WILSON KIPKETER equalled Sebastian Coe's 16-year-old 800 metres world record in the grand Prix meeting in Stockholm last night.

Kipketer, who twice smashed the world indoor record earlier this year at the World Championships in Paris, looked to have failed by only one- hundredth of a second when his initial time was announced at one minute, 41.74 seconds, but minutes later it was corrected to 1:41.73 and the world record was his as well.

"I could hardly run in the last 50 yards," said Kipketer.

"After my time tonight I am a bit relieved. Now people will stop asking me about the world record," he added.

Until tonight, the 26-year-old former Kenyan, who moved to Denmark in 1990, was only the third fastest 800 metres runner, trailing Coe and Brazil's Joaquim Cruz.

But as Kipketer's performance in Paris showed, it is only a matter of time before the Dane will hold the 800 metres record on his own.

The World Championships in Athens in three weeks, where he defends his title, would be the perfect showcase to show he is the greatest 800 metres runner of all time.

Meanwhile, Moses Kiptanui's attempt to beat his 3,000 metres steeplechase world record melted in the hot Swedish evening sun.

The 26-year-old Kenyan was on a record pace after 1,000 metres but was unable to sustain the pace.

In the end he finished in 8:01.80, more than two seconds outside the record, in a race that was a Kenyan festival - the East Africans filling the first five spots.

In the 5,000 metres, Daniel Komen's world record bid ended in disaster. Not only did the Kenyan not come close to Haile Gebrselassie's record, he failed to finish in the first three.

Instead it was fellow Kenyan Tom Nyariki who won in 12:55.95, more than 10 seconds slower than Gebrselassie's 12:44.39, set in Zurich two years ago.

Ato Boldon of Trinidad joined the "Diamond Club" when he set a new 100 metres stadium record of 9.95. It earned the Olympic bronze medallist a

After three false starts, Boldon, made up from a slow start to power through to head home in front of Americans Maurice Greene and Dennis Mitchell.

Double Olympic champion Michael Johnson is unlikely to receive a wild card to compete in the World Championships in Athens next month after all.