Athletics: Moroccan El Guerrouj beaten for first time since 2000

Hicham El Guerrouj's 29-race unbeaten streak in the 1,500 meters ended in Rome 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.

He lost on the same track where he set the world record of 3:26.00 in 1998, a mark that still stands.

El Guerrouj had been undefeated since finishing second at the 2000 Sydney Games. He has won 81 of 83 races at 1,500 meters since 1996.

The winner, Ramzi, a Moroccan born 23-year-old athlete who obtained the Bahraini nationality in 2002, sprinted away on the final straight. He won in 3:30.25, the fastest time this year.

El Guerrouj said he would enter Tuesday's Super Grand Prix meet in Lausanne before heading home to Morocco to finish his Olympic training.

Ramzi's previous best finish was a second place in the 800 meters at the World Indoor Championships earlier this year in Budapest.

The Golden Gala is the second in a series of six Golden League meets this year. Athletes who pick up victories in a particular event at all six events win a $1 million jackpot.

Five athletes kept their chances for the jackpot alive with wins Friday.