1997 World Championships in Athletics – Men's 1500 metres


These are the official results of the Men's 1.500 metres event at the 1997 World Championships in Athens, Greece. There were a total number of 44 participating athletes, with four qualifying heats, two semifinals and the final held on Wednesday 6 August 1997.
The final was a slow, tactical race from the start, with Morceli tracking El Guerrouj all the way. Estevez tried to slow the pace down even further in the second lap to allow Cacho to save energy for his fast sprint finish. With the whole field still bunched up with 600m to go, El Guerrouj put on a burst of speed which only Morceli and Cacho were able to follow, but eventually, they too were dropped as El Guerrouj wound up the pace faster and faster. Cacho sprinted past Morceli in the home straight, and the dispirited defending champion slowed down towards the finish, allowing Estevez to pip him at the line for the bronze medal.

Results

Heats

HeatRankNameResultNotes
313:36.20Q
323:36.40Q
333:36.64Q
343:36.69Q
453:36.72Q
363:36.72Q
373:36.77q
483:37.16Q
193:37.26Q
1103:37.28Q
1113:37.37Q
1123:37.42Q
4133:37.43Q
4143:37.45Q
4153:37.50Q
1163:37.57Q
1173:37.70q
1183:37.75q
3193:37.99q
4203:38.02
1213:38.21
4223:38.34
3233:39.01
4243:39.52
2253:40.17Q
4253:40.17
2273:40.25Q
4283:40.30
2293:40.39Q
2303:40.41Q
2313:40.43Q
2323:40.46
2333:41.02
2343:41.23
2353:41.48
2363:41.54
1373:41.69
2383:42.83
1393:44.16
1403:44.95
3413:45.37
4423:50.64
3433:50.65
3443:58.29

Semifinals

HeatRankNameResultNotes
213:38.82Q
223:38.86Q
233:38.86Q
143:38.92Q
253:38.92Q
263:38.92Q
273:39.01q
283:39.13q
193:39.15Q
2103:39.45-
1113:39.50Q
1123:39.62Q
1133:39.69Q
1143:39.84
1153:39.97
2163:39.99
2173:40.15
2183:40.21
1193:41.63
1203:41.95
1213:42.01
2223:42.61
1233:47.51
1—DNF

Final