Yomi Omogbeja (03/09/2004)

Morocco's Hicham El Guerrouj will attempt to break the world 3000 metres record tonight at the IAAF golden league meeting in Brussels.

Fresh from his rare double olympic gold medal heroics in Athens, El Guerrouj targets Kenyan Daniel Komen's 1996 time of seven minutes 20.67.

The Morroccan became the first athlete since Paavo Nurmi 80 years ago to clinch the Olympics 1500m and 5,000m titles in Athens.

The 1500m and 5000m champion will be squaring up to Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge in the race.

"I'll give it all I have," he said.

El Guerrouj will drop the 1500m next season to concentrate solely on the 5,000m.

The Brussels meeting will be devoid of African stars after all the Ethiopian athletes were called home to a presidential welcome in Addis Ababa.

see also:

El Guerrouj wins gold

El Guerrouj's win streak ends

El Guerrouj bounces back