Howard Clears 7-8 1/2 to Better U.S. Indoor High Jump Record

Jim Howard of Houston improved his own American indoor record in the high jump by one-half inch Sunday by clearing 7-8 1/2 to win the event in the Knights of Columbus indoor meet at Richfield, Ohio.

Howard, 25, representing the Pacific Coast Club, broke the record of 7-8 which he set three weeks ago in the Millrose Games at New York.

The American outdoor record is 7-8, set last year by Dwight Stones.

Howard made three unsuccessful attempts at a world record height of 7-9 3/4. The indoor record is 7-9 by Carlo Thranhardt of West Germany.

In the pole vault, Dave Volz set a meet record of 18-8 1/2, bettering the mark of 18-4 3/4 set last year by Earl Bell.

A total of 10 gold medal winners from the 1984 Olympics, including gymnasts Mary Lou Retton and Bart Conner, are finalists for the 1984 Sullivan Award, which will be presented today in Indianapolis.

Edwin Moses, recently found innocent on solicitation charges, will present the award to the nation’s outstanding amateur athlete.

The 10 finalists are Retton, Fairmont, W. Va.; Conner, Norman, Okla.; synchronized swimmer Tracie Ruiz, Bothell, Wash.; diver Greg Louganis, Mission Viejo; skier Bill Johnson, Van Nuys; swimmer Rowdy Gaines, Winter Haven, Fla.; wrestler Steve Fraser, Ann Arbor, Mich.; horseman Joe Fargis, Petersburg, Va.; and runners Valerie Brisco-Hooks, Los Angeles, and Joan Benoit, Freeport, Maine.