of Qatar 8:02.48.

Kemboi was rewarded with a PB 8:02.48 with the 3rd finisher Paul Koech [Kenya] 8:09.54.

Quote : Cherono/Shaheen (Qatar) "I was surprised to see that somebody was with me going into the last lap. It was a tough fight but at the end I managed to keep my top position. It's a special situation for me, and only last week I was really thinking what it means to compete for another country. It will be totally different in Paris. I wll concentrate on the win only and not think about the time. You can be sure I will only run the steeple chase. and not the 5000m. I really don't have any idea what Qatar federation's prize will be for winning gold." [ results below ]

The Women's 800m race report
Maria Mutola smoothed her way further to another victory over 800m, taking her to 11 wins at the Weltklasse meeting. And in the process, she moved closer to $ 1 Million jackpot that awaits her after 1 more meeting in Brussels.

The athlete from Mozambique gives the impression that she is presently doing just enough to win. And fortuntaely, it seems as though her competitors are happy to comply. Racing for a million on each occasion can be no easy call and once the gun sounded for the start and the athletes came out of their lanes in the backstraight they were all content to sit behind Mutola, with the frontrunner, pacesetter Monique Hennagan out front by 3m. Passing through the 1st 400m in 59.40, the entire field was still bunched behind MM, nothing changed and going into the final bend with 200m to go the opposition prepared to unleash their final effort. And still Mutola waited, and it was incredible to see 9 athletes all coming into the final straight simultaneously. She glanced to her right, seeing Stephanie Graf of Austria poised to strike, and then

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she began to up the tempo. Not so much in an all out sprint, just the changing of gears synchronised by the simple pumping of her pistons. The result was remarkable, she eased away from the field. A further glance to her right and then the full sprint motion of her arms and the result was never in doubt, Mutola powered away from Graf leaving the rest of the field trailing in their wake.

The winning time was 1:59.93 with Graf 2nd in 2:00.52 and Germany's Claudia Gesell taking 3rd in 2:01.03

1 to go Maria. But, first the World Championships

Quote : Maria de Lourdes Mutola (Moz) "This was a one-by-one race and business as usual. The hardest race of my career awaits me in Brussels. Let's wait and see." [ results below ]

The Men's 800m race report
The South African Men's 800m track show continues to roll, with Mbulaeni Mulaudzi and Hezekiél Sepeng again showing the way. And this time it was Wilson Kipketer who again fell to their African one-two.

The field was bristling with talent from no less than 8 different countries worldwide, this included the home favourite Andre Bucher of Switzerland. The men sorted themselves out shortly after they broke from their lanes and the pacesetter, David Kiptoo of Kenya, had to fight to get to the front. Such was the ferocity of the opening 200m that field passed through 200m between 23 to 24 seconds.

Coming towards the 1st 400m, the field was travelling at quite a tempo, witnessed by the 49.86 opening lap. Yet, they were still running 2 to 3 deep with each athlete trying to place himself in the best possible position, quite extraordinary considering the pace. With 220m left Kipketer edged to the front and dramatically moved 2m clear from his pursuers. Mulaudzi was the first to respond with Sepeng on his heels. Coming into the straight the two South Africans switched from the inside and began their drive for the line. Getting past Kipketer didn't come easily at first and the three athletes were locked shoulder to shoulder for at least 30m before 1st the Dane faltered and then Sepeng as Mulaudzi finally broke loose from their attentions to win in 1:44.12, with Sepeng 2nd in 1:44.26 and Kipketer 3rd in a SB [Season's Best] 1:44.36.

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Mehdi Baala [France], rounded off his preparations for a crack at the 1500m crown, by finishing 4th in a handy 1:44.46.

Wilson Kipketer seems to be putting the final touches on his preparations towards Paris. His performance, despite losing, confirmed a steady progression towards his ultimate goal for this year. After witnessing this performance Kipketer will travel to the Champs as my favourite.

Quote : Andre Bucher (Sui) ""The race was off to a fast start. Unfortunately, I didn't go along. With 200m to go, there was some pushing among the pack, and I had to go the long way on lane 3. It simply was a bad race for me but no need to change anything. It's a pity it had to happen in Zurich." [ results below ]

The Men's 1500m race report
Moroccan Hicham El Guerrouj, confirmed his status as the number 1 in the World and in shape to defend his World Championship title, by posting the fastest time for 2003 with another sub 3:30 performance of 3:29.13.

Behind him it was yet again a battle for the minor places with arch-rival Bernard Lagat of Kenya posting a SB of 3:30.55 in 2nd. Frenchman, Fouad Chouki was ecstatic in posting a NR of 3:30.83.

The race unfolded in its customary fashion with pacesetter David Lelei bolting out for the 1st 400m in 54.14 before slowing to a 800m time of 1:51.81. Time and time again, we seen this, however no one has figured on 2 laps in 55 yet. El Guerrouj moved to the front and the many pretenders to his throne, who were hoping to find a weakness were presented with his normal finesse as he began to turn on the pressure. To witness is to believe. The grace of the seemingly effortless acceleration is normally only understood by the gap that opens and the pain that is normally etched on the face of the pursuers. The Moroccan is the classic cliché, poetry in motion.

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El Guerrouj plans to double up in paris, the 1500 and the 5000m. This will make the Champs an even more interesting prospect.

Quote : Hicham El Guerrouj (Mor) "I'm really satisfied to win this one so short before Paris. It was quite logical that I would rather run the 1500m than a mile. I tried to go for the win in the second half of the race, and only ran the last lap really fast." [ results below ]

The Men's 5000m race report
The 5000m field breezed through the opening 1K in 2:33.87 with all the main contenders in wait. 2k was passed in 5:08.68 and 3K in 7:47.32. As the race began to unfold this is the live report which was pencilled :

Abraham Chibii is showing absolute confidence in his ability by hanging at the back of the long line of 10 athletes. With head bobbing from side to side, one would not have thought that this was the awesome explosive talent that all have been talking about. 8:20 into the race and Dieter Baumann slides off the back and out of real contention.

Chibii moves into 8th position as the pace drops. Sammy Kipketer is evident by his teeth glowing, a lighthouse in New York would have been happy for the assiatnce.

4k passed in 10:29.09. 2 laps to go, and Salah Hissou goes off the back. Chibii moves into 7th with 600m to go. The front bunch is lsightly grouped waiting to attack. At the bell, Chibii is 3 to 4m off the front.

At this point, we realise he is not going to win, so our eyes float to the front to witness John Kibowen sprint past three of his Kenyan countrymen. His winning time is 13:01.01 victory, with Nicholas Kemboi 2nd in a PB 13:01.14, Sammy Kipketer 3rd 13:01.44 and Leonard Mucheru 4th in a PB 13:01.76. And Abraham Chibii crosses the line in 6th in 13:04.39. And I am still waiting for that kick. Oh well, the World's will have to do.

Quote : John Kibowen (Ken) "Today, we checked our team tactics for the World Championships, and it went well. So, I hope we'll be able to win a gold medal in Paris for our country. Maybe, it will be myself or somebody else, but we'll be there and ready to attack at any kind of pace." [ results below ]

Middle and Distance Results from Zurich : [ all the other results below ]

Results Men

Cherono in Paris

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3000m SteepleChase
1 SHAHEEN, Saif Saeed QAT AR,WL 8:02.48
2 KEMBOI, Ezekiel KEN PB 8:02.49
3 KOECH, Paul KEN 8:09.54
4 CHERONO, Abraham KEN 8:13.14
5 TAHRI, Bouabdallah FRA 8:13.65
6 EZZINE, Ali MAR SB 8:16.52
7 KIPKETER, Wilson Boit KEN 8:17.84
8 CHERUIYOT, Abel KEN 8:19.24
9 MISOI, Kipkirui KEN 8:19.62
10 POTAPOVICH, Pavel RUS 8:37.17
148 LANGAT, John KEN DNF
155 LE DAUPHIN, Vincent FRA DNF
151 NYAMU, Julius KEN DNF

800m
1 MULAUDZI, Mbulaeni RSA 1:44.12
2 SEPENG, Hezekiél RSA 1:44.26
3 KIPKETER, Wilson DEN SB 1:44.36
4 BAALA, Mehdi FRA 1:44.46
5 SOM, Bram NED 1:44.66
6 BUNGEI, Wilfred KEN 1:44.70
7 MUTUA, Joseph Mwengi KEN 1:44.83
8 BUCHER, André SUI 1:45.12
9 REINA, Antonio ESP 1:45.19
10 KRUMMENACKER, David USA 1:45.23
11 KIMUTAI, Japheth KEN 1:45.89
9 KIPTOO, David KEN DNF

800m B Race
1 Saïd-Guerni Djabir ALG 1:44.60
2 Lacasse Florent FRA 1:44.74
3 Rotich Michael KEN 1:44.76
4 Wachira Nicholas KEN 1:45.09
5 McIlroy James GBR 1:45.30
6 Aissat Nicolas FRA 1:45.43
7 Robinson Khadevis USA 1:46.29
8 Herms René GER 1:46.88
9 Nduwimana Jean-Patrick BDI 1:48.50
Olmedo Manuel ESP DNF
Rotich Henry KEN DNF
Koech Justus KEN DNS

1500m
1 EL GUERROUJ, Hicham MAR WL 3:29.13
2 LAGAT, Bernard KEN SB 3:30.55
3 CHOUKI, Fouad FRA NR 3:30.83
4 KIPCHIRCHIR, Alex KEN PB 3:32.35
5 KORIR, Paul KEN 3:33.25
6 RONO, Robert KEN SB 3:33.38
7 SHABUNIN, Vyacheslav RUS SB 3:33.69
8 ROTICH, Laban KEN 3:34.37
9 SILVA, Rui POR 3:34.77
10 CHIRCHIR, William KEN 3:35.19
11 TANUI, Job KEN 3:36.13
12 HESHKO, Ivan UKR 3:37.47
13 KIPKURUI, Benjamin KEN 3:40.64
40 LELEI, David KEN DNF
46 WHITEMAN, Anthony GBR DNF

5000m
1 Kibowen John KEN 13:01.01
2 Kemboi Nicholas KEN 13:01.14
3 Kipketer Sammy KEN 13:01.44
4 Mucheru Leonard KEN 13:01.76
5 Kwalia James KEN 13:03.79
6 Chebii Abraham KEN 13:04.39
7 Abdulla Jamal Abdi Hassan QAT 13:04.65
8 Tadesse Zersenay ERI 13:09.27
9 Baumann Dieter GER 13:15.07
10 Sghyr Ismaïl FRA 13:15.61
11 Hissou Salah MAR 13:16.87
12 Kipkosgei Luke KEN 13:21.10
13 Bett Mark KEN 13:31.97
14 Maase Kamiel NED 13:32.12
15 Belz Christian SUI 13:35.50
16 Goumri Abderrahim MAR 13:36.08
Keino Martin KEN DNF
Korir Shadrack KEN DNF

Women Results

1500m
1 AYHAN, Süreyya TUR NR WL 3:55.60
2 ROZENBERG, Yekaterina RUS PB 4:00.07
3 TOMASHOVA, Tatyana RUS PB 4:00.91
4 TULLETT, Hayley GBR PB 4:01.18
5 LISHCHYNSKA, Iryna UKR 4:03.75
6 GORELOVA, Natalya RUS 4:04.26
7 NEPORADNA, Nelya UKR PB 4:04.64
8 VARGA, Judit HUN 4:05.12
9 HOLMES, Kelly GBR 4:05.24
10 BENIDA-MERAH, Nouria ALG SB 4:05.57
11 TUROVA, Alesia BLR 4:08.18
12 SACRAMENTO, Carla POR 4:08.27
13 CHOJECKA, Lidia POL SB 4:08.73
14 KALMER, René RSA 4:14.60
107 KOSENKOVA, Yulia RUS DNF

3000m
1 SZABO, Gabriela ROM WL 8:33.95

Szabo in Zurich 2003

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2 O'SULLIVAN, Sonia IRL SB 8:37.55
3 MIKITENKO, Irina GER SB 8:39.29
4 KIBIWOT, Viola KEN PB 8:40.14
5 JOHNSON, Benita AUS 8:43.90
6 MONDOR, Emilie CAN PB 8:44.53
7 MALOT, Leah KEN 8:45.29
8 BABCOCK, Courtney CAN 8:45.52
9 KWAMBAI, Irene KEN PB 8:46.38
10 DROSSIN, Deena USA 8:48.66
11 MELKAMU, Meselech ETH PB 8:51.20
12 DENBOBA, Merima ETH 9:04.87
13 CHENONGE, Iness KEN 9:09.50
123 DOMINGUEZ, Marta ESP DNF
128 KOMYAGINA, Olga RUS DNF

800m

Maria Mutola

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1 MUTOLA, Maria de Lourdes MOZ 1:59.93
2 GRAF, Stephanie AUT 2:00.52
3 GESELL, Claudia GER 2:01.03
4 TCHJAO, Larissa RUS 2:01.48
5 BRÄGGER, Anita SUI 2:01.71
6 CUMMINS, Diane CAN 2:01.88
7 CHERKASOVA, Svetlana RUS 2:01.94
8 KLYUKA, Svetlana RUS 2:01.95
9 LEWIS, Tamsyn AUS 2:02.81
10 MACHARIA, Faith KEN 2:03.60
55 HENNAGAN, Monique USA DNF

Other results

Men : 100m 1= John Capel (USA) 9.97secs 1= Justin Gatlin (USA) 9.97 3 Kim Collins (Skn) 9.99 4 Joshua J Johnson (USA) 10.10 5 Frank Fredericks (Nam) 10.11 6 Bernard Williams (USA) 10.13 7 Patrick Johnson (Aus) 10.18 8 Mark Lewis-Francis (Gbr) 10.20 Men - 100 METRES - Race 2 1 Grimes Mickey USA 9.99 2 Patton Darvis USA 10.00 3 Crawford Shawn USA 10.07 4 Zakari Aziz GHA 10.09 5 Obikwelu Francis POR 10.11 6 Miller Coby USA 10.32 7 Emedolu Uchenna NGR 10.33 8 Dubois Daniel SUI 10.38 400m Hurdles 1 Sánchez Felix DOM 47.82 2 Iakovákis Periklís GRE 48.25 3 Woody Joey USA 48.46 4 Thomas Eric USA 48.46 5 Griffiths Dean JAM 48.57 6 Herbert Llewellyn RSA 49.00 7 El-Idrissi Cédric SUI 50.43 B Race 1 Muzik Jirí CZE 48.87 2 Cilliers Ockert RSA 48.88 3 Gorban Boris RUS 48.93 4 Weakley Ian JAM 49.01 5 Tesarik Stepan CZE 49.09 6 Borsumato Anthony GBR 49.12 7 Leiser Martin SUI 50.48 8 Grossenbacher Christian SUI 51.46 110m Hurdles 1 Ross Duane USA 13.22 2 Olijars Stanislavs LAT 13.22 3 Phillips Chris USA 13.39 4 Wade Larry USA 13.40 5 Bramlett Ron USA 13.42 6 Newton Robert GBR 13.69 7 Doucoure Ladji FRA 13.78 Wignall Maurice JAM DNF Pole Vault 1 Brits Okkert RSA 5.80 2 Hartwig Jeff USA 5.70 3 Lobinger Tim GER 5.70 4 Markov Dmitri AUS 5.70 5 Börgeling Lars GER 5.70 6 Hysong Nick USA 5.70 7 Averbukh Aleksandr ISR 5.60 7 Blom Rens NED 5.60 9 Miles Derek USA 5.60 10 Mack Timothy USA 5.60 11 Gibilisco Giuseppe ITA 5.50 Chistiakov Viktor AUS NM Mesnil Romain FRA NM Javelin 1 Zelezný Jan CZE 87.95 2 Henry Boris GER 86.98 3 Makarov Sergey RUS 86.40 4 Hecht Raymond GER 86.22 5 Nicolay Christian GER 78.03 6 Ivanov Alexandr RUS 77.63 7 Trafas Dariusz POL 77.18 8 Rags Eriks LAT 76.23 9 Thorkildsen Andreas NOR 74.77 Discus 1 Fazekas Róbert HUN 69.14 2 Alekna Virgilijus LTU 68.95 3 Riedel Lars GER 66.53 4 Möllenbeck Michael GER 64.40 5 Tammert Aleksander EST 64.31 6 Brown Carl USA 64.25 7 Kövágó Zoltán HUN 64.14 8 Kruger Frantz RSA 63.00 9 Tunks Jason CAN 62.94 10 Shevchenko Dmitriy RUS 61.35 Triple Jump 1 Oprea Marian ROM 17.24 +0.4 2 Valyukevich Dmitriy BLR 17.18 -0.1 3 Bell Kenta USA 17.11 +0.3 4 Gregório Jadel BRA 17.04 +0.8 5 Sands Leevan BAH 17.03 -0.2 6 Martínez Alexander CUB 16.95 +1.7 7 Rusan Timothy USA 16.64 +0.9 8 Pincemail Sébastien FRA 15.94 +1.1

Women : 100m 1 Gaines Chryste USA 10.89 2 Sturrup Chandra BAH 10.97 3 Arron Christine FRA 11.05 4 Hurtis Muriel FRA 11.08 5 Bailey Aleen JAM 11.22 6 Miller Inger USA 11.27 7 Ferguson Debbie BAH 11.40 8 Mayr-Krifka Karin AUT 11.40 100m B race 1 Williams Angela USA 11.23 2 Nku Mercy NGR 11.27 3 McDonald Beverly JAM 11.36 4 Colander-Richardson LaTasha USA 11.37 5 Wagner Marion GER 11.40 6 Lalova Ivet BUL 11.45 7 Feusi Martina SUI 11.60 8 Ojokolo Endurance NGR 11.63 400m 1 Guevara Ana MEX 49.11 2 Thiam Amy Mbacke SEN 50.14 3 Williams Tonique BAH 50.24 4 Miles Clark Jearl USA 50.53 5 Zykina Olesya RUS 50.67 6 Richards Sanya USA 51.15 7 Afolabi Olabisi NGR 51.29 8 McConnell Lee GBR 51.63 400m Hurdles 1 Glover Sandra USA 54.50 2 Tirlea Ionela ROM 54.60 3 Pittman Jana AUS 54.63 4 Taylor Brenda USA 54.92 5 Danvers Natasha GBR 54.95 6 Tereschuk-Antipova Tetiana UKR 54.96 7 McIntosh Raasin USA 55.24 8 Hayes Joanna USA 55.32 100m Hurdles 1 Devers Gail USA 12.50 2 Foster Brigitte JAM 12.58 3 McKelvy Miesha USA 12.69 4 Morrison Melissa USA 12.73 5 Adams Jenny USA 12.77 6 Trywianska Aurelia POL 12.77 7 Merriman Donica USA 12.78 8 Alozie Glory ESP 12.83 100m B race 1 Felicien Perdita CAN 12.67 2 Golding-Clarke Lacena JAM 12.72 3 Dixon Vonette JAM 12.72 4 Girard Patricia FRA 12.92 5 Carruthers Danielle USA 13.17 5 Ferga-Khodadin Linda FRA 13.17 7 Sprenger Juliane GER 13.20 8 Altermatt Sabrina SUI 13.72 High Jump 1 Cloete Hestrie RSA 2.03 2 Palamar Vita UKR 2.01 2 Vlašic Blanka CRO 2.01 4 Acuff Amy USA 2.01 5 Yelesina Yelena RUS 1.95 6 Babakova Inha UKR 1.95 6 Kuptsova Marina RUS 1.95 8 Beitia Ruth ESP 1.90 8 Chicherova Anna RUS 1.90 10 Mykhalchenko Iryna UKR 1.90 11 Seryogina Viktoriya RUS 1.85 Triple Jump 1 Mbango Etone Françoise CMR 14.87 +0.6 2 Aldama Yamilé CUB 14.66 +0.2 3 Ndoye Kéné SEN 14.46 +0.2 4 Martínez Magdelín ITA 14.33 +0.2 5 Pyatykh Anna RUS 14.28 +0.1 6 Oleynikova Yelena RUS 14.26 -0.1 7 Gavrila Adelina ROM 14.11 +0.2 8 Lah Barbara ITA 13.98 +0.3

This report from our Time-to-Run contributor

Time-to-RunGolden League Zurich Weltklasse