Ramzi claims Bahrain's first gold

Beijing: Bahrain's Rashid Ramzi won the men's 1500 metres on Tuesday when he powered away from the field on the final lap to claim his country's first Olympic gold medal.

Kenya's Asbel Kiprop, the only runner who could stay with Ramzi, won silver and New Zealand's Nicholas Willis took a surprise bronze to claim his country's first medal in the event since John Walker won gold in 1976.

The field led off at a slow pace headed by the two Kenyans and arrived at the bell bunched in a tight pack before Morocco-born Ramzi, the 2005 world champion, made his move to win in 3 minutes 32.94 seconds after a blazing 51-second final lap.

Kiprop clocked 3:33.11 and Willis 3:34.16.

The 28-year-old Ramzi moved to Bahrain in 2001 but continues to spend most of his time in Morocco.