TRACK: DEVERS BECOMES FIRST AMERICAN TO DOUBLE IN 60S.

Byline: Kirby Lee Special to the Daily News

BOSTON - Gail Devers added another milestone to her already-impressive career in the USA Track and Field Indoor Championships on Saturday.

The 37-year-old Devers became the first American to win the 60 meters and 60-meter hurdles in the national championships to highlight the second day of the three-day meet at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center at Roxbury Community College.

The UCLA graduate clocked 7.81 seconds to win the 60-meter hurdles and won the 60 by three-thousands of a second over former USC runner Torri Edwards, 7.116 to 7.119, less than an hour later.

Devers matched a feat accomplished only by Chi Cheng of Taipei, who won the sprint and hurdle titles at the 1970 national championships when foreign athletes were allowed to compete.

``I had never done it for myself,'' Devers said. ``I didn't care who else had done it. I was looking at my record. Each year, I have to find something else for me to achieve.''

The top two finishers in each event qualified for the IAAF World Championships from March 5-7 at Budapest, Hungary. Devers is the defending 60 hurdles champion and won the 60 in 1993 and 1997.

In the 60 hurdles, Devers led a 1-2 finish by former UCLA athletes with Joanna Hayes taking second in 7.91. The 60 was a lot closer with Devers dipping at the line to defeat Edwards. It took several moments to review the finish before the times were posted on the video board.

``I am glad that I have an egghead instead of a forehead,'' Devers said. ``I have won some close races with it.''

Maurice Greene of Chatsworth had to pull up in the men's 60 with a hamstring injury. It was his first race since limping off the track in the 100 semifinals at the 2003 World Championships in Paris.

``I just basically wanted to come here and get my start together,'' Greene said. ``As anybody can see I think the first 30 to 40 meters was very good. I was powerful and went through my phases really good and I just eased up. It was good technique but it could get better. I am on the right path. It doesn't make sense to take any chances right now.''

Santa Clarita's Allyson Felix, an 18-year-old L.A. Baptist graduate, was seventh in the women's 60 in 7.33. Felix, who bypassed a scholarship to USC, to run professionally recently began training with Pat Connolly, the former coach of Evelyn Ashford.

USC senior Allen Simms, the 2003 NCAA indoor triple jump, added his first USATF title, bounding a school record 55-4 3/4.