Athletics Australia © Copyright 2007

Craig Mottram has put the disappointment of last year’s world championships behind him, opening his Olympic year campaign in the best possible way with a stunning win over 3000m at the Boston Indoor Games.

Meanwhile at home,former world no.1 Steve Hooker has joined the exclusive 6.00m club, clearing the magical barrier in interclub competition in Perth. (See seperate story)

The two-time world cup winner over the same distance outdoors, Mottram produced the fastest ever indoor 3000m in US soil, breaking Haile Gebrselassie's U.S. all-comers record, and his own Australian national record in stopping the clock at 7:34.50.

His previous best of 7:39.24 was set in Boston last year.

Mottram, who has spent more than eight weeks at altitude training at Falls Creek in preparation for his opening races of 2008, ran on his own in the later stages of the race, picking up speed before hitting the tape to beat Gebrselassie's mark of 7:35.24, set in Boston in 2004.

Markos Geneti of Ethiopia was a distant second in 7:41.81, with some-time training partner Andrew Baddeley of Great Britain third in 7:45.10.

"I decided to go past the pacemaker after 1200m - he was supposed to go for 1600m but I could sense he was slowing down and I wanted to run fast,” Mottram said from Boston.

"I knew I was in good shape after a lot of time at Falls Creek since November - so I wanted to have a good hard run.

"I could see on the big screen in the stadium that I was well clear with about four laps to go but I knew the stadium record was 7.35 something so I made sure I pushed hard enough to beat that.

"It's nice to be the fastest person to have ever run 3k in America but it's even nicer to beat one of Haille's (Gebreselassie) records. The only thing better would have been to have him here in the race and have beaten him. He's the greatest ever and I had one my best ever races with him London but unfortunately he beat me that time.

Mottram will now fly to New York where he will attempt to prevent reigning world 1500m and 5000m champion Bernard Lagat from collecting his sixth Wanamaker Mile victory at the 101st Millrose Games in New York (February 1).

"Now I'm looking forward to a good race in the mile at Milrose with Bernard. He beat me last year - but I feel I'm much fitter this year so hopefully I can turn the tables on him there."

Following his Madison Square Garden appearance Mottram will return to Australia to take on two of Ethiopia’s foremost distance runners, Tariku Bekele and Abreham Cherkos Feleke in the 5000m national title at the IAAF World Athletic Tour meeting – Melbourne on Thursday, 21 February.

"It's good to know I can still run at the top level - but I'm well aware there is a long way to go until we get to Beijing in August but I feel I've learned plenty from last year and will get there ready to run my very best,” Mottram said.

Boston Indoor 3000m results                                                         

  1 Craig Mottram              AUS                   7:34.50
  2 Markos Geneti              ETH                   7:41.81
  3 Andrew Baddeley          GBR                   7:45.10
  4 Adrian Blincoe             NZL                   7:48.94
  5 Nick Willis                   NZL                   7:51.35
  6 Josh Rohatinsky            USA                   7:52.90
  7 Kevin Sullivan             CAN                   7:54.01
  8 Thomas Morgan            USA                   7:59.30
 -- Christian Hesch            USA                   DNF