Brussels athletic meets: Morocco's El Guerrouj scores 1500m year's best world performance

Morocco's athlete Hicham El Guerrouj scored Friday this year's best world performance at the 1500m race at the Brussels athletic meets.

The Moroccan champ, made 1500m world champion for the fourth time last week, run the distance in 3'28"40, past France's Mehdi Baala (3'28"98) and Kenya's Paul Korir (3'30"72).

Hicham El Guerrouj told the press he ran at only 50% of his potential, adding that he eyes an 1500m or mile world record. He also intends to prepare for the double 1500-5000m next fall.

In women's 5000m, Morocco's Zhor El Kamch and Zahra Ouaziz ended respectively 5th (15'11"78) and 6th (15'13"14). Ethiopia's Derartu Tulu won the race in 14'44"22.

In the 800m, Moroccan Amina Ait Hammou came in third in 1'58"66. The gold medal went to Mozambique's Maria Mutola who ran the distance in 1'57"78.