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Morceli's 1500m record smashed

A stunning run saw Hicham El Guerrouj shatter the 1500m world record, set by Noureddine Morceli of Algeria in 1995.

The Moroccan runner stopped the clock at 3min 26sec.

Making it a good day for Morocco at the international athletic meet in Rome, Zohra Ouaziz, also of that country, showed superb finishing powers to win a thrilling 5,000 metre race, pipping former world cross country champion Gete Wami.

Meanwhile Marion Jones, the 22 year old former point guard for North Carolina basketball team, crossed the finish line in the 100 metre spring in 10.75 -- the third fastest time this year and, interestingly, the only two faster times have been clocked by Jones herself, leaving no doubt in anyone's mind that she is today the world's premier sprinter, and hot favourite to win the $1.34 million bonus for the athlete who remains unbeaten throughout the Golden League series, of which this meet is the second instalment.

Another outstanding performance came from 31 year old Jelena Afanasyeva of Russia in the 800m in 1min 57.68sec -- the second fastest time recorded this year, and again, like Jones, only Afanasyeva has recorded a faster time.

World 400 metre champion Cathy Freeman of Australia, however, was forced to withdraw with what is suspected to be a stress fracture of the left foot.