BOSTON – Gail Devers etched her name in the record books once again to post one of three world-leading marks Saturday at the USA Indoor Track & Field Championships, in front of a sold-out crowd of 3,152 fans at the Reggie Lewis Track & Athletic Center in Roxbury.

The top two finishers in each event at the USA Indoor Championships qualify to compete for Team USA at the 2003 World Indoor Track & Field Championships March 14-16 in Birmingham, England, as long as they have achieved the IAAF’s “A” qualifying standard.

Devers wasted no time in continuing her record-breaking year, running 7.74 seconds in the semifinals of the women’s 60m hurdles to improve on her own American record of 7.78, set February 7 at the Verizon Millrose Games. The time was also a world leader. Devers came back to win her first-ever U.S. indoor title in the hurdles with her time of 7.85 in the finals. Four-time U.S. indoor champ Melissa Morrison was second in 7.88.

Youth was served in the 60m sprints and the men’s triple jump, with a pair of world leaders coming out of men’s competition. Justin Gatlin, the 21-year-old former NCAA champion from Tennessee, posted a world-leading time of 6.45 in the Verizon men’s 60 meters to beat out Terrence Trammell, who was second in 6.48.

Twenty-three-year-old Southern Cal grad Angela Williams, the only four-time winner of the women’s 100m at the NCAA outdoor championships, won her first post-collegiate title Saturday with a time of 7.16. Two-time defending champion Chryste Gaines was second in 7.18.

The men’s triple jump served up an exciting, three-way battle between the United States’ three top young jumpers: defending USA indoor champion Tim Rusan, 25; 2002 U.S. indoor runner-up Kenta Bell, 25; and 2002 NCAA and USA outdoor champion Walter Davis, 23.

Bell first took the lead in the second round up jumping with a mark of 17.06m/55-11.75. Davis responded on the very next jump of the competition with 17.23/56-6.5 to take the lead. Rusan, however, came back later in the round with a world-leading jump of 17.45m/57-3 to post what would stand as the winning mark as well as a huge personal best. A 2002 graduate of St. Augustine’s in Raleigh, N.C., Rusan passed on his remaining attempts, while neither Davis nor Bell improved their marks.

Defending champion Allen Johnson ran a stunning race in the men’s 60m hurdles, overtaking Terrence Trammell over the final two barriers to win in 7.39 seconds, the fastest time in the world this year and just .01 off the meet record. Trammell was second in 7.43.

The men’s pole vault also featured exciting competition as Derek Miles won his first U.S. indoor title in a marathon competition that lasted nearly three hours. Miles was the only man to clear 5.75m/18-10.25. Jeremy Scott of Allegheny, a Division III college, was second at 5.70m/18-8.25, a personal best and Division III record.

Jason Lunn won a tactical 1,500m to earn his second consecutive U.S. indoor title with a time of 3:42.23. Fellow Stanford alumnus Michael Stember was second in 3:42.73. Charlie Gruber led the field through 800 meters in 2:01.9 and 1,200 in 3:01.6. Stember then broke the race open, with Lunn in tow. Lunn’s kick in the final straight gave him the victory while Stember celebrated the Stanford sweep as the duo crossed the line. Alan Webb was seventh in the race in 3:44.45.

Regina Jacobs was anything but a surprise winner in the Nike women’s 1,500m, running with the pack until a lap remained, sprinting to a win in 4:15.81 on the last lap. Sarah Schwald placed second in 4:17.23. Jacobs hopes to have “something special” for the women’s 3,000m final on Sunday.

In other events, 1997 World Outdoor bronze medalist Tyree Washington won his first U.S. title in the 400 meters with his time of 46.43. Corey Nelson was second in 46.53. Monique Hennagan won her second consecutive indoor 400m crown with her time of 52.54, easily winning over second-place Megan Addy (53.88). Vanitta Kinard also was a repeat winner, in the women’s triple jump, with a best of 13.72m/45-0.25. Teresa Bundy was second with a jump of 13.70m/44-11.75.

Joanne Dow successfully defending her women’s 3,000-meter race walk championship with a time of 13:07.68; Michelle Rohl was second in 13:21.19.

Nicole Teter, who set an American record in winning the 2002 USA Indoor Championship at 800 meters, won her heat in the event Saturday with a time of 2:03.24, the fastest qualifier of the day. David Krummenacker had the fastest time in the men’s 800 semis, 1:49.83.

Competition at the USA Indoor Championships concludes Sunday, with all remaining event finals.

For complete results from the 2003 USA Indoor Track & Field Championships, visit the USATF Web site, www.usatf.org. Athlete quotes also will be posted online.

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