Yomi Omogbeja (02/07/2004)

Moroccan Hicham El Guerrouj's 29-race unbeaten streak in the 1,500 metres ended today at the Golden Gala in Rome.

He finished eighth in a time 3 minutes, 32.64 seconds remarkably on the same track where he set the current world record of 3:26.00 in 1998.

The quadruple World 1500m champion had been undefeated since finishing second at the 2000 Sydney Games and has won 81 of 83 races at 1,500 metres since 1996.

Bahrain Rashid Ramzi, who formerly competed for Morocco, was the surprise winner in 3 minutes, 30.25 seconds, the fastest time this year.

The 29-year-old El Guerrouj started well and was in third place in the first half of the race behind the two pacemakers.

However, a four-man race developed in the final lap with Ramzi the World Indoor 800m silver medallist, Bernard Lagat of Kenya and Mehdi Baala of France.

El Guerrouj however complained that the pushing and shoving late in the race made it feel like a "boxing match."

But despite this loss El Guerrouj is not thinking of retiring yet.

“I love this sport. It’s my passion, my pleasure. I love the track, I love being in a stadium, I love the pain in training and I want my pleasure to last for at least another two or three years,” he said.

He also had plans to run in Tuesday's Super Grand Prix meet in Lausanne before heading home to Morocco to finish his Olympic training.