Morocco's day at Van Damme memorial: world steeplechase mark, 2nd fastest 1,500 m and triumph at 400m hurdles
Morocco, Sports, 8/25/2001

Friday was a day for Moroccan feats at the Brussels' Van Damme memorial when Brahim Boulami of Morocco broke the world record in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, Hicham El Guerrouj ran the second-fastest 1,500 meters in history and Nezha Bidouane won the women 400 m hurdles.

Boulami finished in 7 minutes, 55.28 seconds, clipping 0.44 seconds off the mark set by Bernard Barmasai of Kenya in 1997. World champion Reuben Kosgei of Kenya finished second in 7:57.29. Boulami ended the steeplechase domination by Kenyan athletes who had held the world record since 1978 and had won all major championships - world and Olympics - since the 1988 Olympics.

His countryman, El Guerrouj recorded the 2nd-Fastest 1500m and chased his own world record to the final meter, but missed the mark by 12 seconds with a winning time of 3 minute, 26.12 seconds.

World champion Nezha Bidouane won the women 400 hurdles in 53.96, edging U.S. hurdler Sandra Glover and Jamaica's Anne Parris Debbie at the tape. Bidouane had won the discipline at Rome and Zurich events while in the Oslo meet, she ended second.

Berlin's ISTAF next week is the last of seven Golden League meets.

El Guerrouj, who had previously announced he would be shifting to the 5,000 m, said this was not yet his last 1,500 m and in Berlin's ISTAF he would also run the 2,000 m in which he holds world record (4:44.79).

Boulami promised he would not stop at this record. He is the 6th Moroccan athlete to set a world record after Said Aouita, Fatima Aouam, Khalid Skah, Salah Hissou and Hicham El Guerrouj.

The three athletes said they were further motivated by an audience that King Mohammed VI granted them last Wednesday.

Previous Stories:
  Morocco's gymnastics champ injured in road accident   (8/23/2001)
  Athletics: El-Guerrouj, Bidouane in Brussels Meet   (8/23/2001)
  Morocco's Nezha Bidouane wins 400 m hurdles at Linz athletics meet   (8/21/2001)

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