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Lausanne, Switzerland – Many impressive competitive reputations have

taken a hard knock in the last few days on Europe’s tracks, and at

Athletissima - IAAF Super Grand Prix - in the Stade Olympique de la Pontaise,

World and Olympic 800m champion Maria Mutola became the latest victim

tonight.

However, Hicham El Guerrouj who was one of the big names to have his pedigree

successfully challenged last Friday, quickly salvaged some pride with a dip

finish win in the men’s 1500m.

Mutola suffers shock defeat

Mutola was surprisingly beaten tonight in a women’s 800m for the first

time since suffering defeat to Cuba’s Zulia Calatayud on the 19 July 2002

in Monaco. As such, her winning streak of 27 wins came to an end, and it was

all thanks to Russia’s Svetlana Cherkasova whose 1:58.91 beat the racing

ace from Mozambique.

The 2003 Golden League Jackpot winner looked heavy legged as she came off

the final bend and the women who were grouped on her shoulder seemed to sense

the possibility of a win. Finally, it was the Russian who mustered enough

strength, crossing the finish ahead of Mutola who with 1:59.06 for second, just

did enough to hold off a pack of four challengers (who all finished under 2

mins) who were pressing hard.

El Guerrouj wins but struggles to hold off Songok

Hicham El Guerrouj of Morocco, the quadruple World 1500m champion, will take

some comfort from the fact that he returned to winning ways this evening in

3:32.20, following on from his shock defeat in Rome last Friday.