Athletics at the 2000 Summer Olympics – Men's 1500 metres

The 1500 metres at the 2000 Summer Olympics as part of the athletics programme were held at Stadium Australia on Monday 25 September, Wednesday 27 September, and Friday 29 September 2000.[1] Forty-one athletes from 26 nations competed. The maximum number of athletes per nation had been set at 3 since the 1930 Olympic Congress. The event was won by 0.25 seconds by Noah Ngeny of Kenya, the nation's first title in the event since 1988 and third overall. Hicham El Guerrouj of Morocco took second, matching the nation's best result in the event (Rachid El Basir's silver in 1992).

Men's 1500 metres
at the Games of the XXVII Olympiad
Olympic Athletics
VenueStadium Australia
Date25 September 2000 (heats)
27 September 2000 (semi-finals)
29 September 2000 (final)
Competitors41 from 26 nations
Winning time3:32.07 OR
Medalists
1st place, gold medalist(s) Noah Ngeny
 Kenya
2nd place, silver medalist(s) Hicham El Guerrouj
 Morocco
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Bernard Lagat
 Kenya
← 1996
2004 →

Summary

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World record holder Hicham El Guerrouj was the clear favorite coming into the race, but he had a reputation for setting records in races set up by a pacemaker. His countryman Youssef Baba provided the service, sacrificing his own ambition in the final, he took the pace out in 54.14, the two Moroccan teammates leading the two Kenyan challengers Noah Ngeny and Bernard Lagat, separating from the rest of the field. On the second lap the pace lagged to 60.63, letting the other runners back in. Baba disappeared quickly leaving El Guerrouj to burn off the Kenyans taking the third lap in 56.90. But the Kenyans remained close with Mehdi Baala a step behind. Through the final turn Ngeny executed a textbook kick, moving onto El Guerrouj's shoulder, sliding into the second lane and sprinting past him for the gold. Lagat moved into lane 3 with hopes of passing as well but ran out of real estate to take the bronze.[2]

Background

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This was the 24th appearance of the event, which is one of 12 athletics events to have been held at every Summer Olympics. Five finalists from 1996 returned: gold medalist Noureddine Morceli of Algeria, seventh-place finisher Marko Koers of the Netherlands, tenth-place finisher Driss Maazouzi of Morocco, eleventh-place finisher John Mayock of Great Britain, and twelfth-place finisher Hicham El Guerrouj of Morocco. El Guerrouj had been disappointed by the finish in Atlanta; expected to challenge for gold, he had tripped and fallen. Since the 1996 Games, he had won both world championships (1997 and 1999) and broken the world record; "[m]any people were calling [him] the greatest miler in history."[3]

For the first time, no nations made their debut in the 1500 metres. The United States made its 23rd appearance, most of all nations (having missed only the boycotted 1980 Games).

Qualification

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Each National Olympic Committee was permitted to enter up to three athletes that had run 3:36.80 or faster during the qualification period. The maximum number of athletes per nation had been set at 3 since the 1930 Olympic Congress. If an NOC had no athletes that qualified under that standard, one athlete that had run 3:39.50 or faster could be entered.[4]

Competition format

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The competition was again three rounds (used previously in 1952 and since 1964). The "fastest loser" system introduced in 1964 was used for both the first round and semifinals. The 12-man semifinals and finals introduced in 1984 and used since 1992 were retained.

The field was smaller than before; there were three heats in the first round, each with 13 or 14 runners. The top six runners in each heat, along with the next six fastest overall, advanced to the semifinals. The 24 semifinalists were divided into two semifinals, each with 12 runners. The top five men in each semifinal, plus the next two fastest overall, advanced to the 12-man final.[3][5]

Records

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These were the standing world and Olympic records prior to the 2000 Summer Olympics.

World record   Hicham El Guerrouj (MAR) 3:26.00 Rome, Italy 14 July 1998
Olympic record   Sebastian Coe (GBR) 3:32.53 Los Angeles, United States 11 August 1984

The 16-year-old Olympic record fell to Noah Ngeny in the final, who set a new record at 3:32.07. All three medalists came in under the old record time.

The following national records were established during the competition:

Nation Athlete Round Time
  Malawi Francis Munthali Heat 1 3:46.34

Schedule

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All times are Australian Eastern Standard Time (UTC+10)

Date Time Round
Monday, 25 September 2000 10:40 Round 1
Wednesday, 27 September 2000 18:30 Semifinals
Friday, 29 September 2000 20:00 Final

Results

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Round 1

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Heat 1

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Rank Lane Athlete Nation Time Notes
1 1 Hicham El Guerrouj   Morocco 3:38.57 Q
2 7 Jose Antonio Redolat   Spain 3:38.66 Q
3 10 Kamel Boulahfane   Algeria 3:39.01 Q
4 3 John Mayock   Great Britain 3:39.08 Q
5 8 Hailu Mekonnen   Ethiopia 3:39.09 Q
6 12 Michael Stember   United States 3:39:13 Q
7 6 Julius Achon   Uganda 3:39.40 q
8 5 William Chirchir   Kenya 3:40.22
9 13 James Nolan   Ireland 3:40.50
10 11 Darko Radomirović   FR Yugoslavia 3:43.57
11 4 Nick Howarth   Australia 3:45.46
12 9 Branko Zorko   Croatia 3:46.16
13 1 Francis Munthali   Malawi 3:46.34 NR

Heat 2

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Rank Lane Athlete Nation Time Notes
1 3 Mehdi Baala   France 3:40.35 Q
2 5 Bernard Lagat   Kenya 3:40.42 Q
3 1 Juan Carlos Higuero   Spain 3:40.60 Q
4 12 Kevin Sullivan   Canada 3:40.80 Q
5 2 Daniel Zegeye   Ethiopia 3:40.91 Q
6 14 Gabriel Jennings   United States 3:40:96 Q
7 13 Adil Kaouch   Morocco 3:41.06
8 6 Mohamed Khaldi   Algeria 3:41.16
9 7 Vyacheslav Shabunin   Russia 3:41.52
10 9 Ivan Heshko   Ukraine 3:41.80
11 8 Alexis Sharangabo   Rwanda 3:44.06
12 11 Chungu Chipako   Zambia 3:49.79
13 4 José Luis Ebatela Nvo   Equatorial Guinea 4:06.14
4 Anthony Whiteman   Great Britain DNF

Heat 3

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Rank Lane Athlete Nation Time Notes
1 7 Noah Ngeny   Kenya 3:38.03 Q
2 14 Noureddine Morceli   Algeria 3:38.41 Q
3 3 Andrés Manuel Díaz   Spain 3:38.54 Q
4 1 Youssef Baba   Morocco 3:38.68 Q
5 4 Berhanu Alemu   Ethiopia 3:38.79 Q
6 5 Driss Maazouzi   France 3:38:88 Q
7 13 Jason Pyrah   United States 3:38.94 q
8 9 Marko Koers   Netherlands 3:39.16 q
9 12 Mohammed Yagoub   Sudan 3:39.52 q
10 2 Hudson de Souza   Brazil 3:39.70 q
11 6 Andrew Graffin   Great Britain 3:39:75 q
12 11 Ibrahim Mohamud Aden Gedi   Somalia 3:40.33
13 10 Rui Silva   Portugal 3:41.93
14 8 Sidi Mohamed Ould Bidjel   Mauritania 4:03.74 PB

Overall results for Round 1

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Rank Athlete Nation Heat Lane Place Time Notes
1 Noah Ngeny   Kenya 3 7 1 3:38.03 Q
2 Noureddine Morceli   Algeria 3 14 2 3:38.41 Q
3 Andrés Manuel Díaz   Spain 3 3 3 3:38.54 Q
4 Hicham El Guerrouj   Morocco 1 1 1 3:38.57 Q
5 Jose Antonio Redolat   Spain 1 7 2 3:38.66 Q
6 Youssef Baba   Morocco 3 1 4 3:38.68 Q
7 Berhanu Alemu   Ethiopia 3 4 5 3:38.79 Q
8 Driss Maazouzi   France 3 5 6 3:38:88 Q
9 Jason Pyrah   United States 3 13 7 3:38.94 q
10 Kamel Boulahfane   Algeria 1 10 3 3:39.01 Q
11 John Mayock   Great Britain 1 3 4 3:39.08 Q
12 Hailu Mekonnen   Ethiopia 1 8 5 3:39.09 Q
13 Michael Stember   United States 1 12 6 3:39:13 Q
14 Marko Koers   Netherlands 3 9 8 3:39.16 q
15 Julius Achon   Uganda 1 6 7 3:39.40 q
16 Mohammed Yagoub   Sudan 3 12 9 3:39.52 q
17 Hudson de Souza   Brazil 3 2 10 3:39.70 q
18 Andrew Graffin   Great Britain 3 6 11 3:39:75 q
19 William Chirchir   Kenya 1 5 8 3:40.22
20 Ibrahim Mohamud Aden Gedi   Somalia 3 11 12 3:40.33
21 Mehdi Baala   France 2 3 1 3:40.35 Q
22 Bernard Lagat   Kenya 2 5 2 3:40.42 Q
23 James Nolan   Ireland 1 13 9 3:40.50
24 Juan Carlos Higuero   Spain 2 1 3 3:40.60 Q
25 Kevin Sullivan   Canada 2 12 4 3:40.80 Q
26 Daniel Zegeye   Ethiopia 2 2 5 3:40.91 Q
27 Gabriel Jennings   United States 2 14 6 3:40.96 Q
28 Adil Kaouch   Morocco 2 13 7 3:41.06
29 Mohamed Khaldi   Algeria 2 6 8 3:41.16
30 Vyacheslav Shabunin   Russia 2 7 9 3:41.52
31 Ivan Heshko   Ukraine 2 9 10 3:41.80
32 Rui Silva   Portugal 3 10 13 3:41.93
33 Darko Radomirović   FR Yugoslavia 1 11 10 3:43.57
34 Alexis Sharangabo   Rwanda 2 8 11 3:44.06
35 Nick Howarth   Australia 1 4 11 3:45.46
36 Branko Zorko   Croatia 1 9 12 3:46.16
37 Francis Munthali   Malawi 1 1 13 3:46.34 NR
38 Chungu Chipako   Zambia 2 11 12 3:49.79
39 Sidi Mohamed Ould Bidjel   Mauritania 3 8 14 4:03.74 PB
40 Jose Luis Ebatela Nvo   Equatorial Guinea 2 4 13 4:06.14
Anthony Whiteman   Great Britain 2 10 DNF

Semifinals

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Semifinal 1

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Rank Lane Athlete Nation Time Notes
1 12 Noah Ngeny   Kenya 3:39.29 Q
2 2 Kevin Sullivan   Canada 3:39.66 Q
3 11 Jason Pyrah   United States 3:40.04 Q
4 9 Youssef Baba   Morocco 3:40.16 Q
5 8 Driss Maazouzi   France 3:40.23 Q
6 6 Julius Achon   Uganda 3:40:32
7 10 Hailu Mekonnen   Ethiopia 3:49.92
8 3 Hudson de Souza   Brazil 3:41.00
9 1 Michael Stember   United States 3:42.30
10 7 Andrew Graffin   Great Britain 3:42.72
11 5 Jose Antonio Redolat   Spain 3:45.46
12 4 Noureddine Morceli   Algeria 4:00.78

Semifinal 2

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Rank Lane Athlete Nation Time Notes
1 6 Hicham El Guerrouj   Morocco 3:37.60 Q
2 10 Bernard Lagat   Kenya 3:37.84 Q
3 11 Daniel Zegeye   Ethiopia 3:38.08 Q
4 4 Mehdi Baala   France 3:38.15 Q
5 12 Juan Carlos Higuero   Spain 3:38.37 Q
6 2 Andrés Manuel Díaz   Spain 3:38:41 q
7 5 John Mayock   Great Britain 3:38.68 q
8 7 Marko Koers   Netherlands 3:39.42
9 9 Gabriel Jennings   United States 3:40.10
10 3 Berhanu Alemu   Ethiopia 3:41.09
11 1 Kamel Boulahfane   Algeria 3:43.98
12 8 Mohammed Yagoub   Sudan 3:50.60

Overall results for semifinals

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Rank Athlete Nation Heat Lane Place Time Notes
1 Hicham El Guerrouj   Morocco 2 6 1 3:37.60 Q
2 Bernard Lagat   Kenya 2 10 2 3:37.84 Q
3 Daniel Zegeye   Ethiopia 2 11 3 3:38.08 Q
4 Mehdi Baala   France 2 4 4 3:38.15 Q
5 Juan Carlos Higuero   Spain 2 12 5 3:38.37 Q
6 Andrés Manuel Díaz   Spain 2 2 6 3:38.41 q
7 John Mayock   Great Britain 2 5 7 3:38.68 q
8 Noah Ngeny   Kenya 1 12 1 3:39:29 Q
9 Marko Koers   Netherlands 2 7 8 3:39.42
10 Kevin Sullivan   Canada 1 2 2 3:39.66 Q
11 Jason Pyrah   United States 1 11 3 3:40.04 Q
12 Gabriel Jennings   United States 2 9 9 3:40.10
13 Youssef Baba   Morocco 1 9 4 3:40:16 Q
14 Driss Maazouzi   France 1 8 5 3:40.23 Q
15 Julius Achon   Uganda 1 6 6 3:40.32
16 Hailu Mekonnen   Ethiopia 1 10 7 3:40.92
17 Hudson de Souza   Brazil 1 3 8 3:41.00
18 Berhanu Alemu   Ethiopia 2 3 10 3:41:09
19 Michael Stember   United States 1 1 9 3:42.30
20 Andrew Graffin   Great Britain 1 7 10 3:42.72
21 Kamel Boulahfane   Algeria 2 1 11 3:43.98
22 Jose Antonio Redolat   Spain 1 5 11 3:45.46
23 Mohammed Yagoub   Sudan 2 8 12 3:50.60
24 Noureddine Morceli   Algeria 1 4 12 4:00.78

Final

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Rank Lane Athlete Nation Time Notes
  11 Noah Ngeny   Kenya 3:32.07 OR
  1 Hicham El Guerrouj   Morocco 3:32.32
  7 Bernard Lagat   Kenya 3:32.44
4 8 Mehdi Baala   France 3:34.14
5 2 Kevin Sullivan   Canada 3:35.50
6 3 Daniel Zegeye   Ethiopia 3:36.78
7 10 Andrés Manuel Díaz   Spain 3:37.27
8 4 Juan Carlos Higuero   Spain 3:38.91
9 5 John Mayock   Great Britain 3:39.41
10 6 Jason Pyrah   United States 3:39.84
11 12 Driss Maazouzi   France 3:45.46
12 9 Youssef Baba   Morocco 3:56.08

References

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  1. ^ "Athletics at the 2000 Sydney Games: Men's 1500 metres". sports-reference.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  2. ^ "- YouTube" – via YouTube.
  3. ^ a b "1500 metres, Men". Olympedia. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  4. ^ http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/images/stories/tfn_pdfs/ogqualifying_standards.pdf[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ Official Report, Results Book for Athletics.
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