Report by Nick Davies

Just over a week ago, because of a lack of sponsors it seemed as if the legendary small-but-big athletics meeting in Rieti would not have a 28^th edition. But then athletes like Daniel Komen, Moses Kiptanui and Venuste Niyongabo, inspired by a season that has seen world records tumble, made it clear to Meeting Director Sandro Giovannelli that they were ready to add to the six world records (all at middle distances) set in Rieti since 1979 - regardless of how little was in the bank to reward them. This characteristic generosity - which extends to all the participants - adds to the special atmosphere of Rieti, the geographical centre of the Italian peninsular. The small stadium, which surrounds a six-lane track, may have seemed far removed from the huge arenas of Athens, Berlin or Rome, but the locals are genuinely proud of "their" event and "their" athletes are delighted to put on a great show.

In the end though, it proved to a meeting of near-misses.

Brave Moses Kiptanui, the 26 year-old athlete/coach who has inspired so many fantastic performances in the steeplechase this season, was a man on a mission in Rieti. After flashing through 1000m in 2:36, a stride behind the pacemaker Barmao, at 2000m Kiptanui was still five seconds inside the world record pace of Cologne with an incredible 5:15.75 . Urged on by a enthusiastic crowd and an expert announcer, it seemed as if Kiptanui - who had seen his own world record fall twice in close races with Wilson Boit-Kipketer and then Bernard Barmasai - was destined to regain it again. But the early pace had taken its toll, and with no-one to fight against Kiptanui finished the race in 8:00.54 - labouring through his final lap in 64 seconds. The influence of the Kenyan on this event cannot be overstated. Before 1997, no man except Kiptanui had ever gone faster than 8:05! Although disappointed that he was not able to regain his crown, Kiptanui was quick to seek out Daniel Komen, who he coaches, to give him some advice about his own record attempt. But in the end, Komen was alone for too much of the mile race and although he was faster than Noureddine Morceli had been at 800m on the same track during his record breaking run four years ago (1:50.7 compared to 1:51.80) he slowed significantly to go through 1000m in 2:21.50 and 1200m in 2:49.1 - a part of the race where Morceli had accelerated. Yet Komen’s final time of 3:47.85 - just over three seconds too slow - indicates the talented 21 year-old may just have to be patient.

The 1500m should have seen Hicham El Guerrouj going for a world record but he was controversially withdrawn yesterday. Instead, yesterday’s hero Morceli showed why he should not be buried quite yet by running 3:31.01 - and destroying a class inspired by returning to the stadium where he set two world records in successive years, resembled his old lethal self as he shadowed the pace maker through 400m in 55.31, 800m in 1:51.55 and 1200m in 2:48.44, with Kenya’s Laban Rotich (3:30.13 in 1997) and William Tanui (3:30.58) struggling 15 metres adrift.

In another record attempt, Venuste Niyongabo, the Olympic 5000m champion who trained with Wilson Kipketer this winter and has been running excellent times at 1500m and the mile this year, ran out an easy winner. His final time of 4:49.00 was the third fastest in history. The amiable Burundian, who is based in Siena, has now decided to concentrate on 1500m next season and will return to the 5000m in time for the 2000 Olympic Games.

Mark Everett, who went to Athens with a season’s best of 1:43.20 but finished last in the final, returned to winning ways in Rieti. Staying away from pacemaker Stubbs who passed 400m in 50.20, US Champion Everett surged into the lead halfway down the back straight. Once in the lead he held off Patrick Nduri and David Kiptoo to finish with 1:44.03, with the Kenyans clocking 1:44.40 and 1:44.42 respectively.

Hassiba Boulmerka, Algeria’s former Olympic and two-time World Champion at 1500m, seemed to have survived a brave attack from 19 year-old Kenyan Jackline Maranga before Russia’s Olga Nelyubova sprinted past both athletes after the final bend. Boulmerka’s season has been marked by lows such as Athens - where injury wrecked her hopes - and highs such as Monaco where she ran 4:02.62 - the fourth fastest time of the year. Nelyubova finished just behind Boulmerka that night but gained her revenge today. Kenya’s 10,000m World Champion Sally Barsosio, dropping down a few distances, finished ninth in 14:14.42, while her countrywoman Faith Macharia had a spectacular fall and finished second to last. Ekaterini Thanou, who was crowned World Student Games 100m champion in Sicily, proved a winner on the Italian mainland too, as she led virtually from the blocks to win the 100m in 11.25. In the men’s race Osmond Ezinwa finished strongly, overtaking fellow Nigerian Deji Aliu and fast starting World Indoor 60m champion Haris Papadias, to record 10.19. The latter’s powerfully built compatriot Giorgios Panayiotopoulos seemed to be cruising to victory in the 200m until Deji Aliu, running in the unfavoured lane 1, stole through late to snatch the race on the line.