Moroccan 1500 metres world champion Hicham El Guerrouj is on track to emulate the 'Flying Finn' Paavo Nurmi and become the first athlete in 79 years to complete a golden double of the 1500m and 5000m in a major international competition.
Guerrouj qualified quite easily for the final of the 5000m at the Stade de France in Paris on Thursday in a closely fought second heat, coming fourth in 13:32.88.
But he will face a challenge from another athlete aiming for a golden double, Ethiopian 10000m world champion Kenenisa Bekele.
Bekele won the much slower first heat in 13:38:03 seconds, followed by Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya in 13:38.73 and John Kibowen, also of Kenya, in 13:40.72.
The other two automatic qualifiers from this heat were Abderrahim Goumri of Morocco (13:42.09) and Juan Carlos de la Ossa of Spain (13:42.23).
In contrast, the second heat saw a faster pace being set by the runners. It was won by Gebre-egziabher Gebremariam of Ethiopia in 13:32.46, closely followed by Kenyan Abraham Chebii in 13:32.54 and Richard Limo, also of Kenya, in 13:32:82.
The fifth automatic qualifier from the second heat was Ethiopian Abiyote Abate in 13:33.24.
Five other athletes, one from the first heat and four from the second, also qualified for the final as the fastest losers.
Photograph: Getty Images
