Carl Lewis beaten

Press, 20 August 1984, Page 40

Carl Lewis beaten

NZPA-Reuter London Carl Lewis, the multiple gold medallist of the Los Angeles Olympics, suffered a rare defeat at Crystal Palace yesterday when another American, Kirk Baptiste, beat him in a 300 m race. At 200 m Lewis seemed to have the race in his grasp. But as Baptiste drew alongside, Lewis faded. Lewis finished fourth in 32.185, while Baptiste, the Olympic 200 m silver medallist behind Lewis, set a world best time of 31.70 s for the non-championship distance. The previous best of 32.16 s was held by Mel Lattany, of the United 0 States. Todd Bennett, of Britain, and Waiter McCoy (United States) caught Lewis at. the line, with Bennett taking

second place by 0.025. His time of 32.14 s was a Commonwealth best. Steve Cram, of Britain, was also comprehensively beaten. The 1500 m silver medallist finished in sixth place in the 800 m won by Brazil’s Jose Luis Barbosa in Imin 44.985. Cram was well placed as the United States Olympic, bronze medallist, Earl Jones, went past the bell in 51s. He moved onto Jones’ shoulder after 300 m but lacked the pace to go ahead. Jones resisted the challenge; but then was passed himself by Barbosa on the final bend as Cram was , overhauled by his fellow Britons, Garry Cook and Steve Crabb. It was a night of joy for Britain’s Kathy Cook as she smashed her own Com-

monwealth and United Kingdom all-comers 300 m record. On the way to recording 35.465, the Olympic double bronze medallist beat two of her Los Angeles conquerors, America’s Chandra Cheeseborough and Merlene Ottey, of Jamaica. An Australian, Robyn Lorraway, was second in the women’s long jump. Lorraway jumped 6.60 m, o.lm shorter than the winner, Carl Lewis’s sister, Carol. Britain’s Wendy Sly produced a tremendous solo run to smash the Commonwealth mile record. Sly, the Olympic 3000 m silver medallist, recorded 4min 20.075, beating Debbie Scott’s two-year-old time by more than Is. Ray Flynn, of Ireland, won the men’s 3000 m in 7min 46.025.