Moroccan sports star El-Guerrouj in the Pantheon of World Athletics

Morocco's field and track star, Hicham El-Guerrouj entered the Pantheon of world athletics last July 14, when he shattered the World record on 1500 m setting it at the miraculous timing of 3:26, MAP reported.

The performance was seen by many an expert as a revolution in the field of world athletics, the Moroccan athlete having rocked Algerian Morcelli's record of 3:27:37.

However, this outstanding performance --the peak on 1500 m during this decade-- failed to propel El-Guerrouj to the throne of Athlete of the year, a title grabbed by the inimitable Haile Gebreselassie of Ethiopia.

But for the Moroccan star, this is no disappointment. El-Guerrouj, 23, believes he still have enough time and energy to achieve other feasts that will convince the IAAF (world athletics governing body) to award him the title.

"I can run the 1500 m in 3:24 and feel able to cover the 800 m in 1:43, the heir to the unforgettable Said Aouita, says with apparent confidence.

With his outstanding world record on 1500 m, El-Guerrouj now holds the world leadership of North Africa over the mid distance races. Aouita set the World record of the distance at 3:29.46 in 1985 and Algerian Morcelli established it at 3:27.37 in 1995.

The year 1998 was a season without a single defeat for El-Guerrouj who took up all the challenges, except shattering Morcelli's world best on the mile (3:44.39). This record will no doubt be El-Guerrouj's top objective for 1999.