Morocco's El Guerrouj attempts world mile best at Charlety meeting

Morocco's track and field star Hicham El Guerrouj will once again star at this evening's Charlety meeting of Paris where he will try for a new world record in the mile.

The new holder of the World 1,500 meter record (3:26.00) wishes to dispossess his former Algerian rival, Noureddine Morcelli, of his world best in the mile (3:44.39).

"I trained perfectly at Louvain (Belgium). I slept well, ate well, especially good pastas at an Italian restaurant. My motivation is high." A 3:42 or a 3:43 will be the objective of the new king of the world medium distances.

The ambition thus exists. And money too. Organizers promised a $70,000 prize for this record and only $50,000 for others. The pace-makers are also ready. Organizers and athletics fans only hope that weather conditions will be clement this time with the Moroccan star.

Bad weather conditions prevented El Guerrouj from shattering the 2,000 m record, which he missed by less than half a second at the Gateshead athletics meeting in northern England.