NEW YORK – Two veteran gold medalists broke American records to make Friday night ladies’ night at the 96th Verizon Millrose Games, the second stop on USA Track & Field’s 2003 Indoor Golden Spike Tour. More than 11,000 fans filled New York’s Madison Square Garden for the record-setting evening.

Ageless Gail Devers broke a record set by a track and field legend, burying the field in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 7.78 seconds to break Jackie Joyner-Kersee’s previous AR of 7.81, set in 1989. For her performance, Devers was awarded the Fred Schmertz Outstanding Performer Trophy. Melissa Morrison was second in the race at 7.95, with Jamaican Brigette Foster third in 7.97.

Defending Olympic gold medalist and outdoor world record holder Stacy Dragila broke her own, six-day old American record in the Visa women’s pole vault, clearing 4.72 meters/15 feet, 5.75 inches. The mark improved on her record of 4.71/15-5.5 set February 1 at the first stop on the Golden Spike Tour, the adidas Boston Indoor Games. Kellie Suttle was second in the competition with a clearance of 4.45m/14-7.25.

Though she said she wasn’t surprised by her time, the record in the hurdles was unexpected for Devers. The two-time Olympic 100m champion and three-time World Outdoor 100m hurdles gold medalist had hoped to run the 60m dash at Millrose. But meet director Howard Schmertz had something else in mind.

“I have to say thank you to Howard (Schmertz, Verizon Millrose Games meet director),” Devers said. “I wanted to sprint this indoor season, but he said I had to hurdle if I wanted to be in the meet. I said, that’s fine, if that’s what they want me to do, I’ll do it. I’m very happy with the time.”

She was even happier given that she had dedicated her race to a critically ill youngster in her hometown of Atlanta. “I dedicated this race to a three-year-old named Jalen, who is in the Atlanta hospital, having (had) his third heart surgery,” Devers said. “I knew me dedicating that race to Jalen, god was going to take hold.”

Dragila continued the firm hold she has on her own event. Though pleased with breaking the American record in the Visa women’s pole vault on Friday, she left Madison Square Garden wanting more.

“I was really happy with my performance,” Dragila said. “When you get out there and jump an American record which is so close to the world record, you think, let’s go out there and get it … I walked off the pit angry (that she didn’t get the world record). It’s good to go home and still have something to work toward.”

The sprint events also brought excitement to the Verizon Millrose Games, with close finishes and dramatic races. In the women’s 60-meter dash, defending U.S. indoor champion Chryste Gaines overcame a scintillating start by World Indoor silver medalist Angela Williams to nip Williams at the tape. Both women were timed in 7.23 seconds, but Gaines was given the nod to win her first Verizon Millrose title.

The Verizon men’s 60m dash also featured a fast start by a promising young athlete as 21-year-old NCAA champion Justin Gatlin got out of the blocks quickly. Defending U.S. champion Terrence Trammell then took the lead, winning in 6.51 seconds to 6.54 for Gatlin. World record holder Maurice Greene was third in 6.57.

Trammell also figured in the men’s 60 hurdles, run just 25 minutes before the sprint. In the hurdles, it was Trammell who got the fast start before being overtaken by 2002 Millrose champion Larry Wade. Wade finished in 7.48 seconds, just .01 off Trammell’s meet record. Trammell was a fraction back at 7.49. Allen Johnson finished third in 7.51.

Kenya’s Bernard Lagat, the World Championships 1,500m silver medalist, made sure the Wannamaker Mile wasn’t as suspenseful as the sprints by running away from the field early on, leading by more than a full turn for most of the race before breaking the tape in 4:00.36.

America’s best two women’s high jumpers went head-to-head and came away with a draw. Tisha Waller and Amy Acuff both cleared 1.95m/6-4.75. After a jump-off in which neither woman cleared a height, they called it a night – and a tie.

In the John Thomas men’s high jump, it was American Charles Austin – the 1996 Olympic gold medalist and Olympic record holder – matching heights with Canadian Mark Boswell at 2.27m/7-5.25. Boswell, however, went on to win with a clearance of 2.31m/7-7.

In other events, Hazel Clark won the women’s 800m in 2:07.66, while David Krummenacker won his second consecutive Verizon Millrose title in the 800 in 1:50.20. Running his first race since 2001, Tyree Washington won the men’s 400m in 48.80. Jearl Miles-Clark took the women’s 400 in 55.08. Taking advantage of Regina Jacobs’ withdrawal due to a slight adductor injury, Elena Iagar of Romania easily won the Fred Lebow women’s mile in a time of 4:36.08. Derek Miles unseated Jeff Hartwig as the champion in the Fred Schmertz men’s pole vault with a clearance of 5.70m/18-8.5.

ATHLETE QUOTES – 2003 VERIZON MILLROSE GAMES

Gail Devers, women’s hurdles winner: “I’m pleased with my time. I felt a little shaky with some aspects of the race, but I’m very, very thankful. I dedicated this race to a three-year-old named Jalen, who is in the Atlanta hospital, having his third heart surgery. I knew me dedicating that race to Jalen, God was going to take hold. I have to say thank you to Howard (Schmertz, Verizon Millrose Games meet director). I wanted to sprint this indoor season, but he said I had to hurdle if I wanted to be in the meet. I said, that’s fine, if that’s what they want me to do, I’ll do it. I’m very happy with the time. I see some places to improve. I’m very pleased I could open the season like this. Last year, I was sick. I’m in my second season of coaching myself.” On coaching herself: “It’s me and a 7-pound Pomeranian and God out on the track.” “I actually didn’t know what the American record was, that’s how unprepared I was for this race. … I used to say I’m going year by year, but now I’m going day by day. … The New York fans have always been crazy about track and field. It’s just exciting. They know about track and field, they know the athletes. For me, I’m just glad to be a part of it.”

Stacy Dragila, women’s pole vault winner. “I was really happy with my performance. When you get out there, jump an American record which is so close to the WR, you think, let’s go out there and get it … I walked off the pit angry (that she didn’t get the world record). It’s good to go home and still have something to work toward. I wasn’t technically perfect tonight. On takeoff I felt I wasn’t as upright as I should have been. I was on bigger poles today than I was in Boston, and they actually felt a little soft. So it’s good. I’m hungry right now, and I want to feel the stiffer poles. … I feel great right now, and I’m excited that I’m back and I flushed last year down the toilet. I had critics who said I was done. I’m not done. I’m not close to being done. I love that Svetlana (Feofanova) has the world right now because it makes me very hungry to go out and train and get the record back. I want to prove my critics wrong and get people excited.”

Amy Acuff, women’s high jump co-winner: “I thought my jumping was really promising tonight. I was a little disappointed that I ran out of gas at the end. I was really tired in my attempts at 6-6 – I was trying to force it and execute it, but it turned to duck slop. … I was a lot faster than I’ve ever been before on my run. I attribute it to being more stable on my heels.”

Larry Wade, men’s hurdles winner: “I had the worst start that I possibly ever had. I just kind of moved. Once I found myself behind, I didn’t panic. John Smith and I worked on what we call our “drop zone,” which is from the third hurdle on. It worked for me tonight. … it’s the zone where I try to drop other athletes. To win the same race as all those guys – Renaldo Nehemiah, Greg Foster – it’s a great honor. I respect that a lot.”

Chryste Gaines, women’s 60m winner: “Earlier this week, I was talking to MSG TV. The reporter was asking me what one word Millrose means to me. I said redemption. I’ve never won here. I’m glad to come away with a win, finally. I think I’ve been here every year for last nine years, except one. I’m pretty happy with the win. The time is better than last week. I’m happy that it’s coming down. I didn’t even notice (Williams on the lead) until I got to the finish line. Once you check up in a dash, you’re pretty much lost. When I start looking around to see what everyone else is doing, I get distracted. This is one of the best venues to run in indoors because the crowd is knowledgeable, they give you the energy you need, and heck, it’s New York. It’s Madison Square Garden.”

Justin Gatlin, second in men’s 60m: “I felt really anxious Wednesday coming here. I was ready to run when I first stepped off the plane and I was really excited. I just wanted to run. I didn’t want to go out or see any sights. I’ve been working on my starts and acceleration. I was strong out of the blocks. I stumbled a little but I can correct that.” On beating Maurice Greene: “To me, everybody’s the same. It’s all equal.”

Terrence Trammell, men’s 60m winner: “When you go against the world record holder and one of the greatest of all times (Greene) and you’re going against Drummond and one of the great ones coming up with Gatlin, you’ve got to know what you’re doing. I just give it all to God, because I came up and ran a difficult double. All I wanted to do was come out here and execute the best that I could. I felt at a certain point in my hurdle race, I lost my aggression. I didn’t want to dwell on my second-place finish in the hurdles because I know I had another race to run I wanted to put that as far out of my mind as possible and get ready for the next race.”

Maurice Greene, third in men’s 60m: “Terrence ran a great race. I didn’t run too well, but you’ve got to give him everything. When you step at the line, you’ve got to be aggressive. I wasn’t aggressive enough. I was a little bit too patient. I’ll never do that again. You have game plans going into a race. Mine didn’t work.”

David Krummenacker, men’s 800m winner: “It felt good. It was my first 800 of the year. I just wanted to maintain close contact because I wasn’t sure what kind of pace they were going to run today. My strategy was to get up there. I felt really good last week running the 1500. As ironic as it may sound, it’s a little easier to run an 800m off base training. Today was pretty easy. I felt very comfortable. I’m still chasing some records, including my own management group (Global Athletics and Marketing, which employs former 800m runner Rich Kenah).”

Charles Austin, men’s high jump runner-up: “It feels good. I’ve been in the sport for a long time. This is my 15th year doing this. It feels good to be out there with Mark (Boswell) and Nathan (Leeper) and (Charles) Clinger. I’m pleased. My training has been going very well, I just need to jump more. Right now my rhythm and technique is not where I want it to be. I should jump very well this year. … The high jump is an event where, if you take care of your body, you can have a long career. As you get older, your muscles get stronger, they mature and you have more knowledge. You can jump well up until your 30s – look at Carl Lewis. The fire is still there, the drive to compete.”

Mark Boswell, men’s high jump winner: “It was a fun meet. I used to have a picture of him (Charles Austin) on my wall. He’s like a big brother. It’s great to have him here to tech us how to take care of ourselves when we’re in Europe. We don’t bust him, because we know he’s going to put it on us at the next meet.”

Tyree Washington, men’s 400m winner: “I felt kind of awkward out there tonight. It was my first meet back in a year and half since I had the problem with my hamstrings in 2001. Tonight I had those question marks, but God answered my question marks tonight.” On what he did during his time away from the sport: “You never now what’s going on in someone’s life. I had to put away my sister. I had to testify against my sister in court for first-degree murder. It’s been a whirlwind. I didn’t know if I was going to come back to track. She’s in a state penitentiary for the rest of her life. I use that as motivation to do something good in my life. … I worked for probation department for seven months in Riverside County (Calif). I got tired of handcuffing kids. I’d rather counsel them than handcuff them. I ‘m happy to be back. I just pray every day to stay injury-free and illness-free. Last year was hard just watching my buddies run. … The month of August, 2002, I testified against sister. I didn’t want to go through running anymore. My confidence was low, my self-esteem was low. But I think all in all, that just made me stronger.”

Jearl Miles-Clark, women’s 400m winner: “It’s been a pretty tough year for me, because we made the move from Gainesville to Knoxville. The biggest change was the weather, so we’ve had to redo my training. In Gainesville we trained year-around outdoors. It’s been very cold in Knoxville, and there’s been days when there was snow on the track. Luckily Joetta (Clark-Diggs, her sister-in-law), who went to school there, gave us some tips. They’d run up stairs at a building they call Stokely. I still haven’t gotten a routine down, and I’m not where I want to be. The strategy was to take the lead on the break and control the break. That’s what I did. I went out a little too wide (on the final turn), but I made it to the tape first, so I’m really happy.”

Bernard Lagat, men’s mile winner: “It went really good. The pacemaker did a good job at the beginning. I was just following him. I was thinking of pushing the pace afterwards, but I didn’t really go as fast as I wanted it to. I was looking back, thinking all the time they were behind me. I thought maybe someone was in my blind spot. I was surprised they weren’t right behind me. I think that’s something that made my last quarter a little slower. I really wanted to run 3:53 today, but it didn’t really happen.”