Morceli’s Present Is Indoor 1,500 Mark: 3:34.16

Noureddine Morceli of Algeria set a world indoor record of 3:34.16 for 1,500 meters on his 21st birthday Thursday in the Placido Fernandez Viagas track and field meet at Seville, Spain.

Morceli, who attends Riverside Community College, broke the record of 3:34.20 set exactly one year ago on the same track by Britain’s Peter Elliott. Spain’s Fermin Cacho was second in 3:35.26. Kevin Washington ran the first 800 meters in 1:53.55.

American Michael Johnson clocked the best time of the year for 400 meters, 45.46 seconds, to beat Danny Harris and world record-holder Thomas Schoenlebe of Germany.