Rivals

Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia is now Hicham El Guerrouj's main rival in the 5000 meters. He first came to prominence in 2001 when he won the junior race and was second place in the short race in the World Cross Country Championships. When he returned in 2002 and 2003 he unbelievably captured both the short course and long course titles! In the 2003 World Championships he led an Ethiopian 1-2-3 sweep in the 10000m but in the 5000m was defeated by Hicham El Guerrouj of Morocco and Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya. In 2004 he once again achieved double victories at the World Cross Country Championships. Then he broke three of his countryman Haile Gebrselassie's world record's with races of indoor 5000m(12:49.60), 5000m(12:37.35), and 10000m(26:20.31) before going on to win the Athens Olympics 10000m. In the Athens Olympics Mens 5000m final Kenenisa Bekele fell to the power of Hicham El Guerrouj in one of the best distance races of the Games. Kenenisa is known for being an immensely high quality 5000m runner which Hicham defeated to show his capability to move up to 5000m and dominate it. Kenenisa Bekele's Personal Bests Distance Time 3000 Meters 7:30.67 5000 Meters 12:37.35 10000 Meters 26:17.53      Kenenisa Bekele unofficial website      Kenenisa Bekele race history      Kenenisa Bekele websites

Bernard Lagat of Kenya is Hicham El Guerrouj's current main rival in the 1500 meters. He grew up in Kenya but later attended college at Washington State University in USA and had much success there. After winning the gold medal at the World University Games in 1999 he continued on to become the bronze medalist at the Sydney Olympics. In 2001 he ran 3:26.34 in the 1500m(#2 performer ever) and earned a silver medal at the World Championships. During 2002 he won gold medals at the African Championships and the World Cup. In 2003 he earned a silver medal in World Indoor Championships and ran 3:30.55 that season. In the 2004 winter season he became the World Indoor Champion in the 3000m. In the Athens Olympics 1500m final he challenged Hicham powerfully for the victory and earned the silver medal. Bernard will always be known for giving Hicham the race of his life that day and for all his previous magnificent races which showed his ultimate capability. Bernard Lagat's Personal Bests Distance Time 800 Meters 1:46.00 1000 Meters 2:18.70 1500 Meters 3:26.34 One Mile 3:47.28 2000 Meters 4:55.49 3000 Meters 7:33.51 5000 Meters 12:59.29      Bernard Lagat official website      Bernard Lagat race history      Bernard Lagat websites

Noah Ngeny of Kenya outsprinted Hicham El Guerrouj at the Sydney Olympics. In 1999 he pushed El Guerrouj as Hicham ran 3:43.13 for a world record mile. He also earned a silver medal at the World Championships and a world record 1000m(2:11.96). Since defeating Hicham at the 2000 Sydney Olympics he's been hampered by injuries but is still competing at a high level. Noah will be known for his victory in the Sydney Olympics 1500m over Hicham which shocked the world and ultimately made Hicham's victory in the Athens Olympics 1500m much more sweeter. Noah Ngeny's Personal Bests Distance Time 800 Meters 1:44.49 1000 Meters 2:11.96 1500 Meters 3:28.12 One Mile 3:43.40 2000 Meters 4:50.08 3000 Meters 7:35.46      Noah Ngeny race history      Noah Ngeny websites

Noureddine Morceli of Algeria was previously The King Of The Mile before Hicham El Guerrouj. In 1990 he became the top 1500m runner in the world. 1991 was impressive as he set a world indoor record 1500m(3:34.16), and got two World Championship gold medals. In 1992 he ran world records in the indoor 1000m(2:15.26) and the 1500m(3:28.86) but didn't medal in the Barcelona Olympics. During 1993 he won World Championships gold and ran a world record mile(3:44.39). 1994 was fast with a world record 3000m(7:25.11). 1995 included world records in the 2000m(4:47.88), 1500m(3:27.37), and World Championships gold. In 1996 he won a gold medal at the Atlanta Olympics after colliding with Hicham. Later in the Grand Prix Final Hicham El Guerrouj defeated Noureddine Morceli and took over the throne as The King Of The Mile. Since then Noureddine has run some great races but got fourth in the 1997 World Championships and didn't finish the 1999 World Championships final. He seems to have retired but stated that he wants to compete in 5000m and 10000m races in the future. Noureddine Morceli's Personal Bests Distance Time 800 Meters 1:44.79 1000 Meters 2:13.73 1500 Meters 3:27.37 One Mile 3:44.39 2000 Meters 4:47.88 3000 Meters 7:25.11 5000 Meters 13:03.85      Noureddine Morceli unofficial website      Noureddine Morceli race history      Noureddine Morceli websites