Morceli's time of seven minutes, 25.11 seconds was nearly four seconds faster than the previous record set by Kenyan Moses Kiptanui in 1992, and Tuesday's feat was the Algerian's third world record, after the mile and the 1,500.
"I've hungered for this since last year," said Morceli, 24, who finished Monaco's Hercules Grand Prix track meet last year with a time of seven minutes, 29.24 seconds. "I had to compensate for that."
Kiptanui's time of seven minutes, 28.96 seconds was set Aug. 16, 1992, in Cologne, Germany. Morceli beat that by 3.85 seconds before a crowd of 12,000.
Morceli set world records in the mile, at 3:44.39, and the 1,500 meter at 3:28.82. He was the 1,500 world champion in 1991 and 1993 and has dominated middle-distance events. But in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, Morceli finished just seventh in the 1,500 when he was boxed in and was unable to get clear. It was won by Fermin Cacho of Spain.
Morceli, once a student at Riverside Junior College in California, was ranked top track and field athlete in 1993 by Track and Field News, the No. 1 magazine of the sport.
In the pole vault Tuesday night, Kory Tarpenning, an American based in Paris, upset Sergei Bubka by clearing 5.80 meters. Bubka, who had set his 35th world record Sunday in Sestriere, Italy, was fourth at 5.70 meters. He cleared 6.14 meters and won a Ferrari in Sestriere.
Like Bubka, Kenyan William Sigei, world record holder in the 10,000, failed in his try for a record in the 5,000. He lost to fellow Kenyan Simon Chemoiyo, with 13 minutes, 11.46 seconds to 13 minutes, 7.57 seconds.
Other notable performances included the 19.94 seconds by American Michael Johnson in the 200 meter and the 3:32.25 by Burundi's Venuste Nyongabo in the 1,500 meter.
In the 100 meter, Zambian Samuel Matete was a surprise win in the 100 meter at 47.90 seconds, edging American Derrick Adkins, who finished with 47.93.
In the women's categories, France's Marie-Jose Perec won the women's 400 in 49.97, the best time in the world this year.
Ilke Wyludda of Germany also set a year's best in the women's discus, throwing 66.12.
The world best for the year was equaled in the women's 100 hurdles, with Bulgaria's Svetlana Dimitrova clocking 12.53.
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