SAID AQUITA claims to be greatest distance runner in the world, for those who saw him break the 13minute barrier in the men’s 5,000 meters at the Rome Olympic Stadium, it sounded like a natural claim.
“I am the greatest runner in the world”, he shouted after completing a victory lap at the Golden Gala meet.
“Nobody has ever had a string of great times such as mine for all distances from the 1,500 10 the 10,000 meters”, the 26yearkold Moroccan said after running the 5,000 in 12 minutes, 58.39 seconds,
‘The time shattered Aouitta’s ‘own world record of 13:00.40 which had been on the books since 1985.
Aouita holds the world record for the 1,500 at 3:29.46, and also for the two miles and the 2,000 meters,
He said he had come to Rome {just to win, not expecting a world record performance after breaking the world record for the 2,000 in Paris a week ago with 4:50.81.
And when he set out all alone for the last four laps of the 5,000 meters in Rome, with the temperature at 30 degrees centigrade (86 Fahrenheit), it appeared to be a desperate try,
Aouita went on with great persistence and made it.
“Had I realized I was in such a 00d form, I’d have tried to run in 12.50,” Aouita said, “I could have done it.
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