Berlin Track and Field Meet : Mexico’s Barrios Breaks 10,000 Record : His 27:08.23 Slices More Than Five Seconds Off Old World Mark

BERLIN — Arturo Barrios of Mexico, setting an early blistering pace, smashed the world 10,000-meter record with a time of 27 minutes 8.23 seconds in a Grand Prix track and field meet Friday.

Barrios cut more than five seconds off the previous mark of 27:13.81, set by Fernando Mamede of Portugal on July 2, 1984, at Stockholm.

“I knew earlier in the season that I could run a world record,” the elated Barrios said after the race.

“First of all, I have to thank my Polish coach, Tadeusz Koppka, and the two U.S. runners, Doug Padilla and Steve Plasencia, who kept pushing at a fast pace.

“My coach says I could run under 27 minutes, but let’s stop this (interview), I’ve got to phone my wife.”

Barrios, 25, a mechanical engineering graduate of Texas A&M;, quickly took command of the race and was cheered to the finish by about 35,000 at West Berlin’s Olympic stadium.

He was well inside a world-record pace early, and it was clear that Mamede’s mark would not survive if Barrios could hold on.

He did, leaving the rest of the strong field well behind. He crossed the line with his arms raised as the fans gave him a standing ovation.

Barrios came into the meet with the third-fastest time this year, 27:18.45.

In other highlights, Roger Kingdom of the United States posted another impressive victory, two days after setting a world record in the 110-meter high hurdles, and Carl Lewis outdueled Larry Myricks, stretching his winning streak in the long jump to 62 straight meets.

Kingdom won in 13.02 seconds, one-tenth of a second off his world record but still the second-fastest time this year and the sixth-fastest ever.

“It was a competition like any other,” Kingdom said. “I didn’t feel any different as the world record-holder.

“Still, it was my fourth-best personal performance. It could have been even better, but I was very careful in the end not to hurt myself.”

Last year, Kingdom ran 12.97 and 12.98.

Lewis had to come from behind to maintain his streak. Myricks led through the first four rounds in a close battle between the two Americans.

Myricks’ best jump was 27 feet 3 3/4 inches, to 27-2 1/2 for Lewis. But in the fifth round, Lewis sailed 27-6, giving him the victory. Myricks fouled on his final two jumps.

Another high point came in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles, Kevin Young beating Olympic champion Andre Phillips in the fastest time this year. Young was clocked in 47.86 seconds, while Phillips’ time was 47.94.

Tim Bright of the United States cleared 18 feet 10 1/4 inches to win the pole vault, while world record-holder Sergei Bubka of the Soviet Union failed to clear his opening height of 18-4 1/2.

Leroy Burrell of the United States won the 100 meters in 10.08 seconds.

Other American winners included Johnny Gray in the 800 meters, Mike Conley in the triple jump and Jan Wohlschlag in the women’s high jump.