Morocco's Boulami clocks fastest steeplechase on U.S. soil

Morocco's Brahim Boulami ran on Saturday the fastest 3,000-meter steeplechase ever in the United States, winning the Oregon Classic Grand Prix II in 8 minutes, 4.5 seconds.

Boulami, world record-holder in the event, was inspired by a trio of Kenyans who swept the top spots in a Grand Prix meet in Qatar earlier this week. The previous fastest time on U.S. soil was 8:05.40, set by Kenya's Henry Rono in Seattle on May 13, 1978.

Boulami had to lead the pace himself for much of the race, and he held off Kenya's Stephen Cherono by 1.24 seconds.