By David Martin, PA Sport
Thursday, September 27, 2007
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Farah - runs in Newcastle this weekend. |
Farah, the top European in the recent World Championship 5,000m final when he finished sixth, is adamant his career is progressing satisfactorily after his breakthrough last year.
The 24-year-old Somalia-born star followed up winning the European 5,000m silver medal last year by trouncing his rivals to become only the second Briton to win the EuroCross crown.
"I finished second at the European Championships on the track then won the European Cross Country.
"That gave me a lot of confidence," added Farah, adamant he will eventually mix it with his African rivals who still virtually dominate the 5,000m and 10,000m.
That saw the London-based athlete set himself a target for this summer, which he easily achieved at the World Championships in Osaka.
Farah said: "I had a chat with my coach and we decided I should aim to go to the worlds, and get through the heats and into the final.
"I finished sixth in the final. It was good, and again it was close."
He insisted: "I'm getting there. Every year I'm kind of progressing, I think that's the main thing to run and keep going up a level.
"I want to run under 13 minutes," a feat that would see him finally surpass the British record of 13mins 00.41secs which David Moorcroft achieved in 1982 - then a world record.
"I don't know when it will happen but I am getting closer. 13mins 09secs - 13mins 07secs now, hopefully I will get there."
Farah will have a short break after his 3km clash in Newcastle with Australia's Craig Mottram and Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya before embarking on his winter season.
"I want to defend my European cross-country title - I'm really excited about it," said Farah.
"I'm going to go to South Africa on 22nd October and prepare and hopefully come back do one race, and see where I am."
Source: PA Sports, Sept 27, 2007