Hicham El Guerrouj in his 1500m semi final (© Getty Images)
Paris, FranceThere were two semi finals of the men’s 1500 metres today and since Bernard Lagat of Kenya withdrew from the first round due to injury, there are only two major favourites for the title: Hicham El Guerrouj and Medhi Baala.
King Hicham, 29 years of age and three time world champion, was drawn in the first semi. Baala, 25 years of age and European champion was drawn in the second semi.
Both El Guerrouj and Baala decided that it would be too risky to stay in the pack and took the initiative of leading their respective race to the tape. El Guerrouj secured the win in an easily run 3:38.25 while Baala clocked 3:39.73 with just the same facility.
It was only when El Guerrouj stormed through the horde of journalists who were desperately trying to get be it just a couple of words from him that his bleeding right foot came to attention.
Limping away Hicham was told to be taking care of his minor injury with his own staff. Through a Moroccan source, Hicham said today’s incident was nothing serious.
“Anything can happen in a race,” said Medhi Baala this evening. “There was a lot of pushing around in my race so I decided I would be safer running in front.”
“You know, if you are not extremely careful you may well lose the race in just a few seconds. If someone touches you and you fall, it’s the end.”
Baala couldn’t be more right and El Guerrouj is not the one who would contradict him as he famously lost the Olympic title in Atlanta 1996 when he was favourite for gold, when falling in the final.
A lot is expected from the final of the men’s 1500 metres which will take place on Thursday 27 August. Baala will naturally receive a tremendous support from the crowd but so will El Guerrouj whose French fans are numerous.
Whatever the outcome of the race, it will be historical. It may be the first time a French man wins the 1500m world title or it may be the fourth consecutive crown for King Hicham.
Or it may well be that some other competitor and why not France’s second miler Fouad Chouki who recently deprived Baala from his national record?
But whatever the outcome let us hope that there will be no serious incident during what will be one of the greatest finals of the championships.
IAAF
