| | Event type

1,500 metres, Men

Date	25 – 29 September 2000
Status	Olympic
Location	Olympic Stadium, Olympic Park, Sydney, New South Wales
Participants	41 from 26 countries

Rivaling the loss by Aleksandr Karelin in heavyweight Greco-Roman wrestling, this was the biggest upset of the Sydney Olympics. Many people were calling Hicham El Guerrouj the greatest miler in history. Between the 1996 and 2000 Olympics he had lost only two races, and only one over the 1,500/mile distance. He was the world record holder at 1,500 metres, the mile, and at 2,000 metres, and he was the world champion at this distance in 1997 and 1999. Noah Ngeny was a top quality runner and well-known, but he was given little chance to defeat El Guerrouj. Ngeny and El Guerrouj won the semi-final heats. Unusual for an Olympic 1,500 final, the race was run at a quick pace, with Moroccan Youssef Baba leading thru 54.14 and 1:54.77. El Guerrouj took the lead on the third lap, run in 56.8, but Ngeny was on his shoulder. With 25 metres to go, Ngeny took the lead and won by two metres over El G, Kenya’s Bernard Lagat, who later switched allegiance and ran for the United States, getting up for the bronze medal.

Pos	Number	Competitor	NOC	R1	SF	Final
1	2389	Noah Ngeny	KEN	3:38.03 (1 h3)	3:39.29 (1 h1)	3:32.07 (1)	Gold	OR
2	2515	Hicham El Guerrouj	MAR	3:38.57 (1 h1)	3:37.60 (1 h2)	3:32.32 (2)	Silver
3	2384	Bernard Lagat	KEN	3:40.42 (2 h2)	3:37.84 (2 h2)	3:32.44 (3)	Bronze
4	1708	Mehdi Baala	FRA	3:40.35 (1 h2)	3:38.15 (4 h2)	3:34.14 (4)
5	1328	Kevin Sullivan	CAN	3:40.80 (4 h2)	3:39.66 (2 h1)	3:35.50 (5)
6	1665	Daniel Zegeye	ETH	3:40.91 (5 h2)	3:38.08 (3 h2)	3:36.78 (6)
7	1575	Andrés Díaz	ESP	3:38.54 (3 h3)	3:38.41 (6 h2)	3:37.27 (7)
8	1587	Juan Carlos Higuero	ESP	3:40.60 (3 h2)	3:38.37 (5 h2)	3:38.91 (8)
9	1810	John Mayock	GBR	3:39.08 (4 h1)	3:38.68 (7 h2)	3:39.41 (9)
10	3310	Jason Pyrah	USA	3:38.94 (7 h3)	3:40.04 (3 h1)	3:39.84 (10)
11	1732	Driss Maazouzi	FRA	3:38.88 (6 h3)	3:40.23 (5 h1)	3:45.46 (11)
12	2511	Youssef Baba	MAR	3:38.68 (4 h3)	3:40.16 (4 h1)	3:56.08 (12)
6 h1 r2/3	3187	Julius Achon	UGA	3:39.40 (7 h1)	3:40.32 (6 h1)	–
7 h1 r2/3	1659	Hailu Mekonnen	ETH	3:39.09 (5 h1)	3:40.92 (7 h1)	–
8 h1 r2/3	1273	Hudson de Souza	BRA	3:39.70 (10 h3)	3:41.00 (8 h1)	–
8 h2 r2/3	2612	Marko Koers	NED	3:39.16 (8 h3)	3:39.42 (8 h2)	–
9 h1 r2/3	3314	Michael Stember	USA	3:39.13 (6 h1)	3:42.30 (9 h1)	–
9 h2 r2/3	3290	Gabe Jennings	USA	3:40.96 (6 h2)	3:40.10 (9 h2)	–
10 h1 r2/3	1796	Andy Graffin	GBR	3:39.75 (11 h3)	3:42.72 (10 h1)	–
10 h2 r2/3	1653	Berhanu Alemu	ETH	3:38.79 (5 h3)	3:41.09 (10 h2)	–
11 h1 r2/3	1609	José Antonio Redolat	ESP	3:38.66 (2 h1)	3:45.46 (11 h1)	–
11 h2 r2/3	1010	Kamal Boulahfane	ALG	3:39.01 (3 h1)	3:43.98 (11 h2)	–
12 h1 r2/3	1017	Noureddine Morceli	ALG	3:38.41 (2 h3)	4:00.78 (12 h1)	–
12 h2 r2/3	3062	Mohamed Babiker Yagoub	SUD	3:39.52 (9 h3)	3:50.60 (12 h2)	–
7 h2 r1/3	2524	Adil Kaouch	MAR	3:41.06 (7 h2)	–	–
8 h1 r1/3	2372	William Chirchir	KEN	3:40.22 (8 h1)	–	–
8 h2 r1/3	1013	Mohamed Khaldi	ALG	3:41.16 (8 h2)	–	–
9 h1 r1/3	2142	James Nolan	IRL	3:40.50 (9 h1)	–	–
9 h2 r1/3	2903	Vyacheslav Shabunin	RUS	3:41.52 (9 h2)	–	–
10 h1 r1/3	3432	Darko Radomirović	SCG	3:43.57 (10 h1)	–	–
10 h2 r1/3	3200	Ivan Heshko	UKR	3:41.80 (10 h2)	–	–
11 h1 r1/3	1070	Nick Howarth	AUS	3:45.46 (11 h1)	–	–
11 h2 r1/3	2991	Alexis Sharangabo	RWA	3:44.06 (11 h2)	–	–
12 h1 r1/3	1458	Branko Zorko	CRO	3:46.16 (12 h1)	–	–
12 h2 r1/3	3450	Chungu Chipako	ZAM	3:49.79 (12 h2)	–	–
12 h3 r1/3	3044	Ibrahim Mohamed Aden	SOM	3:40.33 (12 h3)	–	–
13 h1 r1/3	2540	Francis Munthali	MAW	3:46.34 (13 h1)	–	–
13 h2 r1/3	1855	José Luis Ebatela	GEQ	4:06.14 (13 h2)	–	–
13 h3 r1/3	2767	Rui Silva	POR	3:41.93 (13 h3)	–	–
14 h3 r1/3	2599	Sidi Mohamed Ould Bidjel	MTN	4:03.74 (14 h3)	–	–
AC h2 r1/3	1820	Tony Whiteman	GBR	– (DNF h2)	–	–

Round One

Date	25 September 2000
Format	Top six in each heat and next six fastest advanced to the semi-finals.

Pos	Number	Competitor	NOC	Time (automatic)
1	2389	Noah Ngeny	KEN	3:38.03	Q
2	1017	Noureddine Morceli	ALG	3:38.41	Q
3	1575	Andrés Díaz	ESP	3:38.54	Q
4	2515	Hicham El Guerrouj	MAR	3:38.57	Q
5	1609	José Antonio Redolat	ESP	3:38.66	Q
6	2511	Youssef Baba	MAR	3:38.68	Q
7	1653	Berhanu Alemu	ETH	3:38.79	Q
8	1732	Driss Maazouzi	FRA	3:38.88	Q
9	3310	Jason Pyrah	USA	3:38.94	q
10	1010	Kamal Boulahfane	ALG	3:39.01	Q
11	1810	John Mayock	GBR	3:39.08	Q
12	1659	Hailu Mekonnen	ETH	3:39.09	Q
13	3314	Michael Stember	USA	3:39.13	Q
14	2612	Marko Koers	NED	3:39.16	q
15	3187	Julius Achon	UGA	3:39.40	q
16	3062	Mohamed Babiker Yagoub	SUD	3:39.52	q
17	1273	Hudson de Souza	BRA	3:39.70	q
18	1796	Andy Graffin	GBR	3:39.75	q
19	2372	William Chirchir	KEN	3:40.22
20	3044	Ibrahim Mohamed Aden	SOM	3:40.33
21	1708	Mehdi Baala	FRA	3:40.35	Q
22	2384	Bernard Lagat	KEN	3:40.42	Q
23	2142	James Nolan	IRL	3:40.50
24	1587	Juan Carlos Higuero	ESP	3:40.60	Q
25	1328	Kevin Sullivan	CAN	3:40.80	Q
26	1665	Daniel Zegeye	ETH	3:40.91	Q
27	3290	Gabe Jennings	USA	3:40.96	Q
28	2524	Adil Kaouch	MAR	3:41.06
29	1013	Mohamed Khaldi	ALG	3:41.16
30	2903	Vyacheslav Shabunin	RUS	3:41.52
31	3200	Ivan Heshko	UKR	3:41.80
32	2767	Rui Silva	POR	3:41.93
33	3432	Darko Radomirović	SCG	3:43.57
34	2991	Alexis Sharangabo	RWA	3:44.06
35	1070	Nick Howarth	AUS	3:45.46
36	1458	Branko Zorko	CRO	3:46.16
37	2540	Francis Munthali	MAW	3:46.34
38	3450	Chungu Chipako	ZAM	3:49.79
39	2599	Sidi Mohamed Ould Bidjel	MTN	4:03.74
40	1855	José Luis Ebatela	GEQ	4:06.14
DNF	1820	Tony Whiteman	GBR	–

Heat #1

Time	10:40

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time (Automatic)
1	2515	Hicham El Guerrouj	MAR	3:38.57	Q
2	1609	José Antonio Redolat	ESP	3:38.66	Q
3	1010	Kamal Boulahfane	ALG	3:39.01	Q
4	1810	John Mayock	GBR	3:39.08	Q
5	1659	Hailu Mekonnen	ETH	3:39.09	Q
6	3314	Michael Stember	USA	3:39.13	Q
7	3187	Julius Achon	UGA	3:39.40	q
8	2372	William Chirchir	KEN	3:40.22
9	2142	James Nolan	IRL	3:40.50
10	3432	Darko Radomirović	SCG	3:43.57
11	1070	Nick Howarth	AUS	3:45.46
12	1458	Branko Zorko	CRO	3:46.16
13	2540	Francis Munthali	MAW	3:46.34

Heat #2

Time	10:48

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time (Automatic)
1	1708	Mehdi Baala	FRA	3:40.35	Q
2	2384	Bernard Lagat	KEN	3:40.42	Q
3	1587	Juan Carlos Higuero	ESP	3:40.60	Q
4	1328	Kevin Sullivan	CAN	3:40.80	Q
5	1665	Daniel Zegeye	ETH	3:40.91	Q
6	3290	Gabe Jennings	USA	3:40.96	Q
7	2524	Adil Kaouch	MAR	3:41.06
8	1013	Mohamed Khaldi	ALG	3:41.16
9	2903	Vyacheslav Shabunin	RUS	3:41.52
10	3200	Ivan Heshko	UKR	3:41.80
11	2991	Alexis Sharangabo	RWA	3:44.06
12	3450	Chungu Chipako	ZAM	3:49.79
13	1855	José Luis Ebatela	GEQ	4:06.14
DNF	1820	Tony Whiteman	GBR	–

Heat #3

Time	10:56

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time (Automatic)
1	2389	Noah Ngeny	KEN	3:38.03	Q
2	1017	Noureddine Morceli	ALG	3:38.41	Q
3	1575	Andrés Díaz	ESP	3:38.54	Q
4	2511	Youssef Baba	MAR	3:38.68	Q
5	1653	Berhanu Alemu	ETH	3:38.79	Q
6	1732	Driss Maazouzi	FRA	3:38.88	Q
7	3310	Jason Pyrah	USA	3:38.94	q
8	2612	Marko Koers	NED	3:39.16	q
9	3062	Mohamed Babiker Yagoub	SUD	3:39.52	q
10	1273	Hudson de Souza	BRA	3:39.70	q
11	1796	Andy Graffin	GBR	3:39.75	q
12	3044	Ibrahim Mohamed Aden	SOM	3:40.33
13	2767	Rui Silva	POR	3:41.93
14	2599	Sidi Mohamed Ould Bidjel	MTN	4:03.74

Semi-Finals

Date	27 September 2000
Format	Top five in each heat and next two fastest advanced to the final.

Pos	Number	Competitor	NOC	Time (automatic)
1	2515	Hicham El Guerrouj	MAR	3:37.60	Q
2	2384	Bernard Lagat	KEN	3:37.84	Q
3	1665	Daniel Zegeye	ETH	3:38.08	Q
4	1708	Mehdi Baala	FRA	3:38.15	Q
5	1587	Juan Carlos Higuero	ESP	3:38.37	Q
6	1575	Andrés Díaz	ESP	3:38.41	q
7	1810	John Mayock	GBR	3:38.68	q
8	2389	Noah Ngeny	KEN	3:39.29	Q
9	2612	Marko Koers	NED	3:39.42
10	1328	Kevin Sullivan	CAN	3:39.66	Q
11	3310	Jason Pyrah	USA	3:40.04	Q
12	3290	Gabe Jennings	USA	3:40.10
13	2511	Youssef Baba	MAR	3:40.16	Q
14	1732	Driss Maazouzi	FRA	3:40.23	Q
15	3187	Julius Achon	UGA	3:40.32
16	1659	Hailu Mekonnen	ETH	3:40.92
17	1273	Hudson de Souza	BRA	3:41.00
18	1653	Berhanu Alemu	ETH	3:41.09
19	3314	Michael Stember	USA	3:42.30
20	1796	Andy Graffin	GBR	3:42.72
21	1010	Kamal Boulahfane	ALG	3:43.98
22	1609	José Antonio Redolat	ESP	3:45.46
23	3062	Mohamed Babiker Yagoub	SUD	3:50.60
24	1017	Noureddine Morceli	ALG	4:00.78

Heat #1

Time	18:30

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time (Automatic)
1	2389	Noah Ngeny	KEN	3:39.29	Q
2	1328	Kevin Sullivan	CAN	3:39.66	Q
3	3310	Jason Pyrah	USA	3:40.04	Q
4	2511	Youssef Baba	MAR	3:40.16	Q
5	1732	Driss Maazouzi	FRA	3:40.23	Q
6	3187	Julius Achon	UGA	3:40.32
7	1659	Hailu Mekonnen	ETH	3:40.92
8	1273	Hudson de Souza	BRA	3:41.00
9	3314	Michael Stember	USA	3:42.30
10	1796	Andy Graffin	GBR	3:42.72
11	1609	José Antonio Redolat	ESP	3:45.46
12	1017	Noureddine Morceli	ALG	4:00.78

Heat #2

Time	18:40

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time (Automatic)
1	2515	Hicham El Guerrouj	MAR	3:37.60	Q
2	2384	Bernard Lagat	KEN	3:37.84	Q
3	1665	Daniel Zegeye	ETH	3:38.08	Q
4	1708	Mehdi Baala	FRA	3:38.15	Q
5	1587	Juan Carlos Higuero	ESP	3:38.37	Q
6	1575	Andrés Díaz	ESP	3:38.41	q
7	1810	John Mayock	GBR	3:38.68	q
8	2612	Marko Koers	NED	3:39.42
9	3290	Gabe Jennings	USA	3:40.10
10	1653	Berhanu Alemu	ETH	3:41.09
11	1010	Kamal Boulahfane	ALG	3:43.98
12	3062	Mohamed Babiker Yagoub	SUD	3:50.60

Final Round

Date	29 September 2000 — 20:00

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time (Automatic)
1	2389	Noah Ngeny	KEN	3:32.07	OR
2	2515	Hicham El Guerrouj	MAR	3:32.32
3	2384	Bernard Lagat	KEN	3:32.44
4	1708	Mehdi Baala	FRA	3:34.14
5	1328	Kevin Sullivan	CAN	3:35.50
6	1665	Daniel Zegeye	ETH	3:36.78
7	1575	Andrés Díaz	ESP	3:37.27
8	1587	Juan Carlos Higuero	ESP	3:38.91
9	1810	John Mayock	GBR	3:39.41
10	3310	Jason Pyrah	USA	3:39.84
11	1732	Driss Maazouzi	FRA	3:45.46
12	2511	Youssef Baba	MAR	3:56.08

Split Times

Time	Athlete(s)	Result
400 m	Youssef Baba	54.14
800 m	Youssef Baba	1:54.77
1,200 m	Hicham El Guerrouj	2:51.67