Morceli trips, fails to qualify for 1,500m

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Sydney: Defending champion Nourredine Morceli failed to qualify for the Olympic 1,500 metres final on Wednesday after tripping 100 metres from the finish of his semi-final.

Morceli, the former world record holder and three-times world champion, clashed with American Jason Pyrah as the leading pack rounded the final bend and, although he did not fall, his momentum was lost and he came to a virtual standstill before jogging over the line.

The 30-year-old Morceli has not raced much this season and had a best of only 3:38.41 minutes - nine seconds slower than his best.

Hicham El Guerrouj of Morocco, the current world record holder who fell in the 1996 Olympic final - after clipping Morceli - made no mistake this time as he won the second semifinal in 3:37.61.

Earlier on Wednesday the women's 1,500 metres champion, Svetlana Masterkova of Russia, pulled out of her heat with a calf injury.



(c) Reuters Limited.