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World records tumble in night of Weltklasse Magic

 Nick Davies reports

 First there were two Wilson Kipketers and tonight there were two Wilson Kipketer world records. Wilson Kipketer ran 1:41.24 to finally break the 800m world record of 1:41.73 he equalled earlier this season, less than an hour after Wilson "Boit" Kipketer improved the steeplechase world record to 7:59.08 in a glorious night of athletics in Zurich. And there was more to come later from Haile Gebrselassie …

Wilson Kipketer, wrenched the record right out of Seb Coe’s hands this time, just days after regaining his World Championship title. The early pace set by Joseph Tengelei was outrageous with the Kenyan flying through 400m in 48.10 seconds - compared to 49.6 for the previous record - but with Kipketer right on his heels. As the 24 year-old Dane, increased his lead - the crowd urged him on - and it seemed the record would fall. The Dane kicked with 200 metres to go but by the time he reached the straight he was was beginning to tire. As he made his agonising drive for the line - it seemed he might just fail - but the clock stopped at 1:41.24 . He had improved the record, first set in 1981 in Florence, by almost half a second. But with a more conservative early pace he is likely to dip under 1:41. "Everything was perfect tonight: the weather, the pace and the crowd," said Kipketer.

In the steeplechase Boit Kipketer outkicked Moses Kiptanui off the final barrier to slice a second off the record set here two years ago. Boit Kipketer crossed the line with his arms spread wide ahead of Bernard Barmasai (8:00.35) and Kiptanui (8:00.78). The race was fast, with 1000 metres reached in 2:39.12 and 2000 metres in 5:21.40, both inside the previous world record splits. "I didn’t expect the record but I just felt good and ran," said Boit Kipketer. " For this race I thank my Italian coach Dr Gabriele Rosa and also my former Kenyan coaches. My eight brothers and three sisters will be celebrating tonight." "When so many Kenyans start together in a race in this stadium, it is better to expect a world record. I would like to try at least once more but it is getting harder and harder’" said Kiptanui.

The climax of this superb night of athletics in the Letzigrund Stadium was a superb duel between Daniel Komen and Haile Gebrselassie ended with 10,000m World Champion Gebrselassie slashing almost three seconds off his own world 5000m record with 12:41.86. But although the record was impressive, it was the superb hand-to-hand combat between these great runners that had the screaming capacity crowd on its feet. Just days after the 6th World Championships in Athens, the race was a head-to-head between 10,000m World Champion Gebrselassie and 5,000m World Champion Komen. Both had been emphatic victors in Athens, Komen had beaten Gebrselassie dramatically last year here, but tonight it was the Ethiopian’s incredible change of pace that sealed the contest. Komen had led through 2,000m (5:06.11), 3,000m (7:38.07) and 4,000m (10:12.89) but Gebrselassie stayed right on his heels. As Komen led into the final lap, the Ethiopian waited until the middle of the back straight before unleashing his decisive kick. Komen could not respond and although Gebrselassie was hurting, he looked back twice in the final 100 metres, the victory was his. Komen was a little ungracious after finishing in 12:44.90, decrying the lack of pace-making contribution from the Ethiopian, but races are meant to be won, whatever the final time. "First I must thank the Kenyan runners," said Gebrselassie, "They set the perfect pace. The weather was also marvellous and the crowd too!" Dieter Baumann broke the European record with 12:54.70 in fifth place.

After Allen Johnson’s wonderful duel with Colin Jackson in Athens, hopes were high that the 110m hurdle world record would also go tonight. As in Athens, Jackson got the best start and Johnson the better finish, but this time Johnson powered through the hurdles rather than over them, while Jackson succumbed to the pressure of Mark Crear and Tony Jarrett. Johnson crossed the line, with a trail of wrecked hurdles behind him, in 13.13, with Mark Crear just a hundredth of a second behind and Jarrett third in 13.21. Igor Kovac, Slovakia’s Athens’ bronze medallist in Athens crashed back to earth by finishing eighth. "I hit many hurdles but it’s still a fast time," said Johnson. "I have four races left in Europe and will be motivated to break the world record. Anything can happen."

There had been talk of a world record in the 1500m from World Champion Hicham El Guerrouj, but it was Fermin Cacho who got the capacity crowd roaring in a thrilling race which saw six national records fall. The Spaniard, the superlative championship racer with 1 Olympic gold, 1 silver and two World Championship silvers in five years of African domination, tonight showed he could also impress on the clock by running 3:28.95 - to erase the European (and former world) record held by Britain’s Steve Cram since 1985. Cacho even looked like overtaking Hicham El Guerrouj in the final few strides but Morocco’s Olympic champion held on to win in 3:28.91 - a personal best and the fastest time of 1997. Olympic 5000m champion Venuste Niyongabo held off Noureddine Morceli - 3:29.43 to 3:30.23 - and also set a national record.

The women’s 800m seemed like becoming another another repeat of Athens until the script changed in the last 50 metres. Mozambique’s Maria Mutola paced Cuba’s Ana Quirot, but this time Mutola had the strength to hold on in the final 100 metres and dip across the line in 1:56.36, with Quirot just behind in 1:56.47. Jearl Miles, better known for her 400m running, was close to breaking the US record with 1:56.93 in fourth place. "There is no other way for me than dictating the pace from start to finish," said Mutola.

Michael Johnson, so accustomed to winning his 400m races from the front, has now learned to come from behind. The Texan, hampered by injuries this year, is clearly not 100%, but has the guts to pull through in the final, gut-wrenching 100 metres. Athens’ medallists Davis Kamoga (UGA) and Tyree Washington (USA) gave Johnson no respite as they sped through the first 300 metres. But as the trio came down the final straight, Johnson closed the gap and just edged ahead in the final metres. His winning time was 44.31, with Washington second in 44.38 and Kamoga third in 44.43.

The men’s 100m was expected to show if Donovan Bailey could gain his revenge on the 23 year-old American Maurice Greene. But although Greene beat Bailey easily, both had to give way to Frank Fredericks who was the surprise winner in 9.98. Bailey had a nightmare race finishing sixth in 10.17, one place ahead of Ato Boldon

Merlene Ottey, the grand old dame of sprinting, made up for her Athens heartbreak by winning the 100m in 10.93. With all eyes on Marion Jones and Zhanna Pintusivich, Ottey crept past to finish just a hundredth ahead of Jones. But the lanky American gained her revenge an hour later by running 21.76 to win the 200m.

The drama began early tonight when two Kenyans broke world junior records in successive B-races. In the 800m, 19 year-old Japeth Kimutai ran 1:43.64 (compared to 1:44.3 by Joaquim Cruz) while in the 1500m his 18 year-old countryman Noah Ngeny won the race in 3:34.54 (compared to Kip Cheruiyot’s 14 year-old mark of 3:34.92). Ngeny had already run a world junior best for the mile of 3:50.41 in Nice earlier this season (beating the hallowed mark of Jim Ryun). Both look set for glorious careers. The B 800m was a blistering race with four men under 1:44 seconds. Olympic silver medallist Hezekiel Sepeng - a disappointment in Athens where he went out in the semi-final - won a close race with the fourth fastest time of the year. Although four men were still in contention with 50 metres to go, the fast finishing Sepeng got the verdict in 1:43.44, with Burundi’s 1995 World Championship silver medallist Arthemon Hatungimana, second in 1:43.56 and young Kimutai, improving his personal best from 1:45.65, in third.

Lars Riedel confirmed his dominant form in the discus by throwing 68.84 for a comfortable victory. The amiable German admitted: "I needed a bit of luck today. Everything has got to be right for the big throws. A world record would have needed a hurricane though."

Sergey Bubka beat Maksim Tarasov again in the pole vault - although they cleared the same height of 5.90. Bubka even attempted a world record of 6.15. Norway’s Hanne Haugland completed a great week by setting a personal best of 2.01 in the high jump, days after becoming the World Champion. Second place went to Texan Amy Acuff, who didn’t qualify for the final in Athens, in 1.96.