Athletics at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Men's 1500 metres

The men's 1500 metres at the 2008 Summer Olympics took place on 15–19 August at the Beijing National Stadium.[1] Forty-eight athletes from 30 nations competed.[2]

Men's 1500 metres
at the Games of the XXIX Olympiad
Olympic Athletics
VenueBeijing National Stadium
DatesAugust 15 (heats)
August 17 (semifinals)
August 19 (final)
Competitors48 from 30 nations
Winning time3:33.11
Medalists
1st place, gold medalist(s) Asbel Kiprop
 Kenya
2nd place, silver medalist(s) Nicholas Willis
 New Zealand
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Mehdi Baala
 France
← 2004
2012 →

The qualifying standards were 3:36.60 (A standard) and 3:39.00 (B standard).[3]

The initial winner, Rashid Ramzi of Bahrain, tested positive for the blood-booster CERA and was disqualified on November 18, 2009.[4] After the disqualification, the event was won by Asbel Kiprop of Kenya, the nation's fourth title in the event. It was the fourth straight Games with a Kenyan on the podium in the event; the United States (six times from 1896 to 1920) and Great Britain (four times from 1908 to 1924) were the only other nations to have accomplished that. Nicholas Willis's silver was New Zealand's first medal in the men's 1500 metres since 1976. Mehdi Baala's bronze was France's first medal in the event since 1960.

Background edit

This was the 26th appearance of the event, which is one of 12 athletics events to have been held at every Summer Olympics. Five finalists from 2004 returned: silver medalist Bernard Lagat (who since immigrated from Kenya to the United States), fifth-place finisher Ivan Heshko of Ukraine, seventh-place finisher Reyes Estévez of Spain, tenth-place finisher Mulugeta Wendimu of Ethiopia, and eleventh-place finisher Kamal Boulahfane of Algeria. Rashid Ramzi of Bahrain, a semifinalist in 2004, was now the favorite, with the two men who had medalled in both 2000 and 2004 either retired (Hicham El Guerrouj) or competing but injured (Lagat).[2]

Ecuador, Eritrea, and Serbia each made their first appearance in the event. The United States made its 25th appearance, most of all nations (having missed only the boycotted 1980 Games).

Qualification edit

Each National Olympic Committee (NOC) was able to enter up to three entrants providing they had met the A qualifying standard (3:36.00) in the qualifying period (1 January 2007 to 23 July 2008). NOCs were also permitted to enter one athlete providing he had met the B standard (3:39.00) in the same qualifying period.[5]

Competition format edit

The competition was again three rounds (used previously in 1952 and since 1964). The "fastest loser" system introduced in 1964 was used for both the first round and semifinals. The 12-man semifinals and finals introduced in 1984 and used since 1992 were retained. The field was slightly larger than in past Games, expanding the number of heats from three to four.

There were four heats in the first round, each with 12 or 13 runners (before withdrawals). The top five runners in each heat, along with the next four fastest overall, advanced to the semifinals. The 24 semifinalists were divided into two semifinals, each with 12 runners. The top five men in each semifinal, plus the next two fastest overall, advanced to the 12-man final.[2]

Records edit

Prior to this competition, the existing world and Olympic records were as follows:

World record   Hicham El Guerrouj (MAR) 3:26.00 Rome, Italy 14 July 1998
Olympic record   Noah Ngeny (KEN) 3:32.07 Sydney, Australia 29 September 2000

No new world or Olympic records were set for this event. The following national records were established during the competition:

Nation Athlete Round Time
  Estonia Tiidrek Nurme Heat 3 3:38.59

Schedule edit

All times are China Standard Time (UTC+8)

Date Time Round
Friday, 15 August 2008 19:10 Round 1
Sunday, 17 August 2008 21:55 Semifinals
Tuesday, 19 August 2008 22:50 Final

Results edit

Round 1 edit

Heat 1 edit

Rank Lane Athlete Nation Time Notes
1 7 Mehdi Baala   France 3:35.87 Q
2 2 Nicholas Willis   New Zealand 3:36.01 Q
3 9 Daham Naim Bashir   Qatar 3:36.05 Q
4 1 Tarek Boukensa   Algeria 3:36.11 Q
5 11 Deresse Mekonnen   Ethiopia 3:36.22 Q
6 4 Leonel Manzano   United States 3:36.67 Q
7 3 Javier Carriqueo   Argentina 3:39.36
8 12 Reyes Estevez   Spain 3:39.62
9 5 Taylor Milne   Canada 3:41.56
10 8 Youssef Baba   Morocco 3:42.13
11 10 Vyacheslav Shabunin   Russia 3:42.53
6 Juan Luis Barrios   Mexico DNS

Heat 2 edit

Rank Lane Athlete Nation Time Notes
1 3 Asbel Kiprop   Kenya 3:41.28 Q
2 1 Nathan Brannen   Canada 3:41.45 Q
3 2 Juan Carlos Higuero   Spain 3:41.70 Q
4 5 Bernard Lagat   United States 3:41.98 Q
5 13 Antar Zerguelaine   Algeria 3:42.30 Q
6 12 Goran Nava   Serbia 3:42.92
7 11 Thomas Lancashire   Great Britain 3:43.40
8 8 Alistair Cragg   Ireland 3:44.90
9 6 Hais Welday   Eritrea 3:45.06
10 9 Mohammed Othman Shaween   Saudi Arabia 3:45.82
11 4 Mitchell Kealey   Australia 3:46.31
12 10 Isiah Msibi   Swaziland 3:51.35 PB
7 Ivan Heshko   Ukraine DNS

Heat 3 edit

Rank Lane Athlete Nation Time Notes
1 9 Juan van Deventer   South Africa 3:36.32 Q
2 5 Arturo Casado   Spain 3:36.42 Q
3 8 Andrew Baddeley   Great Britain 3:36.47 Q
4 7 Abdalaati Iguider   Morocco 3:36.48 Q
5 6 Lopez Lomong   United States 3:36.70 Q
6 12 Belal Mansoor Ali   Bahrain 3:36.84 q
7 2 Hudson de Souza   Brazil 3:37.06
8 4 Demma Daba   Ethiopia 3:37.78
9 11 Tiidrek Nurme   Estonia 3:38.59 PB, NR
10 1 David Freeman   Puerto Rico 3:39.70 SB
11 10 Nicholas Kemboi   Kenya 3:41.56
12 3 Byron Piedra   Ecuador 3:45.57
13 13 Abdalla Abdelgadir   Sudan 3:47.65

Heat 4 edit

Rank Lane Athlete Nation Time Notes
1 3 Rashid Ramzi   Bahrain 3:32.89 Q, DPG[4]
2 4 Mohamed Moustaoui   Morocco 3:34.80 Q
3 9 Augustine Kiprono Choge   Kenya 3:35.47 Q
4 6 Christian Obrist   Italy 3:35.91 Q, SB
5 5 Kevin Sullivan   Canada 3:36.05 Q
6 7 Carsten Schlangen   Germany 3:36.34 q
7 1 Mulugeta Wendimu   Ethiopia 3:36.67 q
8 2 Kamal Thamer Ali   Qatar 3:41.08
9 10 Mahamoud Farah   Djibouti 3:43.62
10 8 Chauncy Master   Malawi 3:44.96
11 11 Kamel Boulahfane   Algeria 3:45.59
12 12 Jeffrey Riseley   Australia 3:53.95

Overall results for round 1 edit

Heat[6] Lane Athlete Country PB SB Time Notes
1 1 Tarek Boukensa   Algeria 3:30.92 3:31.98 3:36.11 Q
1 2 Nicholas Willis   New Zealand 3:32.17 3:33.51 3:36.01 Q
1 3 Javier Carriqueo   Argentina 3:38.62 3:39.36 3:39.36
1 4 Leonel Manzano   United States 3:35.29 3:36.67 3:36.67 q
1 5 Taylor Milne   Canada 3:36.00 3:36.00 3:41.56
1 6 Juan Luis Barrios   Mexico 3:37.71 3:37.87 DNS
1 7 Mehdi Baala   France 3:28.98 3:32.00 3:35.87 Q
1 8 Youssef Baba   Morocco 3:32.13 3:33.85 3:42.13
1 9 Daham Naim Bashir   Qatar 3:31.04 3:34.77 3:36.05 Q
1 10 Vyacheslav Shabunin   Russia 3:32.28 3:37.99 3:42.53
1 11 Deresse Mekonnen   Ethiopia 3:33.71 3:33.71 3:36.22 Q
1 12 Reyes Estevez   Spain 3:30.57 3:34.98 3:39.62
2 1 Nathan Brannen   Canada 3:34.65 3:34.65 3:41.45 Q
2 2 Juan Carlos Higuero   Spain 3:31.57 3:32.57 3:41.70 Q
2 3 Asbel Kiprop   Kenya 3:31.64 3:31.64 3:41.28 Q
2 4 Mitchell Kealey   Australia 3:36.21 3:36.21 3:46.31
2 5 Bernard Lagat   United States 3:26.34 3:35.14 3:41.98 Q
2 6 Hais Welday   Eritrea 3:37.25 3:37.25 3:45.06
2 7 Ivan Heshko   Ukraine 3:30.33 3:43.95 DNS
2 8 Alistair Cragg   Ireland 3:36.18 3:39.12 3:44.90
2 9 Mohammed Othman Shaween   Saudi Arabia 3:33.90 3:33.90 3:45.82
2 10 Isiah Msibi   Swaziland 3:51.35 3:51.35 3:51.35 PB
2 11 Thomas Lancashire   Great Britain 3:35.33 3:35.33 3:43.40
2 12 Goran Nava   Serbia 3:38.35 3:38.35 3:42.92
2 13 Antar Zerguelaine   Algeria 3:31.95 3:33.32 3:42.30 Q
3 1 David Freeman   Puerto Rico 3:38.90 3:39.70 3:39.70 SB
3 2 Hudson de Souza   Brazil 3:33.25 3:36.89 3:37.06
3 3 Byron Piedra   Ecuador 3:37.88 3:45.17 3:45.57
3 4 Demma Daba   Ethiopia 3:35.27 3:35.27 3:37.78
3 5 Arturo Casado   Spain 3:33.14 3:33.14 3:36.42 Q
3 6 Lopez Lomong   United States 3:36.36 3:36.36 3:36.70 Q
3 7 Abdalaati Iguider   Morocco 3:31.88 3:31.88 3:36.48 Q
3 8 Andrew Baddeley   Great Britain 3:34.36 3:34.36 3:36.47 Q
3 9 Juan van Deventer   South Africa 3:34.46 3:34.46 3:36.32 Q
3 10 Nicholas Kemboi   Kenya 3:33.72 3:35.25 3:41.56
3 11 Tiidrek Nurme   Estonia 3:38.59 3:38.59 3:38.59 PB, NR
3 12 Belal Mansoor Ali   Bahrain 3:31.49 3:33.12 3:36.84 q
3 13 Abdalla Abdelgadir   Sudan 3:38.93 3:38.93 3:47.65
4 1 Mulugeta Wendimu   Ethiopia 3:31.13 3:34.67 3:36.67 q
4 2 Kamal Thamer Ali   Qatar 3:35.56 3:35.56 3:41.08
4 3 Rashid Ramzi   Bahrain 3:29.14 3:32.89 3:32.89 Q, DPG[4]
4 4 Mohamed Moustaoui   Morocco 3:32.06 3:32.06 3:34.80 Q
4 5 Kevin Sullivan   Canada 3:31.71 3:35.78 3:36.05 Q
4 6 Christian Obrist   Italy 3:35.32 3:35.91 3:35.91 Q, SB
4 7 Carsten Schlangen   Germany 3:34.99 3:34.99 3:36.34 q
4 8 Chauncy Master   Malawi 3:42.73 3:42.73 3:44.96
4 9 Augustine Kiprono Choge   Kenya 3:31.57 3:31.57 3:35.47 Q
4 10 Mahamoud Farah   Djibouti 3:39.29 3:39.29 3:43.62
4 11 Kamel Boulahfane   Algeria 3:32.44 3:33.33 3:45.59
4 12 Jeffrey Riseley   Australia 3:36.03 3:36.03 3:53.95

Semifinals edit

Qual. rule: first 5 of each heat (Q) plus the 2 fastest times (q) qualified.[7]

Semifinal 1 edit

The first semifinal was held on 17 August 2008 at 21:55.

Rank Athlete Nation Time Notes
1 Asbel Kiprop   Kenya 3:37.04 Q
2 Abdalaati Iguider   Morocco 3:37.21 Q
3 Juan Carlos Higuero   Spain 3:37.31 Q
4 Christian Obrist   Italy 3:37.47 Q
5 Belal Mansoor Ali   Bahrain 3:37.60 Q
6 Juan van Deventer   South Africa 3:37.75 q
7 Daham Najim Bashir   Qatar 3:37.77 q
8 Carsten Schlangen   Germany 3:37.94
9 Nathan Brannen   Canada 3:39.10
10 Mulugeta Wendimu   Ethiopia 3:40.16
11 Antar Zerguelaine   Algeria 3:40.64
12 Lopez Lomong   United States 3:41.00

Semifinal 2 edit

The second semifinal was held on 17 August 2008 at 22:04.

Rank Athlete Nation Time Notes
1 Rashid Ramzi   Bahrain 3:37.11 Q, DPG[4]
2 Mehdi Baala   France 3:37.47 Q
3 Andrew Baddeley   Great Britain 3:37.47 Q
4 Augustine Kiprono Choge   Kenya 3:37.54 Q
5 Nicholas Willis   New Zealand 3:37.54 Q
6 Bernard Lagat   United States 3:37.79
7 Deresse Mekonnen   Ethiopia 3:37.85
8 Tarek Boukensa   Algeria 3:39.73
9 Kevin Sullivan   Canada 3:40.30
10 Mohamed Moustaoui   Morocco 3:40.90
11 Arturo Casado   Spain 3:41.57
12 Leonel Manzano   United States 3:50.33

Final edit

The final was held on 19 August 2008 at 22:50.[8]

Rank Athlete Nation Time Notes
1 Rashid Ramzi   Bahrain 3:32.94 DPG[4]
  Asbel Kiprop   Kenya 3:33.11
  Nicholas Willis   New Zealand 3:34.16
  Mehdi Baala   France 3:34.21
4 Juan Carlos Higuero   Spain 3:34.44
5 Abdalaati Iguider   Morocco 3:34.66
6 Juan van Deventer   South Africa 3:34.77
7 Belal Mansoor Ali   Bahrain 3:35.23
8 Andrew Baddeley   Great Britain 3:35.37
9 Augustine Kiprono Choge   Kenya 3:35.50
10 Daham Najim Bashir   Qatar 3:37.68
11 Christian Obrist   Italy 3:39.87
Splits
Intermediate Athlete Nation Mark
400 m Asbel Kiprop   Kenya 56.48
800 m Augustine Kiprono Choge   Kenya 1:56.06
1200 m Augustine Kiprono Choge   Kenya 2:53.67

References edit

  1. ^ "Olympic Athletics Competition Schedule". IAAF. Archived from the original on 13 September 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-04.
  2. ^ a b c "1500 metres, Men". Olympedia. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  3. ^ "Entry Standards - The XXIX Olympic Games - Beijing, China - 8/24 August 2008". IAAF. Archived from the original on 13 September 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-04.
  4. ^ a b c d e "IOC sanctions five athletes who competed in Beijing". IOC. Retrieved 2016-11-11.
  5. ^ "Entry Standards - The XXIX Olympic Games - Beijing, China - 8/24 August 2008". IAAF. Archived from the original on 13 September 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-04.
  6. ^ "1500 Metres - M. Heats". IAAF. Archived from the original on 2008-08-20. Retrieved 2008-08-13.
  7. ^ "Iaaf.org - Olympic Games 2008 - Results 08-17-2008 - 1500 Metres M Semi-Final". Archived from the original on 2008-08-19. Retrieved 2008-08-20. Retrieved 2008-08-19.
  8. ^ "Iaaf.org - Olympic Games 2008 - Results 08-19-2008 - 1500 Metres M Final". Archived from the original on 2008-08-20. Retrieved 2008-08-20. Retrieved 2008-08-19.