Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, February 8, 1992 TAG: 9202080338
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NEW YORK LENGTH: Medium
OLDEST INDOOR TRACK RECORD FALLS
Mark Everett smashed the oldest world indoor track record in the books Friday night, the 600-yard mark set by Martin McGrady 22 years ago.The 23-year-old Everett, a bronze medalist at 800 meters in last year's World Outdoor Championships, circled the 3 3/4 laps around Madison Square Garden in 1 minute, 7.53 seconds, at the Millrose Games. That cracked the record of 1:07.6 set by McGrady on Feb. 27, 1970 at the Garden.
Everett came close last year, winning in 1:07.91, and was voted the meet's outstanding performer for his effort. Friday night, he was even better - and again was named the outstanding performer.
"To break a record that lasted so long is really something," Everett said. "There have been a lot of great runners in between."
Meanwhile, world indoor record-holder Andre Cason continued his sizzling performances in the 60-meter dash, world record-holder Mike Powell won the long jump with a modest leap, and Tony Dees foiled Greg Foster's bid for a record ninth Millrose hurdles title.
Cason, who set the indoor mark of 6.45 seconds last week, breaking the record of 6.48 held by Leroy Burrell, held off Burrell in winning his second straight Millrose title.
In winning his third race in nine days, the diminutive Cason charged out of the blocks quickly and held off the late charge of the bigger, stronger Burrell.
Cason, the 1991 world indoor champion, was timed in 6.52, with Burrell, the national outdoor 100-meter champion and former world outdoor record-holder, the runner-up in 6.55.
Powell, who shattered Bob Beamon's 23-year-old record and ended Carl Lewis' 10-year, 65-meet winning streak with a leap of 29 feet, 4 1/2 inches last year, won the long jump at 26-6 1/2.
Foster, who had won eight Millrose titles since 1980, was attempting to equal the meet record of nine hurdles victories set by Hall of Famer Harrison Dillard from 1947-55.
But Dees, the 1990 national indoor champion, beat his five opponents out of the blocks and led all the way in winning in 7.50. Jack Pierce was second in 7.66.
Diane Dixon equaled the Millrose mark for victories, winning her eighth women's 400-meter title and gaining her 14th title overall, matching the record set by Loren Murchison, winner of nine men's sprint titles and five relays during the 1920s.
Another expected winner was Jackie Joyner-Kersee, who took the long jump at 22-11 3/4, bettering the meet record of 22-8 1/2 she set in 1988.