The Hindu : Sport / Olympic Games : Double delight for Guerrouj, Holmes

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Aug 29, 2004

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Sport - Olympic Games

Double delight for Guerrouj, Holmes

By S. Thyagarajan

ATHENS, AUG. 28. El Guerrouj of Morocco turned in a superlative performance in the 5000m to deny the World record holder Kenenisa Bekele of Ehtiopia a double but at the same time achieving one for himself — he had won the 1500m — here tonight.

It was a memorable contest in every sense of the word. For the major part of the race, it was Kenya's Kipchoge was leading followed by Bekele. The lead shifted now and then, but Guerrouj was content to bid for his time. When four laps remained Guerrouj moved up to the third place, slowly surging ahead. But neither Bekele nor Kipchoge allowed him any leeway. The sequence was the same until the final lap when Bekele broke ahead of Kipchoge. He was ahead till the 200 metres, but at the bend Guerrouj made his final assault. And that was the end of Bekele.

El Guerrouj clocked 13:14.39s with Bekele at 13:14.59s, while Kipchoge clocked 13:15.10s.

Well-judged race

In a superb finish that underlined the essence of tactical running for the metric mile, Britain's Kelly Holmes, added a second gold to her 800 metres win the other day in the athletics competition here tonight. It was a dream come true for the 29-year-old Briton, who won two World championship silvers in 2003.

Kelly, who trains with Mozambique's Maria Mutola, ran a well-judged race, biding her time to sprint to glory. Almost throughout, it was Russia's Natalya Yevdokimova, followed by Maria Cioncan of Romania. Holmes preferred to stay behind the bunch of runners. As the pace increased in the third lap, Kelly, seventh in Sydney, progressively began to accelerate.

Nearing the 300 metres she moved up. Still Yevdokimova and Mutola kept up the pace, but in the last 50 metres, Kelly touched her best sprint even as Tatyana Tomashova of Russia surged ahead. But Kelly was unbeatable at that point. Holmes timed 3:57.90s, followed by Tomashova at 3.58.12 and Maria Cioncan with 3:58.39s.

Russia's Yuriy Bozarkovskiy sent ripples of excitement in the men's 800m with a fantastic 50m run at the finish to decimate the Kenyan and Danish challenge.

The 23-year-old world indoor champion and a silver medallist in Paris last year, had to contend with such renowned runners as Wilson Kipketer now running for Denmark and Wilfred Bungi of Kenya. It was a scorching race for which the Djabir Geurni set the pace. But Bungi took over at the end of the first lap challenged by Kipketer.

Nearing 200 metres, South Africa's Mbuleni opened up forcing Kipketer to accelerate. The Russian lying behind slowly picked up pace. Even as Kipketer and Mbuleni were fighting it out, Bozarkovskiy rallied brilliantly to cross the line in a time of 1:44.45s, followed by Mbuleni at 1:44.61 and Kipketer at 1:44.65m.

A surprise winner

Huina Xing made a great come back to end the Ethiopian domination in 10000 metres. There was nothing to suggest that the Chinese was in contention and the focus was on Dibaba and two-time Olympic champion, Tulu.

Britain's Paula Radcliffe's nightmare continued as she dropped out of the race after six km. Her quest to defend the marathon title had ended in tears last Sunday.

"Exhaustion forced me to stop marathon after 30 km. Today it was my legs that forced me out of the race," Radcliffe said.

It was very hot inside the stadium as the competitors battled it out. About 20 metres from the finish line, Xing outwitted Dibaba clocking 30:24.36, improving her season's best of 30:31.55.

"Winning the gold was beyond my expectation. I am so happy about it. I think our efforts deserve a reward," said a beaming Xing.

"I thought I had won. I'm really surprised that I don't have the gold. I missed the Chinese athlete completely. Had I seen her, I would have put in more effort and passed her," said Dibaba.

Indian women seventh

In the women's 4 x 400m relay, India finished seventh, ahead of host Greece. The United States captured its first relay gold of the day winning in 3 minutes, 19.01 seconds.

Russia took silver in 3:20.16 and Jamaica the bronze in 3:22.

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