Moroccan Brahim Boulami's prediction that he would break the 3,000 metres steeplechase world record was spot on in the Memorial Van Damme Golden League meeting in Brussels last night as he shattered it, posting a time of seven minutes 55.28 seconds.
The 29-year-old broke the previous mark set by Kenya's Bernard Barmasai in Cologne four years ago of 7:55.72.
Boulami, only 10th in the World Championship final earlier this month as he was suffering from a foot injury, claimed on Thursday he was in the form of his life.
"I am the strongest now and I don't know if it is because the Kenyans are tired or what but it will be me that breaks it," he added.
Morocco's Hicham El Guerrouj came within a whisker of beating his world record in the 1,500 metres at the same meeting. El Guerrouj beat off a strong challenge from Bernard Lagat of Kenya to win in three minutes 26.12 seconds.
The time was just outside the world record of 3:26.00 set by El Guerrouj in Rome in 1998. Lagat came second in 3:26.34 and fellow Kenyan William Chirchir was third in 3:29.29.
Another African-dominated 3,000 metres saw Ethiopia's Hailu Mekonnen upset the Kenyan challenge by taking the win in 7:30.53. Newly crowned world 5,000 metre champion Richard Limo of Kenya was back in fifth (7:32.23) and Africans filled the top eight places.
The poor form of Mark Carroll got even worse, however, and he came home the last of the 16 finishers in 7:53.34 - some 20 seconds outside his best.
In the sprints, Tim Montgomery of the United States, freed from the shadow of injured world record holder Maurice Greene, stormed home to win the 100 metres. Montgomery was the only athlete to break 10 seconds finishing in 9.96 ahead of Trinidad's Ato Boldon in 10.04 and Abdul Aziz Zakari of Ghana, with the same time.
Marion Jones confirmed her dominance by beating newly-crowned world champion Zhanna Pintusevich-Block of Ukraine in the 100 metres. Jones, who had already beaten Pintusevich-Block in Zurich last week, powered through to win in 10.86 seconds. The Bahamas' Chandra Sturrup came second in 10.95, while EkateriniThanou of Greece was third in 10.96. Pintusevich-Block had to settle for fourth place in 10.99.
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