NICE, July 17: Moses Kiptanui's world record attempt in the 3,000m steeplechase, like in Stockholm nine days ago, melted in the hot conditions here yesterday.

Lemua's Kiptanui clocked 8:08:24 minutes which was well outside his own world mark of 7:59:18 minutes set in Zurich on August 16, 1995.

The 26-year-old triple world champion, unlike in Stockholm, was outside world record pace on 1,000m and from then on was content to just win.

Olympic 1,500m champion Noureddine Morceli and world 1,500m silver medallist Hicham el Guerrouj went for the metric mile.

However, poor pacemaking for both runners meant neither broke the world record.

El Guerrouj finished first in 3:30:32, over a second outside his world best time of the year, and nearly three seconds outside the world record.Morceli was all on his own at 1,200m as he led by about 15 metres with no one able to keep up with him.

The three-time 1,500m world champion recovered to clock an impressive 3:46:10, under two seconds off his own world record. World and Olympic 10,000m champion Fernando Ribeiro, having some speed training over 3,000m, won the 3,000m in the best time in the world this year of 8:37:14 minutes.

Portugal's Ribeiro was out ahead by the four lap-mark but a lap later Selina Barsosio of Kenya, fifth in the world cross country championships in Turin, surged into the lead.

However, Ribeiro bided her time and overtook Barsosio 80 metres from the line to finish strongly.

World championship contender Kim Batten of the United States dominated the women's 800m hurdles in 53.71sec, finishing well clear of her rivals.Carla Sacramento of Portugal destroyed the field to win the mile here in 4:25.00 minutes, the fastest time of this year.

Khaled Boulami, the Olympic games bronze medallist over 5,000 metres, showed impressive finishing speed to win the men's 3,000m in a new meet record of 7:30.99.

Women's World and Olympic triple jump champion Inessa Kravets of Ukraine finished fourth as Czech Republic's Sarka Kasparkova won with 14.72m.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.