Noureddine Morceli - Olympic 1500m Final Reports

Fall takes Gloss off Morceli's Victory

El Guerroudj has been suggesting by his performances during the summer that if anybody could deny Morceli the Olympic title, he could. Sadly, just before the bell the Moroccan went down and Morceli was left to fend off only the last-lap challenge from the defending champion, Fermin Cacho, of Spain.

The final of the 1,500m vies with the 100m as the highlight of the athletics programme and this had all the makings of a classic; if nothing else, El Guerroudj would test Morceli in a competitive manner to which he has become generally unaccustomed of late. That, of course, is something which we shall never know.

Cacho's form in recent years has been indifferent but seething resentment with the Spanish media - who, he feels, now appear to largely ignore his achievements - and a bitter rivalry with team-mate Isaac Viciosa have rekindled his ambition, though the Moroccan, in reality was Morceli's main danger. "You must be careful in a race like this," Morceli, seventh in 1992, warned.

Cacho, who was second, might argue that the outcome might have been different had he not had to hurdle over El Guerroudj when the Moroccan fell; that would be fanciful, for Morceli from that point on established a five-metre lead, was clearly in control and ultimately won easily in 3min 35.78sec. It was his 53rd consecutive victory in the 1,500m or mile.

He limped round the track on his lap of honour, television pictures offering visual evidence of how he had been spiked in his right Achilles tendon.....

- Iaian Macleod, Olympics Electronic Telegraph

The Algerian world record-holder was spiked on his right heel by Morocco's Hicha m El Guerrouj as they entered the final lap. El Guerrouj tumbled to the track, but Morceli stayed on his feet and pulled away for his first Olympic gold medal.

Morceli, who holds six world indoor and outdoor records in distances ranging fro m 1,000 to 3,000 meters, hobbled into the interview room after the race and needed help taking of f his right shoe. A bandage was wrapped around his gashed right foot.

Morceli, who finished seventh in Barcelona four years ago, said he needed an Oly mpic gold to make his career complete.

"Before today, I was missing something. Now I have it," said Morceli, who cried on the victory stand as he listened to the Algerian anthem.

El Guerrouj, considered Morceli's most serious challenger, got up after his spil l and finished the race -- in last place.

Fermin Cacho of Spain, who won the 1,500 gold in Barcelona with a blazing last l ap, said the accident prevented him from winning again. Cacho was third at the time and had t o hurdle the fallen El Guerrouj, costing him precious seconds and allowing Morceli to pull away.

"I was in good position going into the last lap," Cacho said. "After the acciden t, I was too far behind to catch up."

Morceli has now won 54 consecutive finals in the 1,500 and mile, a streak that s tarted in 1992. He hasn't lost at any distance since finishing third in the 800 at Cologne, Germany , on Aug. 21, 1993.

Morceli's winning time Saturday night was a modest 3:35.78, more than eight seco nds slower than his world record of 3:27.37 set last year. Cacho got the silver in 3:36.40, and Stephen Kipkorir of Kenya took the bronze in 3:36.72.

"This makes me forget what happened in Barcelona," said Morceli, whose training for the 1992 games was hampered by a hip injury. "This is the greatest athletic achievement o f my career."