Canada’s Johnson Sets World Mark in 60-Meter Dash

Ben Johnson of Canada set a world record for the 60-meter dash today, finishing in 6.50 seconds in an international indoor track and field meet in Osaka.

Johnson broke the mark of 6.54 set by Houston McTear in 1978.

In the 1985 Indoor Track and Field Championships in Paris, Johnson won the 60 in 6.62 seconds. Johnson won the 100 meters in last year’s World Cup in 10.0.

He won the bronze medal in the 100 meters at the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984 with a time of 10.22.

Fellow Canadian Mark McKoy was second to Johnson with a time of 6.65. American Darwin Cook was third in 6.67.

A field of more than 120 men and women athletes from 13 countries were entered in the competition at the Osaka Castle indoor sports arena.

Said Aouita, the Moroccan distance runner who set world records in the 1500 and 5000-meter events in 1985, has been named men’s Athlete of the Year in track and field by Track & Field News.

A panel of international voters selected Aouita for the magazine’s award. Aouita received 272 points in the voting and Great Britain’s Steve Cram was second with 258.