OSTRAVA, Czech Republic, 14 June 2003 — Morocco’s triple 1500m world champion Hicham El Guerrouj had to settle for second place in his first ever attempt at the 5000m at the IAAF Grand Prix meet here on Thursday.

El Guerrouj, who is aiming at a 1500m-5000m double at the world championships in Paris in August, led into the home straight where he was passed by Kenyan Stephen Cherono, the Commonwealth Games steeplechase champion.

Cherono clocked 12min 48.81sec, the quickest time of the season and the seventh fastest of all time, with El Guerrouj crossing the line 1.43secs behind. “I didn’t expect to beat El Guerrouj,” said the 20-year-old Cherono.

“I ran a great time today at 5000m and I also run the steeplechase but I prefer the 1500m.”

El Guerrouj, who last ran a 5000m as a junior in 1992, admitted that he still has some work to do before he is a recognized threat in the event.

“I saw tonight I am not a 5000m runner yet, but I have a good feeling from my first 5000m. I have to work on my rhythm and I will continue running the distance.”

Another Kenyan, Cornelius Chirchir, won the 1500m in 3:31.17.

Britain’s Mark Lewis Francis clinched victory in the men’s 100m in a time of 10.07secs, a meet record, to edge out Commonwealth champion Kim Collins, of St Kitts and Nevis, with Dwain Chambers, also of Britain, in third place, in 10.16.

The third British runner in the race, Jason Gardener could only manage seventh in 10.27.

The women’s sprint was dominated by the Bahamas’ double Commonwealth gold medalist Debbie Ferguson who led from the start to finish in 11.20.

Felix Sanchez of the Dominican Republic showed why he is world champion in the specialty when lifting the 400m hurdles in 48.10.

Among the women, America’s world record pole vaulter Tracy Dragila was beaten into second, her vault of 4.58m eclipsed by the 4.70m effort produced by Russia’s Tatyana Polnova.

Lewis-Francis later predicted better things to come after running off with the sprinting honors at an IAAF Grand Prix meet on Thursday.

New Delhi to Host World

Half Marathon Next Year

In New Delhi, the world half marathon championships will move to Asia for the first time with New Delhi scheduled to hold next year’s event, an Asian athletics official said yesterday.

The president of the Asian Athletics Association Suresh Kalmadi said the event would be held on Oct. 3, just over a month after the end of the Athens Olympics. “We need more big events as most major meets are now held only in Europe,” he said.

An International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) team are in New Delhi to assess facilities in the Indian capital, which has hosted two Asian Games and has bid for the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

An IAAF marketing official said the world body was keen to take major championships out of Europe to popularise the sport.

Tehran will host Asia’s first indoor athletics championships on Feb. 7 and 8 next year.