DEVERS, ENGQUIST SHARE THE SPOTLIGHT; UCLA ALUMNA SETS MEET RECORD IN HURDLES.Byline: Kirby Lee Special to the Daily News Gail Devers' prayers were answered in the 100-meter-hurdles final in the World Track and Field Championships on Saturday night. Not only for herself but for Ludmila Engquist Ludmila Engquist (Lyudmila Viktorovna Narozhilenko, née Leonowa, Russian: Людмила Викторовна of Sweden, who competed despite breast cancer. Devers has been saying prayers for Engquist, the 1997 World champion, since she was diagnosed. Devers, 32, has also been praying for own well-being after overcoming Graves Disease Graves disease or toxic diffuse goitre or exophthalmic goitre Most common type of hyperthyroidism (oversecretion of thyroid hormone), usually with goitre and exophthalmos (eyeball protrusion). and missing last season because of a hamstring injury hamstring injury Sports medicine A muscle injury of biceps femoris, seen in sprinters and runners, when a contracted muscle meets a lengthening force, overpowering intrinsic muscle resiliency Management RICE, NSAIDs, gradual ↑ of pain-free activity–eg, . ``People keep asking me why I keep coming back,'' Devers said. ``My reason was that track was part of my life and I had to regain control of my life again.'' On Saturday night, Devers regained control of the world 100-meter-hurdles title. Devers clocked a championship-record 12.37 seconds for her third world title in the event. The mark was the fastest time in the world this year, a North American North American named after North America. North American blastomycosis see North American blastomycosis. North American cattle tick see boophilusannulatus. record and a dip under her previous national record of 12.46 set in 1993. Glory Alozi of Nigeria was second in an African-record 12.44 and Engquist was third in a national-record 12.47. Devers, winner of the 1993 and 1995 world titles, and Engquist embraced at the finish as they watched the replay on the video board and Devers told Engquist how proud she was of her courage. ``Just the fact that she came back and accomplished what she did lets everybody know that if you keep believing in yourself, dreams come true,'' said Devers, who came close to having her foot amputated while suffering from Graves disease from 1988-91. ``She makes me think back to what I had to overcome and what I had to go through, and it's a tough road. She's not done yet but she's already 15,000 miles ahead of where she should be and it's only going to get better. ``We as people should take her as an example when times get hard to reach down inside ourselves and find that inner strength.'' Devers, the 1992 and 1996 Olympic 100-meter champion from UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX , needed to find that strength after finishing fifth in the 100-meter final Sunday. In the 100-meter-hurdles final, Devers, who said the Lord's Prayer while in the blocks, dodged another heartbreak after banging her trail leg heavily on the last hurdle. Devers was knocked off stride but maintained her balance to avoid a repeat of the 1992 Olympic final in Barcelona when she led but fell into the final barrier. ``I kind of bumped it but I was determined to stay on my feet,'' Devers said. ``I didn't want `92 to come up again. Prayers do get answered.'' Devers, along with Inger Miller Inger Miller (born June 12, 1972 in Los Angeles, California) is a track and field sprint athlete, competing internationally for United States. She is the daughter of Lennox Miller, an Olympic champion runner from Jamaica. , winner of the 200 meters in a world-leading 21.77 on Friday, will be after their second gold medals in the 400-meter relay today. Devers anchored the U.S. 400-meter-relay team of Cheryl Taplin, Nanceen Perry Nanceen Perry (born April 19, 1977) is a former sprinter from the United States who won an Olympic bronze medal in 4x100 meters relay in Sydney 2000. Since Perry was a teamate of Marion Jones in the 2000 Olympic 400 metre relay, it is possible that her bronze medal may be and Inger Miller to victory in their preliminary heat to advance to today's final. Despite the absence of Marion Jones Marion Jones, also known as Marion Jones-Thompson (born October 12, 1975 in Los Angeles, California), is an American former athlete in track and field. She was the winner of five medals at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, which she later relinquished after , who withdrew from the meet because of back spasms in the 200-meter semifinals, the quartet clocked 42.28 for the fastest time in the world this year. Jones returned to the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. on Saturday morning to be examined by her personal doctor. She is still experiencing pain and has not made a decision regarding the remainder of the season. Maurice Greene Maurice Greene may refer to:
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Jon Drummond is known for being among the world’s best starters. , Tim Montgomery and Brian Lewis to a world-leading 38.06. The U.S. team will be heavily favored for their first gold medal in the sprint relay since 1993. Canada, the two-time defending champion, was disqualified dis·qual·i·fy tr.v. dis·qual·i·fied, dis·qual·i·fy·ing, dis·qual·i·fies 1. a. To render unqualified or unfit. b. To declare unqualified or ineligible. 2. for passing out of the exchange zone. Michael Johnson, who set a world record of 43.18 in the 400 final Thursday, will be seeking his record ninth gold medal in the 1,600-meter relay. USC An abbreviation for U.S. Code. senior Jerome Davis, the 1999 World University Games champion, ran the opening leg for the U.S. team of Joey Woody, Danny McCray and Angelo Taylor to a heat victory 3:00.79 for the No. 2 qualifying mark. WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS AT A GLANCE Saturday's winners: Gail Devers, United States, women's 100-meter hurdles, 12.37 Mirela Manjani-Tzelili, Greece, women's javelin, 220-1 Salah Hissou, Morroco, men's 5,000 meters, 12:58.13 Abel Anton, Spain, men's marathon, 2:13:36 Ivan Pedroso, Cuba, men's long jump, 28-1 Today's finals: Women's 1,500 meters Women's marathon Women's high jump Men's 800 meters Mens and women's 400-meter relay Mens and women's 1,600-meter relay CAPTION(S): Photo, box PHOTO Gail Devers, left, pulls ahead of Sweden's Ludmila Engquist, who competed in the World Track and Field Championships despite having breast cancer. Box: World Championships at a Glance (see text) |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion