The Hindu : Sport / Athletics : El Guerrouj's unbeaten streak ends

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jul 04, 2004

Sport

Sport - Athletics

El Guerrouj's unbeaten streak ends

ROME, JULY 4. Hicham El Guerrouj's 29-race unbeaten streak in the 1,500m ended on Friday at the Golden Gala meet when the Moroccan finished eighth.

Racing exactly six weeks before the Athens Olympics, El Guerrouj finished more than two seconds behind surprise winner Rashid Ramzi of Bahrain on the same track where he had set the world record of 3:26.00 in 1998, a mark that still stands.

Anju finishes fourth

Our Special Correspondent from Delhi adds

Coming up with her worst series of jumps in 11 months, Anju George finished fourth but allayed fears about the unexpected slump having affected her build-up towards the Olympic Games in Athens.

"I had a bad series, but am confident that I will be able to sort out the problems with my run-up in the coming weeks," said Anju over phone from Rome.

She managed just two valid jumps, 6.41m on her third and 6.39m on her fourth attempt. Russian Tatyana Lebedeva, world triple jump champion, won the event, with a personal best of 7.01 metres.

The Russians completed a sweep of the medals, with World No. 1 Tatyana Kotova claiming the silver at 6.76m and Irina Simagina the bronze at 6.73m.

"The fourth-place jinx with Rome seemed to have continued even with such an average jump," said Anju, recalling her fourth place in the Golden Gala last year, with a distance of 6.51m.

Anju tied with home favourite Fiona May this time, but the Italian had a second best of 6.36 to Anju 6.39 and was placed fifth.

"Her runway rhythm has to be more consistent. We are in the process of correcting her last two strides that seem to be the problem," said her husband and coach Bobby George about her four fouls on Friday, a little concerned that things had not gone according to plans. "There is nothing wrong with my jumping," assured Anju.

The results (winners only): Men: 100m: Aziz Zakari (Gha) 10.10secs. 110m hurdles: Allen Johnson (US) 13.11 secs. 200m: Stephane Buckland (Mri) 20.20 secs. 400m hurdles: Felix Sanchez (Dom) 48.43 sec. 800m: Wilson Kipketer (Den) 1 min 43.88 sec. 1,500m: Rashid Ramzi (Bhi) 3 min 30.25 secs. 3,000m steeple chase: Paul Kipsiele Koech (Ken) 7 min 59.65 secs.

5,000m: Eliud Kipchoge (Ken) 12 min 46.53 secs. Discus: Virgilijus Alekna (Lth) 68.42m. Pole vault: Alex Averbukh (Isr) 5.67m. Triple jump: Christian Olsson (Swe) 17.50m.

Women: 100m: Juliya Nesterenko (Blr) 11.13 sec. 100m hurdles: Glory Alozie (Esp) 12.69 sec.

400m: Tonique Williams (Bah) 49.25 secs. 400m hurdles: Jana Pittman (Aus) 54.05 secs. 800m: Jolanda Ceplak (Slo) 1 min 57.68 secs. 1,500m: Olga Yegorova (Rus) 4 min 01.15 secs. 5,000m: Ejegayehu Dibaba (Eth) 14 min 37.99 secs. High jump: Hestrie Cloete (RSA) 2.03m. Long jump: Tatyana Lebedeva (Rus) 7.01m. — AP

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport