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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Johnson Comes Through, Blisters World Indoor Mark For 400 Meters In 44.63

Compiled From Wire Services

Michael Johnson knew he would break his world indoor record in the men’s 400-meter dash at Saturday’s USA-Mobil Indoor Championships - and he was absolutely right, clocking a sensational 44.63 seconds.

Lance Deal had a feeling he would break his world indoor best in the 35-pound weight throw and he also was correct - not once, not twice, but three times, raising the mark by nearly 3 feet to 84 feet, 10-1/4 inches.

At the same time, two American records were broken. Sheila Hudson-Strudwick shattered her U.S. indoor record in the triple jump for the second time in a week, leaping 46-8-1/4, and Carlette Guidry-White took the women’s 200-meter dash record from an absent Gwen Torrence, clocking 22.73.

Johnson clipped a remarkable .34 seconds off the previous record of 44.97 he set last month at Reno, Nev. The victory was his 40th in a row, indoors and outdoors, in the 400.

Runner-up Derek Mills was duly impressed.

“Unbelievable!” he said. “It was the kind of race you like to sit and watch. Unfortunately, I was in it, behind him.”

The 33-year-old Deal, also the American recordholder in the outdoor hammer throw, first threw the weight 81 feet, 11 1/2 inches - 3 inches farther than the previous best of 81-8 1/2 he had set last month. He then improved the mark by more than a foot, throwing 82-11 3/4, before completing his record-shattering series.