El Guerrouj wins 1,500 in first meet of the season in Zaragoza

Four-time world champion Hicham El Guerrouj of Morocco won on Tuesday the 1,500 meters at the Zaragoza track meet in his first race at the distance this season.

El Guerrouj finished in 3:36.46, ahead of Kenya's Alex Kipchirchir who covered the distance in 3:36.49. Mounir Yemmouni of France was third at 3:37.94.

The 29-year-old El Guerrouj will be looking for his first Olympic title in Athens in August where he will combine the 1,500 and 5,000 m. He is also scheduled to show up at meets of Rome (July 2), Lausanne (July 6) and Zurich (August 6).

In the same event, former world champ, Hassna Benhassi of Morocco won the 800 m race in 2:1, ahead of Belgian Sandra Stals (2:01.19) and Russian Svetlana Klyka (2:01.55).