|
Fermin Cacho spent the majority of his middle-distance running career in
the shadow of Algerian world-record holder Noureddine Morceli.
Following his second place finish to Morceli in the 1500m at the 1993
World Championships in Stuttgart, Cacho had a relatively subdued year in
1994, competing in only a small number of meets. Cacho's main goal for
the year was the 1500m title at the European Championships in Helsinki,
and he seemed well on target when he won his heat in an impressive 3min
37.18sec.
In the final on 9 August, Cacho followed the early pace set
by Gennaro Di Napoli (Italy), before taking over the pace in the last
lap, eventually running away to easily win the gold medal (see photo above)
in 3min 35.27sec from compatriot Isaac Viciosa. In the absence of
Morceli, Cacho was considered a strong favourite for the 1500m at the
World Indoor Championships in Barcelona on 11 March 1995. At the bell,
the field was led by rising star Hicham El Guerrouj (Morocco), with
Cacho ominously poised at his shoulder. However, Cacho surprisingly
faded during the last lap, finishing sixth behind the young Moroccan.
Fermin struggled to find his form of previous years in the 1995 outdoor
season, finishing third in the 1500m at the European Cup meet in June,
and then 4th behind Morceli in a 1500m race at the Herculis meet in
Monaco on 25 July, although he did record a fast time in the 1000m, when
he won a race at Sonia on 16 June in 2min 17.70sec. The major event of
the year was the World Championships at Gothenburg, where Cacho just
managed to qualify for the final of the 1500m, and then was only able to
finish in eighth place behind Morceli and El Guerrouj who filled the
first two places. (Ron Casey)
|