Morocco's El-Guerrouj Confirms Supremacy on 1500 m

Morocco's paramount world track and field star, Hicham El-Guerrouj, on Wednesday confirmed his supremacy in the 1500 m, following a brilliant win in the IAAF Golden League meeting of Zurich.

Recovering from illness, El-Guerrouj outclassed his mounting rival Noah Ngueny of Kenya, believed to be the future king of the 1500 m.

El-Guerrouj, holder of the world record in the 1500 m and the mile, not only outclassed his rival but also recorded the world best of the year, clocking 3:28.57.

Ngueny, who could only watch El-Guerrouj fly away with an ease worthy of legendary athletes, came in second several meters behind Hicham. The Kenyan timed 3:30.28, followed by countryman Bernard Lagat with 3:30.56

In Zurich, El-Guerrouj also confirmed that he is on the way to stay on the throne of the distance during the World Athletics championships, due later this month in Seville (Spain).

Other Moroccan athletes also made good performances during the Zurich meeting. Former world record holder of the 5000 m, Salah Hissou, logically came in second in the race grabbed by the unbeatable and ever-smiling Haile Gibreselasie of Ethiopia.

Zahra Ouaziz also ranked second in the women's 3000 m, won by Romanian Gabriella Szabo, candidate to this year's Golden League jackpot. Ali Zine came in third in the 3000 m steeple-chase, won by Kenya's Bernard Barmasai, another candidate to the Jackpot.

The major Moroccan disappointment was in the women's 400 m hurdles, where world champion Nezha Bidouane ranked 7.