El Guerrouj wins, but fails to break own record

Andrew Dampf, Associated Press, Rieti, Italy

Failing to fulfill his promise, Morocco's Hicham el Guerrouj just missed out on breaking his own world record in the 1,500 meters Sunday at the Rieti Grand Prix IAAF meeting.

The world champion, who first promised to set a new world mark here immediately after missing out on it in last year's event, finished in 3:26.96 seconds. El Guerrouj set the world record of 3:26.00 in Rome in 1998.

"I'm very upset because all the conditions for a world record were here," he said. "I'm convinced the record can be broken on this track."

The performance was good enough for the meet record, but the Moroccan was not satisfied, pounding his fist in the air with disgust after he crossed the finish line.

The 27-year-old runner had repeated his promise of setting a new record here on Friday, after becoming the first athlete to win a share of the golden jackpot four times when he captured the 1,500-meter race at the Istaf meet in Berlin.

Sunday's victory continued his unbeaten streak in the event this season.

Despite the unfulfilled promise, it remained a dominating performance, with the rest of the field competing for second place.

Russia's Vyaceslav Shabunin just edged Kenyan Robert Rono for runner-up, more than seven seconds behind El-Guerrouj.

In other events at the meet near Rome, American Stacy Dragila, the world record holder, finished a disappointing fifth in the women's pole vault.

Dragila's vault of 4.33 meters was eclipsed by three competitors who cleared 4.53 meters and one who cleared 4.43 meters. Germany's Annika Becker won the event on technicalities.

Denmark's Wilson Kipketer set the year's best time in the men's 800 meters, at 1:42.32.

Also in the men's 800, France's Mehdi Baala set a new national time of 1:43.15.

American Suzy Hamilton won the women's 1,500 meters in 3:59.43, nearly three seconds ahead of Portugal's Carla Sacramento. Other American winners included Anjanette Kirkland in the women's 100-hurdles in 12.85 seconds, Allen Johnson in the men's 110-hurdles in 13.29 and Joey Woody in the 400-meter hurdles in 48.96 seconds.

Kenya's Patrick Ivuti captured the men's 3,000 meters in 7:38.69, just edging countryman James Kwalia, who finished 0.17 seconds behind.

In other events, Cameroon's Myriam Leonie Mani won the women's 200 meters in 22.91 and three Nigerians finished first in their events.

Uchenna Emedolu won the men's 200 meters in 20.31, just ahead of American Coby Miller, who finished in 20.33; Nigeria's Uchenna Emedolu took the 100 meters in 10.10 and compatriot Olabisi Afolabi captured the women's 400 meters in 51.94.

In other field events, Italy's Paolo Dal Soglio won the shot put competition with a hurl of 20.50 meters; Italy's Magdelin Martinez set a new national mark in the women's triple jump, with a score of 14.73; Sweden's Stephan Holm won the men's high jump, at 2.29 and Cuba's Sonia Bicet won the women's javelin, with a throw of 61.53 meters.