Morocco's El-Guerrouj shatters mile world mark

Moroccan field and track star Hicham El-Guerrouj shattered on Wednesday here the mile world record, clocking 3:43.13 in a breathtaking race at the second Golden League meeting of the season.

El-Guerrouj, who broke the 1,500 world record on the same track last year, was pushed all the way to the finish line by Kenya's Noah Ngeny in a fast last lap.

He timed 1.26 seconds less than the previous world record of 3:44.39 set by Algerian Noureddine Morceli in Rieti, Italy in September 1993.

Other Moroccan athletes made superb performances during the Rome meeting. Rising star Hasna Benhassi finished second in the women's 800 m just behind Golden League jackpot candidate Svettana Masterkova of Russia. Benhassi, 22, timed 1:58, while 31-year old Masterkova clocked 1:57.

World women's 400 m hurdles champion, Nezha Bidouan, dominated her race flying ahead of all contenders to clock 53.05.

In the women's 3000 m, Zahra Ouaziz could not topple her long-time rival Gabriella Szabo. Ouaziz came in second with 8:28.72.

Salah Hissou and Larbi Khattabi ranked third respectively in the 5000 m and 3000 steeple chase.

After El-Guerrouj's world mark, Youness Moudrik was the author of the Moroccans' nicest surprise of the evening. Moudrik unexpectedly ranked second in the long jump, a technical contest that has never been a Moroccan specialty. Moudrik marked 8 m 03 behind American Erik Walder who jumped 8 m 18.