SPORTS

Guerrouj in line for double

By rediff.com Sportsdesk
August 28, 2003

Moroccan 1500 metres world champion Hicham El Guerrouj is on track to emulate the 'Flying Finn' Paavo Nurmi and become the first athlete in 79 years to complete a golden double of the 1500m and 5000m in a major international competition.

Guerrouj qualified quite easily for the final of the 5000m at the Stade de France in Paris on Thursday in a closely fought second heat, coming fourth in 13:32.88.

But he will face a challenge from another athlete aiming for a golden double, Ethiopian 10000m world champion Kenenisa Bekele.

Bekele won the much slower first heat in 13:38:03 seconds, followed by Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya in 13:38.73 and John Kibowen, also of Kenya, in 13:40.72.

The other two automatic qualifiers from this heat were Abderrahim Goumri of Morocco (13:42.09) and Juan Carlos de la Ossa of Spain (13:42.23).

In contrast, the second heat saw a faster pace being set by the runners. It was won by Gebre-egziabher Gebremariam of Ethiopia in 13:32.46, closely followed by Kenyan Abraham Chebii in 13:32.54 and Richard Limo, also of Kenya, in 13:32:82.

The fifth automatic qualifier from the second heat was Ethiopian Abiyote Abate in 13:33.24.

Five other athletes, one from the first heat and four from the second, also qualified for the final as the fastest losers.

Photograph: Getty Images

 

rediff.com Sportsdesk

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