Men's 1500m - FINAL...UPDATED RESULT after Jury of Appeal decision

In a thoroughly enjoyable and dramatically fought battle, Ethiopian Deresse Mekkonen captured a surprise victory in the men’s 1500m title tonight. But as it turned out, it took a little bit longer than the 3 minutes and 38.23 seconds it took the Ethiopian to reach the finish to sort out who would take what medal in the championships’ most entertaining contest thus far.

Over the course of the race, the lead changed hands no less than half a dozen times, and at the bell, at least six men were in solid contention, including the Spanish pair who electrified the sell-out crowd at the Palau Lluis Puig with their agressive running. Indeed, if the hosts could pull off a surprise at one event at these championships, the men’s 1500m was certainly near the top of the list.

Daniel Kipchirchir Komen took the initial lead from the gun, with New Zealander Nick Willis tucking in closely behind. Less than one lap into the race, Mekkonen made a move of his own, taking the lead 300m into the race.