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Farah doesn't fear African threat

Mo Farah is unbeaten in his last nine starts © Getty Images

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Mo Farah insists he is not scared by the threat of the Kenyans as he bids to add a world title to his European crown.

The double European champion over 5000 and 10,000 metres is enjoying his best year to date; having set a new British and European 10,000m record in June, Farah is unbeaten in his last nine races. However, the 10,000 world title has not been out of Ethiopian or Kenyan hands since 1983, and Farah faces a real test to break 28 years of African dominance in the event.

Four-time defending champion and world record holder Kenenisa Bekele is unbeaten over 25 laps but has not raced competitively since January 2010.

Farah heads to South Korea in the form of his life and despite the Kenyans' tendency to work as a team and squeeze individuals out, Farah insists he is not afraid of being bullied out on the track.

"I don't feel isolated, I'm not scared by those guys, I get on well with them," Farah said.

The 28-year-old, who moved his wife and daughter to Oregon last year to work with former New York marathon champion Alberto Salazar, believes that the Africans no longer have an advantage over the rest and insists there will be no room for excuses if he fails to live up to expectation.

"Sure, they live at altitude, yes they have a great desire, they want it," he admitted. "But we have the facilities over here. I think it evens itself out. Anyway, I'm not looking for excuses. As an athlete, there's nowhere to hide. You've just got to look to yourself.

"Every second counts. One, two per cent could make a difference. I went to the US to find those percentages. People say don't change when things are going well, I felt the opposite. And it's worked. Compare me to last year, I'm much stronger, I'm running much better."

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