Coe Nearly Falls but Recovers to Win as Ovett Finishes Ninth

Sebastian Coe unleashed a dramatic kick after stumbling over a falling opponent to win his 1,500-meter showdown with Steve Ovett in the British Amateur Athletic Assn. Championships at Birmingham, England.

Coe recorded a time of 3 minutes 41.38 seconds to win the first race ever on a British track between the former Olympic champions and earned an automatic spot on England’s team for the 1990 Commonwealth Games in New Zealand.

With 500 meters left, Steve Crabb tripped and fell. Coe stumbled over Crabb and nearly fell, wincing and grabbing his left hamstring as he regained his balance. He fell to eighth place, 40 meters back, before coming on to win.

Ovett managed to steer clear of Crabb but faded to finish ninth in 3:45.85.