...saved for posterity as iaaf seems to have scrubbed 'em :http://mb.trackandfieldnews.com/discussion/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=25303&p=352121&hilit=rieti+2002#p352121
“I was inside Daniel Komen’s fabulous record until the last lap of the race. I completely cracked with 600m to go and in the ultimate 200m I dropped completely out of World record reach. But, looking back, I’m still proud that I ran 7:23.09, still the second best all-time 3000m performance.”
http://mb.trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/special-articles/95“In 2002, I was in such an incredible form in Rieti that I told my manager: I’m going to run 3:24.87! Indeed, during the race, I was on 3:24 pace, until the last straight when I suddenly lost my sensations, I lost my focus. One should stay concentrated during every hundredth of a second during the race.”
he split 2'44.75...