ROME -- Said Aouita of Morocco has said many times he is the greatest runner in the world. Who's going to argue with him?
He has proved awesome anywhere from 1,500 to 10,000 meters. This year, he established record times over 2 miles (8 minutes, 13.45 seconds), 2,000 meters (4:50.81) and 5,000 (12:58.39). He already held the mark in the 1,500 (3:29.46).
Aouita also ran a mile in Helsinki, Finland, July 2 and finished 44-hundreths of a second shy of Briton Steve Cram's mark of 3:46.32. He's participated in the 800 twice this year and once in the 1,000 and 3,000. In Tokyo next month, he plans to resume the steeplechase, in which he was ranked second as a junior in 1975.
But at the World Track and Field Championships, Aouita will run only the 5,000, which begins Thursday. There won't be any 800 or 10,000, as was the speculation for weeks.
'I want to run that here to close the story of the 5,000 meters,' Aouita said Monday at a news conference. 'I am the Olympic champion, I have two records in the event. Next year will be another story. I will do other things beside the 5,000 meters.'
In Rome, the only thing this 'decathlon man of running' plans on doing is winning. The only person to crack 13 minutes in the 5,000, he has won his last 36 races at the distance. His confidence appears boundless.
'Who do you fear most in the 5,000?' asked a reporter.
Aouita: 'The clock.'
Reporter: 'I mean, what runner do you think will be your biggest threat?'
Aouita: 'I don't know who will come in second because all of them will be second. I don't know who is going to run in the 5,000 so I don't care. When I run the 1,500 I know Steve Cram is running. In the 5,000, I don't know. So I can't answer it.'
Reporter: 'How long do you think your record will stand?'
Aouita: 'About two days.'
He likely will be aided in the 5,000 by a 'rabbit,' countryman Brahim Boutayib. Aouita predicts a run of 12:56, which would surpass his record of 12:58.39 set last month at Olympic Stadium, the site of these Championships.
He said he has been examined by the personal physician of King Hassan of Morroco and no longer has muscle problems in his legs.
'The last 10 days I have been running,' Aouita said, 'and I'm ready for anything.'
