ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, March 2, 1997 TAG: 9703040014
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-7 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: ATLANTA
SOURCE: Associated Press
Mary Slaney, the queen of American distance running, made her first appearance in 23 years at the U.S. Indoor Championships on Saturday with a display reminiscent of when she won two world outdoor titles in 1983.
Running injury-free and confidently for the first time in years, Slaney won the women's 1,500 meters in 4 minutes, 3.08 seconds, fastest in the world since Doina Melinte of Romania set the world record of 4:00.27 in 1990.
The American indoor record-holder at 800 meters, 880 yards, 1,000 meters, 1,500 meters and in the mile, Slaney bolted to the front and wasn't seriously challenged as she beat runner-up Suzy Hamilton by about 40 meters.
``My strategy was that I wanted to go out hard,'' Slaney said. ``I realize that it's a national championship, but I think it's exciting to run fast times.''
In the meet's biggest showdown, two-time Olympic 100-meter champion Gail Devers beat Olympic bronze medalist Gwen Torrence by about two meters in the 60-meter dash in 7.00, fastest in the world this year.
But Slaney was the story.
It was Slaney's first appearance in the national indoor championships since 1974, when, at 15, she won the 880-yard title. In her only other appearance, in 1973, she finished fourth in the mile.
``If you go into a championship worrying about a fast pace, then you set yourself up,'' said Slaney, 38. ``If you go back to '84 when I fell, if I had gone out harder, that wouldn't have happened.''
LENGTH: Short : 39 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: AP. Mary Slaney (278) leads Suzy Hamilton (128) and Saraby CNBThorsett to the finish line to win the 1,500-meter run.