El Guerrouj eyes Bekele's 5,000m world record

The 5,000m world record of Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele is the next target for Morocco's double Olympic champion Hicham El Guerrouj.

The 5,000 metres world record of Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele is the next target for Morocco's double Olympic champion Hicham El Guerrouj, the athletics legend revealed on Tuesday.

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The 30-year-old told Moroccan newspaper L'Opinion that it would be a massive task but he would definitely attempt it next year.

"In 2005, I have a huge target which is to break the 5,000m world record," said El Gguerrouj, who won both the 1500m and 5,000m titles at the Olympics last month after drawing blanks in his two previous Games.

"It is an enormous task. Bekele set a new mark this year of 12min 46sec, so one will have to be strong to try it but it will be a stirring effort to succeed."

El Guerrouj admitted that he was still trying to come to terms with what he had achieved in Athens where he at last won his elusive 1500m crown and downed Bekele in the 5,000m when the Ethiopian was also going for a double title having collected the 10,000m.