The Men's 800m race report
The Men's 800m yet again underlined the abundance of talent that is available at this distance. The perennial World Leader, Wilfred Bungei of Kenya, was again on show and won a scintilating 800m by coming through on the inside over the last 60m. Bungei is not known for coming from behind over the last 100m, but more as an athlete who burns his opposition off with well paced drive towards the line. Always operating best off a fast 400m, tonight's opening lap was a blistering 49.89, with Bungei off the pace in an unfamiliar 7th position.

He moved ever closer to the front down the backstraight, with Joseph Mutua the athlete at the head of affairs. Mutua moved away from the inside towards the line of the lane, allowing Bungei to edge through on the inside. William Yiampoy was involved in a titanic battle with Bungei all the way towards the line, only to be edged out in the dip. A truly fantastic 800m which made for great viewing. See the Brussels 800m race in images

Bungei recorded a highly creditable 1:43.48 with Yiampoy taking 2nd in 1:43.50 and Mutua taking a well deserved 3rd place in 1:44.09, after doing much of the front running. [ results below ]

The Men's 3000m SteepleChase race report
Qatar's Saaeed Saif Shaheen, who a year previously had won that country's first ever WorldChampionship Gold medal in Paris, came to Brussels with only one purpose, to break the World Record. After Kenya had blocked his participation in the Athens 2004 Olympics, Shaheen felt the only cure for his disappointment was to use this meeting as his antidote.

And a World Record was what we got. Shaheen was always up with the pace, in a race that included the soon to become previous record holder, Brahim Boulami from Morocco [ 7:55.28 ], who was having his first race since returning after serving his ban for EPO.

With the first 1000m being delivered in 2:36.13, a record was certainly on target, however by 2K [ 5:18.09 ], the pace had languished and Shaheen was forced to go it alone. With 1K to go, the tall, not so elegant hurdler, was clear of the field and he began to acclerate to cover the last kilometer in 2:35.54 to set a wonderful new WR time of 7:53.63. The other athletes were not in contention and 2nd went to the new Kenyan SteepleChase sensation, Paul Kipsiele Koech, in 8:02.07. Boulami took 3rd. See the Brussels Steeple Chase World Record race in images

Judging from the Qatarian's relaxed manner going towards the line and his freshness after the race, we can believe that there is still more to come from this inspirational athlete. [ results ]

Watching the Olympic Games from his home in Nairobi was disappointing for Shaheen and he had this to say:

"Yes, I was a little bit frustrated," Shaheen admitted as he recalled the Kenyan podium sweep. "When I watched the Games I just consoled myself that I had an injury. So I sat down next to the TV and watched the Olympics like any other person."

The Men's 3000m race report
The Men's 3000m, was all the rage, in the buildup. This was the event where Hicham El Guerrouj would be putting a fitting cap to his great season by going for a WR over this distance. It goes without saying that this record is considered one of the toughest on the books, 7:20.67 by Kenya's Daniel Komen, which has stood since 1996. So, it was a tad sad when the great Moroccan was a no show. The fine performance of Shaheen in the 3000m Steeple Chase in the previous race, helped lessen the blow. And with the bronze medal winner, Eluid Kipchoge, from the 5000m at Athens giving his all, the spectators couldn't feel robbed by El G's no show.

The Netherlands' Gert-Jan Liefers, conducted the pacesetting duties taking the field through 1K in 2:27.65 and the 2K in 4:59.08, which for the record, would have been too slow. Kipchoge

There were only really 2 athletes in this race in the end, with Kenya's Isabella Ochichi providing the competition which lead to the Ethiopian achieving a PB. Ochichi in 2nd place was rewarded with a PB 14:47.70 , while 3rd place finisher Edith Masai clocked 15:06.64. [ results below ]

The Men's 1500m race report
The Men's 1500m was a great race., with the first 12 athletes sub 3.33. Timothy Kiptanui, Kenya, pounced on a fading Bernard Lagat to win in a handy 3:30.24 with the Ukraine's Ivan Hesko blasting through over the last 20 meters to take 2nd in a National Record [NR] 3:30.33. In 3rd place, in a PB of time of 3:30.46 was Alex Kipchirchir, also of Kenya.

The pace for the first 800m was provided by former Burundian star, Artémon Hatungimana, who has a tremendous sense of judgement for the necessary pace to be provided. He took them through 800m in 1:50.13, before Lagat edged himself to the fore, to take the field through 1200m. Coming into the straight, the Athens silver medalist produced a similar display to his Olympic performance, when he faded without much of a fight.

Simply splendid performances all round [ results below ]

The Men's 10000m race report
Last Year, Haile Gebrselassie (Eth) posted a year leading best time of 26:29.22 . This year, there was a host of athletes hoping to improve their Personal Best [PB] times. The race was a remarkable affair of cagey running over the last 3K, while hovering around a sub 27 minute 10K pace. Yet another, Qatar export won, this time in the shape of Abdullah Ahmad Hassan in 26:59.54 closely followed Kenya's, Charles Kamathi, in 26:59.93 . See race splits under [ results below ]

Middle and Distance Results from Brussels

Results Men

800m
1 Bungei Wilfred KEN 1:43.48
2 Yiampoy William KEN 1:43.50
3 Mutua Joseph KEN 1:44.09
4 Kamel Youssef Saad BRN 1:44.14
5 Saïd-Guerni Djabir ALG 1:44.44
6 Som Bram NED 1:44.50
7 Mulaudzi Mbulaeni RSA 1:44.56
8 Jansen Joeri BEL 1:44.69
9 Kipketer Wilson DEN 1:44.77
10 Reina Antonio Manuel ESP 1:44.89
11 Sepeng Hezekiél RSA 1:45.29
Koech Justus KEN DNF

400m Koech, Justus (KEN) 49.89

3000m Steeplechase
1 Shaheen Saif Saaeed QAT 7:53.63 (WR)
2 Koech Paul Kipsiele KEN 8:02.07
3 Boulami Brahim MAR 8:02.66
4 Kiprotich Wesley KEN 8:05.68 PB
5 Kipruto Brimin KEN 8:05.89
6 Matelong Richard KEN 8:05.96 PB
7 Amer Obaid Musa QAT 8:09.16
8 Vroemen Simon NED 8:13.44
9 Martín Luis Miguel ESP 8:14.82
10 Nyamu Julius KEN 8:15.82
11 Ezzine Ali MAR 8:16.63
12 Martín Eliseo ESP 8:17.83
13 Kipchumba Ronald KEN 8:18.51 PB
14 Shebto Moustafa Ahmed QAT 8:18.52 PB
15 Blanco José Luis ESP 8:33.13
16 Desmet Pieter BEL 8:33.65
17 Lincoln Daniel USA 8:40.31
18 van Koolwijk Krijn BEL 8:43.63
Le Dauphin Vincent FRA DNF
Misoi Kipkirui KEN DNF
Perez Cesar ESP DNF

1000m Le Dauphin, Vincent (FRA) 2:36.13 2000m 47 Shaheen 5:18.09

3000m
1 Kipchoge Eliud KEN 7:27.72
2 Kwalia James KEN 7:28.28 PB
3 Songok Boniface Kiprotich KEN 7:30.62
4 Jawher Mushir Salim BRN 7:35.81
5 Kipkosgei Luke KEN 7:36.66
6 Kibowen John KEN 7:37.70
7 Bellani Hicham MAR 7:37.86 PB
8 Cragg Alistair Ian IRL 7:38.96
9 España Jesús ESP 7:42.40
10 Kimeli Ernest Meli KEN 7:44.43
11 Penas Manuel Ángel ESP 7:44.70 PB
12 de la Ossa Juan Carlos ESP 7:47.00
13 Chenonge Hillary KEN 7:47.01
14 Compernolle Tom BEL 7:55.99
Liefers Gert-Jan NED DNF
Quesada Miguel ESP DNF
Zaman Sultan Khamis QAT DNF
El Guerrouj Hicham MAR DNS
Rizki Monder BEL DNS

1000m Liefers, Gert-Jan (NED) 2:27.65 2000m Liefers 4:59.08

1500m
1 Kiptanui Timothy KEN 3:30.24
2 Heshko Ivan UKR 3:30.33 NR
3 Kipchirchir Alex KEN 3:30.46 PB
4 Lagat Bernard KEN 3:30.73
5 Silva Rui POR 3:30.90
6 Songok Isaac Kiprono KEN 3:32.02
7 Chirchir William KEN 3:32.10
8 Chirchir Cornelius KEN 3:32.38
9 Saïdi-Sief Ali ALG 3:32.46
10 Boulahfane Kamal ALG 3:32.59
11 Fernández Álvaro ESP 3:32.88 PB
12 Higuero Juan Carlos ESP 3:32.95
13 Rotich Laban KEN 3:37.58
14 Clerbout Tim BEL 3:37.85

400m Hatungimana, Artémon (BDI) 54.71 800m Hatungimana 1:50.13 1200m Lagat (KEN) 2:47.88

10000m
1 Hassan Abdullah Ahmad QAT 26:59.54
2 Kamathi Charles KEN 26:59.93
3 Bett Mark KEN 27:02.00 PB
4 Kipketer Sammy KEN 27:03.61
5 Kiprop Boniface UGA 27:04.00 NR WJR
6 Korir John KEN 27:05.14
7 Masai Moses KEN 27:07.29 PB
8 Limo Richard KEN 27:09.61
9 Kemboi Nicholas KEN 27:17.12
10 Martínez José Manuel ESP 27:41.49
11 Kipyego Bernard Kiprop KEN 28:18.94 PB
Hierro Iván ESP DNF
Keino Martin KEN DNF
Kilel David KEN DNF
Kosgei Joseph KEN DNF
Mottram Craig AUS DNF
Moussaoui Samir ALG DNF

1000m Hierro, Iván (ESP) 2:38.19 2000m Hierro 5:18.45 3000m Keino, Martin (KEN) 8:00.39 4000m Kosgey, Joseph (KEN) 10:40.85 5000m Kosgey 13:23.35 6000m Hassan, Abdullah Ahmad (QAT) 16:03.02 7000m Kiprop, Boniface (UGA) 18:47.70 8000m Kemboi, Nicolas (KEN) 21:37.52 9000m Kiprop 24:28.00

Women Results

5000m
1 Masai Edith KEN 14:42.64 MR
2 Maury Margaret FRA 14:43.90 PB NR
3 Pavey Joanne GBR 14:49.11
4 Timbilil Alice KEN 15:05.49
5 Butler Kathy GBR 15:05.51 PB
6 Kipchumba Irene Kwambai KEN 15:14.35
7 Shobukhova Liliya RUS 15:15.89
8 Chenonge Ines KEN 15:25.11
9 Dubrova Maryna UKR 16:10.42
10 Kiptoo Carolyne KEN 16:15.41

1000m Chizhenko (RUS) 2:55.50 2000m Chizhenko 5:51.97 3000m Masai (KEN) 8:49.42 4000m Masai 11:47.32

1500m
1 Tomashova Tatyana RUS 4:02.27
2 Yevdokimova Natalya RUS 4:02.37
3 Yegorova Olga RUS 4:02.94
4 Zadorozhnaya Yelena RUS 4:03.10
5 Janowska Wioletta POL 4:03.31
6 Douma-Hussar Carmen CAN 4:04.01
6 Rodríguez Natalia ESP 4:04.01
8 Chojecka Lidia POL 4:04.10
9 Dehiba Hind MAR 4:04.57
10 Varga Judit HUN 4:05.39
11 Babcock Courtney CAN 4:05.74
12 Efedáki Konstadína GRE 4:06.23
13 Jakubczak Anna POL 4:06.23
14 Touhami Nahida ALG 4:06.42
15 Dejaeghere Veerle BEL 4:07.88
16 Ceplak Jolanda SLO 4:15.09
Ghezielle Bouchra MAR DNF
Paulino Tina MOZ DNF

400m Paulino (MOZ) 1:04.47 800m Paulino 2:11.22 1200m Yevdokimova (RUS) 3:17.07

This report from our Time-to-Run contributor

Time-to-Run Golden League Brussels