The United States defeated Great Britain in...

The United States defeated Great Britain in an international track meet in Gateshead, England. But the real action occurred when Steve Cram, the world record-holder over one mile, ran the fastest time of the year and then criticized several of his fellow internationals.

Cram clocked 3 minutes 51.43 seconds, then was critical that fellow English runners Sebastian Coe and Steve Ovett had not competed after missing the national championships at Crystal Palace, London, last Friday and Saturday.

Both athletes decided to run elsewhere in Europe to secure selection for England’s Commonwealth Games team.

Cram said: “It is nice to prepare in your own way, but they must show some responsibility for the sport in Britain. They have a couldn’t-care-less attitude. They are just being selfish, and I wonder when it all will stop.”

Ovett was in the television commentary box Friday and Cram said: “I just hope that Ovett didn’t pass comments on me tonight, because I might start passing comments on him.”