Paris International Track and Field Meet : Moses Falls and Loses; Aouita Sets 2,000-Meter Mark

Edwin Moses fell on a rain-slickened track and lost the 400-meter hurdles for the second time in six weeks, and Said Aouita of Morocco set a world record in the 2,000-meter run Thursday at the Paris International track and field meet.

Moses, who had a 107-race winning streak snapped last month in Madrid, appeared to have a solid lead but hesitated as he approached the ninth hurdle. He hit the barrier soundly, then lay on the ground while Amadou Dia Ba of Senegal won the race in 48.89 seconds.

Tears streamed down Moses’ face as he walked off, but he said he was not injured. “I’m OK but I’m disappointed,” he said.

A light rain had stopped about 30 minutes before Moses’ race.

Danny Harris, who ended Moses’ winning streak June 5, was second in 48.98.

Aouita, already the world record-holder at 1,500 and 5,000 meters, left a strong field far behind, winning in 4 minutes 50.81 seconds--more than a half-second faster than the previous mark of 4:51.39 set by Britain’s Steve Cram at Budapest, Hungary, on Aug. 4, 1985.

“In the last lap, I accelerated to the maximum and I knew I would beat this record,” Aouita said. “I am very sorry for Cram, who is a very good friend of mine. I’m sure he can do better because he is a very good athlete.”

Innocent Egbunike of Nigeria won the 400 meters in 44.64, edging American Butch Reynolds, who was second in 44.77.