Hicham El Guerrouj wins Golden League Jackpot (© Getty Images Allsport)
Morocco's three time World 1500m gold medallist Hicham El Guerrouj will run the first competitive 5000m of his senior career next June in the Czech Republic.
El Guerrouj, who will try for gold in both the 1500m and 5000m at next year's IAAF World Championships in Paris and the following year at the Athens Olympics, will give a press conference next Monday in Prague to announce his plans.
He will run the 5000 metres on 12 June 2003 at the Ostrava IAAF Grand Prix meeting, in a tribute to legendary Czech long distance runner Emil Zatopek, the four time Olympic gold medallist, who among his medal haul won the 5000m at the 1952 Games. Zatopek subsequently also set a World record for the distance in 1954.
El Guerrouj, 28, the World record holder at 1500m and 2000m and the Mile, has said it would take only one 5000m to prepare him for the World Championships at the end of August. His personal best stands as a lowly 13:46.79 from way back in 1992, when he won the bronze medal at the World Juniors of that year!
Significantly, the Moroccan despite his numerous World Championship and World record successes at 1500m, has yet to win the coveted Olympic 1500m crown.
Mohammed Benchrif for the IAAF
