Boulami breaks own world record to steal show

Moroccan Brahim Boulami stole the glory from America's sprinters when he smashed his own 3,000 metres steeplechase world record on an evening of top performances at the Zurich Golden League meeting on Friday.

American Tim Montgomery upset pre-race predictions of a high-speed showdown between Olympic and world champion compatriot Maurice Greene and newly-crowned European champion Dwain Chambers of Britain to win the men's 100 metres.

Another American Marion Jones maintained her personal chase for gold when she won the women's 100 metres for the fifth time in the five Golden League meetings of the season so far.

But it was the stunning performances of Boulami, 30, who broke his own record and left the steeplechase field trailing behind him, that captured the hearts of a capacity crowd at the Letzigrund Stadium.

Boulami's winning run in seven minutes and 53.17 seconds shattered his own year-old world record set in Brussels and confirmed his status as the first non-Kenyan since 1976 to be the unrivalled record-holder for the event.

"After a very good training period, I knew it was possible for me to run a world record race. The first kilometre was not so quick, so I pushed hard in the second half of the race.

"When I saw the split time of 5:17 I started to think that it was really possible and it was great to do it. For the moment, it seems it is the end of the Kenyan dominance - but I am sure they will try to come back and win this record again."

Boulami's previous record was set in Brussels on August 24 last year when he clocked 7:55.28.

MUTOLA TRIUMPH

Maria Mutola of Mozambique was another who endeared herself to the knowledgeable crowd after winning the women's 800 metres in the Swiss city for the 10th consecutive year.

"Zurich is always special," said 29-year-old Mutola. "To win here for a tenth time is just unbelievable."

Mexican runner Ana Guevara maintained her hopes of a share of the promised 50 kilos of gold to be split among those athletes who win all of their Golden League events this summer, with her triumph in the women's 400 metres.

The 25-year-old, in flawless form, delivered her fifth successive Golden League win of the year after triumphs in Oslo, Paris, Rome and Monte Carlo to stay on course for a share of the jackpot.

She beat second-placed Russian Olesjha Zykina by more than a second as she clocked her year's best time of 49.16 seconds.

On an evening of perfect conditions and excellent performances, Romanian Gabriela Szabo also shone with a spirited and fast last-gasp victory in the women's 1,500 metres.

Her time of three minutes and 58.78 seconds was her best of the year and faster than that set by Turkey's Sureyya Ayhan, who beat her in a major upset to win the European Championship gold in Munich last week.

Szabo came home just ahead of American Suzy Favor Hamilton to confirm her return to top form following a dip after winning the world championship last year.

RACE PRESSURE

Montgomery's win in the men's 100 metres was the surprise result of the meeting.

The American crossed the line in a time of 9.98 seconds, beating compatriot Coby Miller on 10.0 into second place. Britain's Chambers finished third in 10.05 while Greene came home fifth in 10.10 behind Commonwealth Games champion Kim Collins of St Kitts and Nevis who clocked 10.06.

"They ran a good race and I ran a bad one," said Green.

"It was their day and it is as simple as that."

Montgomery said: "The pressure was on in this race here and it was important to win. The headwind had an effect on the winning time."

In the men's triple jump Briton Jonathan Edwards, the Olympic and world champion, resumed winning ways by finishing ahead of Cuban Alexander Martinez and Sweden's Christian Olsson, gaining some satisfaction after his defeat by the Swede at last week's European Championships where he was third.

"I did not take this win as a revenge for Munich," he said afterwards. "But tonight I did jump well, technically-speaking. I have six events remaining this season -- and it is going to be tough for my body."

American Gail Devers's attempt to reel off her fifth Golden League win of the year failed in the women's 100 metres hurdles in which she was outpaced by Spaniard Glory Alozie and Jamaican Brigitte Foster.