The Men's 1500m race report source IAAF and Yahoo
Such has been the dominance of Morocco’s El Guerrouj in every competitive sphere except the Olympics in the last eight years, specifically setting the current World 1500m (1998) and Mile (1999) records on this track, we were not prepared to accept the obvious sign of his demise when France’s World silver medallist Mehdi Baala sped past him as the last lap bell rang.

But the bell was very much sounding the Moroccan’s defeat, as despite drawing close to the Frenchman’s shoulder with 250m to go, that was to be El Guerrouj’s last change of gear. As the race entered the final 100m, the Moroccan master began to slip dramatically back, eventually finishing eighth (3:32.64).

Up front, Baala, though continuing to run well, was himself passed by Bernard Lagat the Olympic bronze medallist but by that time the race was already in the hands of Bahrain’s Rachid Ramzi.

The World Indoor 800m silver medallist, had only last week in Alger set the world season’s lead with a 3:31.87 PB, and tonight the former Moroccan finished even better winning in 3:30.25. So after entering the summer with a best of just 3:37.26, the 23 year-old is suddenly the hottest property in the middle distance world. Lagat took second (3:30.81) and Baala hung on for third (3:31.25), with the first ten finishers running inside 3:33! Morocco's four-time 1500m world champion Hicham El Guerrouj was beaten for the first time over the distance since the 2000 Sydney Olympics here after coming eighth in the Golden League meeting. Bahrain's Rachid Ramzi, who had been Moroccan till 2002, won the

click to enlarge

The last time El Guerrouj had been beaten over the metric mile was in Sydney when Kenyan Noah Ngeny upstaged the odds-on favourite.

Since 1995, El Guerrouj had only previously lost twice over the mile or 1500m - in the Olympic finals of 1996 and 2000.

Kenya's Bernard Lagat came second with 3:30.81 and French hope Mehdi Baala, who came second to El Guerrouj in the Paris world championships last year, was third on 3:31.25.

Baala could not react when Ramzi bustled between him and Lagat before racing past them to hit the tape first.

On the final bend, Guerrouj attempted to pass Baala and gain the lead but the finishing burst was just not there and he slowed down 60 metres before the line.

Guerrouj has some work to do with a month and a half to go till the August 13-29 Athens Olympics.

He said afterwards: "I don't know what happened. I haven't got my rhythm yet. That race has given me more desire to train hard."

Baala said: "I have no regrets, I beat Hicham. I wasn't in great shape, it was hot and the conditions were difficult. I expected Hicham to perform better. He knows he's the best but maybe that put pressure on him and stressed him."

Winner Ramzi put his victory down to effort in training. "This victory is the result of hard work," he said. "I will to continue to work in the same way plus I will do a bit more speed work.

"I'm surprised by what happened to Hicham because he is a great champion." [ results below ]

The Men's 3000m SteepleChase race report
World leader Paul Kipsiele Koech who entered the 3000m Steeplechase as the firm favourite having run 8:05.31 to win in Seville on 5 June, ran basically a solo effort to demolish a quality field in a magnificent 7:59.65. It was his second fastest ever performance (7:57.42 – 2003), and he is one of only eight sub-8 runners in the history of the event. [ results below ]

The Women's 800m race report source BBC and IAAF
Though closely challenged down the home straight by Russia’s Svetlana Cherkasova, European champion Jolanda Ceplak took a confident and impressive win in the “A” final of the women’s 800m. The Slovenian’s winning time was 1:57.68, with the Russian second in 1:58.02. Morocco’s Amina Ait Hammou was third (1:59.31), with Ghana’s Akosua Serwaa running a national record for fourth (1:59.60).

Slovenia's Jolanda Ceplak ran the fastest women's 800m in 2004 so far. The 2002 European champion held off the challenge by Russia's Svetlana Cherkasova to cross the line in one minute 57.68 seconds. Her time beat the previous season's best set by Olympic champion Maria Mutola by 0.04 seconds.

Zulia Calatayud of Cuban who was the last athlete to beat Maria Mutola (19 July 2002) but has since been hampered by a long spell of injury, showed she is approaching top form (1:56.09 – 2002) by taking a good win in 1:59.24 ahead of Brazil’s Luciana Mendez (1:59.49) in the women’s “B” division. [ results below ]

The Women's 5000m race report
The women’s 5000m was presented as the final Olympic selection race for the all powerful Ethiopian squad. A surprise result saw Ejegayehu Dibaba, the sister of World champion Tirunesh, sprint to a close win (14:37.99 – meet record) ahead of World 10,000m silver medallist Werknesh Kidane (14:38.05). With World Indoor 3000m champion Meseret Defar taking third (14:44.81), Tirunesh in fourth (14:47.43) would seem in this scenario to be out of Athens contention.

But of course we have been many times before prior to a major championship, and Ethiopian team orders usually have a way of sorting themselves out… perhaps Kidane for the 10,000, so instead leaving room for the World champion at the 5000m?

In a race of high quality, another five athletes went sub-15, including PB’s for the Kenyans Alice Timbilili (14:53.17 – 6th), and Periscah Jepleting (14:54.24 – 7th).

Edith Masai, who first declined a place on the Kenyan Olympic squad after dropping out of last weekend’s trials, came in 5th in 14:49.16. Reportedly the World 5000m bronze medallist has now changed her mind and has accepted a squad place for Athens. . [ results below ]

Results Men

800m

1 Kipketer Wilson DEN 1:43.88
2 Sepeng Hezekiél RSA 1:43.94
3 Borzakovskiy Yuriy RUS 1:44.19
4 Longo Andrea ITA 1:44.42
5 Lacasse Florent FRA 1:44.48
6 Jansen Joeri BEL 1:44.48
7 Bungei Wilfred KEN 1:44.54
8 Koech Justus KEN 1:44.99
9 Saïd-Guerni Djabir ALG 1:45.10
10 Laalou Amine MAR 1:45.26
11 Bucher André SUI 1:46.80
Rotich Henry KEN DNF

Official Result
Men - 800m - Race 2

1 Yiampoy William KEN 1:44.29
2 dos Santos Osmar Barbosa BRA 1:45.64
3 Nduwimana Jean-Patrick BDI 1:45.66
4 Alemu Berhanu ETH 1:45.71
5 Motchebon Nico GER 1:46.01
6 Wachira Nicholas KEN 1:46.27
7 Brannen Nathan CAN 1:46.48
8 Okken Arnoud NED 1:46.99
9 Sciandra Livio ITA 1:47.09
10 Botha Werner RSA 1:47.11
11 Neunhauserer Christian ITA 1:47.40
12 Kimutai Japheth KEN 1:49.57
dos Santos Anderson Costa BRA DNF

1500m

1 Ramzi Rashid BRN 3:30.25
2 Lagat Bernard KEN 3:30.81
3 Baala Mehdi FRA 3:31.25

4 Songok Isaac Kiprono KEN 3:31.94
5 Silva Rui POR 3:32.13
6 Kipchirchir Alex KEN 3:32.35
7 East Michael GBR 3:32.37
8 El Guerrouj Hicham MAR 3:32.64
9 Willis Nicholas NZL 3:32.68
10 Yemmouni Mounir FRA 3:32.97
11 Liefers Gert-Jan NED 3:33.87
12 Sullivan Kevin CAN 3:34.43
13 Higuero Juan Carlos ESP 3:34.48
14 Shabunin Vyacheslav RUS 3:35.50
15 Selmouni Anis MAR 3:37.36
16 Korir Paul KEN 3:37.69
Hatungimana Arthémon BDI DNF
Kipkurui Benjamin KEN DNF
Lelei David KEN DNF
Obrist Christian ITA DNF

5000m
1 Kipchoge Eliud KEN 12:46.53
2 Sihine Sileshi ETH 12:47.04
3 Birhanu Dejene ETH 12:54.15
4 Gebremariam Gebre-egziabher ETH 12:55.59
5 Limo Richard KEN 12:59.37
6 Jawher Mushir Salim BRN 13:00.59
7 Kibowen John KEN 13:01.32
8 Goumri Abderrahim MAR 13:01.73
9 Wendimu Mulugeta ETH 13:03.72
10 Zewdie Maregu ETH 13:06.39
11 Bakken Marius NOR 13:06.39
12 Chebii Abraham KEN 13:08.40
13 Hassan Abdullah Ahmad QAT 13:10.62
14 Bellani Hicham MAR 13:12.86
15 Tadesse Zersenay ERI 13:13.74
16 Geneti Markos ETH 13:22.78
17 Kosgei Barnabas KEN 13:22.85
18 Abate Abiyote ETH 13:30.32
19 Limo Benjamin KEN 13:31.25
20 Al-Outaibi Moukheld KSA 13:31.63
21 Belz Christian SUI 13:32.89
22 Broe Tim USA 13:35.14
23 Cragg Alistair Ian IRL 13:37.75
Carroll Mark IRL DNF
Keino Martin KEN DNF
Kiplak David KEN DNF
Maccagnan Mattia ITA DNF
Vincenti Salvatore ITA DNF

3000m SteepleChase
1 Koech Paul Kipsiele KEN 7:59.65
2 Kiprotich Wesley KEN 8:15.25
3 Kirui Eliud Kibet KEN 8:17.62
4 Ezzine Ali MAR 8:19.01
5 Kiprono Justus Kipchirchir KEN 8:21.94
6 Langat John KEN 8:22.57
7 Maffei Giuseppe ITA 8:23.48
8 Buc Boštjan SLO 8:26.30
9 Iannelli Angelo ITA 8:26.89
10 Iwamizu Yoshitaka JPN 8:27.46
11 Hohl Stephan GER 8:27.72
12 Floriani Yuri ITA 8:45.09
13 Afringi Ali Abdallah ERI 8:52.97
Ezzine Hamid MAR DNF
Le Dauphin Vincent FRA DNF
Manyim Philip KEN DNF
Misoi Kipkirui KEN DNF

Women Results

1500m
1 323 YEGOROVA, Olga RUS WL 4:01.00
2 326 RODRIGUEZ, Natalia ESP PB 4:01.30
3 327 FAVOR-HAMILTON, Suzy USA SB 4:01.69
4 332 HOLMES, Kelly GBR SB 4:01.96
5 331 PAVEY, Jo GBR PB 4:02.03
6 325 VARGA, Judit HUN SB 4:02.19
7 330 BENHASSI, Hasna MAR PB 4:02.54
8 324 ROZENBERG, Ekaterina RUS PB 4:02.65
9 367 DULECHA, Kutre ETH SB 4:02.74
10 334 TUROVA, Alesya BLR SB 4:03.32
11 335 TOMASHOVA, Tatyana RUS SB 4:03.44
12 343 FERNÁNDEZ, Nuria ESP PB 4:03.57
13 341 GARCIA, Adoracion ESP SB 4:05.18
14 329 DEJAEGHERE, Veerle BEL SB 4:05.36
15 338 PILSKOG, Trine NOR PB 4:07.52
16 339 BOUCETTA, Meryem MAR PB 4:08.02
17 333 GORELOVA, Natalya RUS 4:08.32
18 328 BENIDA-MERAH, Nouria ALG SB 4:08.44

5000m
1 346 DEFAR, Meseret ETH MR,PB 14:40.34
2 368 SZABO, Gabriela ROM 14:41.35
3 364 DIBABA, Ejegayehnu ETH PB 14:41.67
4 349 DIBABA, Tirunesh ETH 14:41.97
5 358 EL KAMCH, Zhor MAR PB 14:42.53
6 369 ADERE, Berhane ETH 14:42.89
7 365 KIDANE, Werkenesh ETH 14:44.40
8 362 ZADOROZHNAYA, Yelena RUS SB 14:51.61
9 357 MIKITENKO, Irina GER SB 14:56.64
10 353 FUKUSHI, Kayoko JPN SB 15:09.02
11 360 WORKU, Ayelech ETH 15:15.12
12 356 MOCKENHAUPT, Sabrina GER 15:16.37
13 352 EJIGU, Sentayehu ETH 15:29.96
14 363 LORUPE, Tegla KEN SB 15:32.22
15 350 OZAKI, Mary JPN 15:33.52
16 347 PUMPER, Susanne AUT 15:34.79
17 348 PIEDRA, Amalia ESP SB 15:43.42
18 345 OLIVARES, Elodie FRA PB 15:44.36
19 355 KUMA, Eyerusalem ETH 15:55.71

800m
1 Ceplak Jolanda SLO 1:57.68
2 Cherkasova Svetlana RUS 1:58.02
3 Aït Hammou Amina MAR 1:59.31
4 Serwaa Akosua GHA 1:59.60
5 Burnett Marian GUY 2:00.29
6 Aït Hammou Seltana MAR 2:00.32
7 Roslanova Tatyana KAZ 2:00.57
8 Langerholc Brigita SLO 2:00.77
9 Artuso Elisabetta ITA 2:01.04
10 Chzhao Larisa RUS 2:01.75
11 Ballentine Michelle JAM 2:01.83
12 Macharia Faith KEN 2:02.37
Lavshuk Natalya RUS DNF

Official Result
Women - 800m - Race 2

Pos Athlete Nat Mark

1 Calatayud Zulia CUB 1:59.24
2 Mendes Luciana de Paula BRA 1:59.49
3 Samaria Agnes NAM 2:00.12
4 Mistyukevich Irina RUS 2:00.23
5 Touhami Nahida ALG 2:00.53
6 Lewis Tamsyn AUS 2:00.96
7 Bernard-Thomas Neisha GRN 2:01.32
8 Jaber Najla NED 2:01.43
9 Brägger Anita SUI 2:02.52
10 Oberstolz Alexia ITA 2:02.87
11 Spuri Patrizia ITA 2:04.12
Gradzki Monika GER DNF
Nwosu Alice NGR DNF

Reports from various sources including IAAF, Yahoo and BBC. Time-to-Run contributor was in Ireland for the Cork Sports meeting

Time-to-Run Golden League