Lausanne meeting: El Guerrouj first in the 1500 meters

Four time 1500m world champion, Moroco's Hicham El Guerrouj, won with difficulty on Tuesday the first place in the 1500m race in 3.32:20, in the Athletissima meeting in Lausanne (Super Grand Prix).

El Guerrouj came ahead of Kenyan Isaac Songok, who covered the distance in 3.32:22, whereas Ukrainian Ivan Heshko ended third (3.33).

On Frdiay, El Guerrouj's 29-race unbeaten streak in the 1,500 meters ended at the Golden Gala meet when he finished eighth, on the same track where he set the world record of 3:26.00 in 1998, a mark that still stands.

Racing exactly six weeks before the Athens Olympics, El Guerrouj finished more than two seconds behind surprise winner Rashid Ramzi of Bahrain.

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.

In Lausanne, another Moroccan, Youssef Baba, ended eighth with a 3.36:38 timing.