Gail Devers in action 2002 Exxon Mobil Bislett Games (© Getty Images Allsport)
An American Hurdles record for Gail Devers was one of four world-leading season marks on the second day (1 March) of the USA Track & Field Indoor Championships at Roxbury Community College’s Reggie Lewis Track & Athletic Centre. Justin Gatlin (60m), Allen Johnson (60m High Hurdles) and Tim Rusan (triple jump) also produced global-leads. The top two finishers in each event qualifying for the IAAF World Indoor Championships, 14-16 March in Birmingham, England.
Gail Devers keeps on expanding her horizons. Devers, winner of six World championships and three Olympic gold medals (indoor and out, individual and relay), won her first national indoor title at 60m Hurdles.
In the semi-finals earlier on Saturday, Devers was timed in 7.74 seconds, so breaking her American record of 7.78 set on 7 February in New York's Madison Square Garden. The previous record of 7.81 set by Jackie Joyner-Kersee had stood since 1989 before Devers’ record rampage.
In yesterday’s final, Devers won in 7.85 for her 14th national title across four different events. Four-time indoor champion and Sydney Olympic 100m Hurdles bronze medallist Melissa Morrison was second in 7.88.
Devers is entering her second season coaching herself, after parting ways with Bob Kersee who coached her since her collegiate days at UCLA. She works out only with a video camera to review her technique, and her Pomeranian dog, ‘Kaleb Braxton Devers’ who often races alongside during workouts.
“I felt that I could have gone faster and that there was room for improvement,” Devers said about her performance on Saturday. “The final didn’t feel as good as the semi-final round. It wasn’t the best race for me technically. It felt a little shaky. This is my first national title in the hurdles, and that is a feat for me. I wanted my first round to be my best round.”
Terrence Trammell, who entered the meet as the world leader in the men’s 60m and 60m High Hurdles, was denied the flat sprint-Hurdles double by Allen Johnson and Justin Gatlin. Trammell finished second in both finals after running six races on Saturday!
“I knew that I had six races but you know the cliché: I was just taking one race at a time,’’ said Trammell, who plans to attempt a similar double in the World Championships. “But man, I am fatigued now.”
In the 60m Hurdles, Johnson overcame a sluggish start to overtake Trammell in the final two Hurdles to win in 7.39, a hundredth off the meet record. Trammell finished in 7.43.
In the 60m, Gatlin, 21, the 2002 NCAA 100m and 200m champion, who relinquished his final two years of collegiate eligibility at Tennessee to compete professionally, won in 6.45 with Trammell second with 6.48.
Angela Williams, the first four-time NCAA 100m champion - male or female - also notched up her first post collegiate title in the women’s 60m. Williams, the 2001 World Indoor silver medallist, was timed at 7.16 which defeated twice defending champion Chryste Gaines, who was second in 7.18. Williams’ victory avenged a defeat by Gaines in the Millrose Games when the two were timed in identical marks of 7.23.
“My legs were twitching all over,” Williams said. “Once I got out of the blocks, I felt much better. I seemed to be able to ease into the transition phase of the race. I just kept on pumping my arms and focusing on the finish. I know sometimes they think that I am not as strong as I need to be in the later stages of the race. Today, I was able to keep my concentration to the finish.”
Tim Rusan was a surprise winner in the men's Triple Jump, bounding to a world-leading 17.45m to surpass his previous best of 17.38m set last year. Walter Davis, the 2002 NCAA and USATF champion, was second at 17.23m.
Regina Jacobs kept her bid alive for a 1500m-3000m double with a win in the 1500m in 4:15.81. The mark was of course well off her World record of 3:59.84 set on this same track on 1 February.
Jacobs said she didn’t push the pace in hopes of conserving energy for today’s 3000m final, and hoped to use the national championships as a simulation for the rounds that she will encounter in the World Championships.
“What it will be like at the ‘Worlds’, was my approach to the events I selected, and how I am running this weekend,” Jacobs said. “Today was just a run. Tomorrow, I’ll go for a record.”
Derek Miles (5.75m) and Tyree Washington (46.43) won their first national titles in the Pole Vault and 400m respectively. Jason Lunn won the 1500m (3:42.23) for the second year in a row. Vanita Kinard, who won the women’s Triple Jump (13.72m), Monique Hennagan , the victor in the 400m (52.24) and Joanne Down, winner of the 3000m Race Walk (13;07.68) , won their events for the second year in a row.
In Friday’s compeitition, Anna Norgren-Mahon (22.85m) and A.G. Kruger (22.25m) were victorious in the men’s and women’s Weight Throw finals.
Kirby Lee for the IAAF
RESULTS –
MEN
60 metres
1. Justin Gatlin 6.45
2. Terrence Trammell 6.48
3. John Capel 6.49
60-metre hurdles
1. Allen Johnson 7.39
2. Terrence Trammell 7.43
3. Larry Wade 7.61
400 metres
1. Tyree Washington 46.43
2. Corey Nelson 46.53
3. Milton Campbell 46.55
1500 metres
1. Jason Lunn 3:42.23
2. Michael Stember 3:42.73
3. Charlie Gruber 3:43.35
Triple Jump
1. Tim Rusan 17.45
2. Walter Davis 17.23
3. Kenta Bell 17.06
Pole Vault
1. Derek Miles 5.75
2. Jeremy Scott 5.70
3. Timothy Mack 5.70
WOMEN
60 metres
1. Angela Williams 7.16
2. Chryste Gaines 7.18
3. Torri Edwards 7.21
60-metre hurdles
1. Gail Devers 7.85
2. Melissa Morrison 7.88
3. Damu Cherry 7.90
semi - Devers 7.74 USA rec
400 metres
1. Monique Hennagan 52.54
2. Megan Addy 53.88
3. Tiffany Barnes 54.01
1500 metres
1. Regina Jacobs 4:15.81
2. Sarah Schwald 4:17.23
3. Jenelle Deatherage 4:17.56
Triple Jump
1. Vanitta Kinard 13.72
2. Teresa Bundy 13.70
3. Yuliana Perez 13.63
