Cologne Grand Prix Track and Field Meet : Donkova Twice Sets Hurdles Mark

Yordanka Donkova of Bulgaria set a world record in the women’s 100- meter hurdles twice in 70 minutes at a Grand Prix track and field meet Sunday.

Donkova, a 24-year-old physical education student, first broke the six-year-old record she shared with Poland’s Grazyna Rabsztyn with a preliminary-heat time of 12.34 seconds. In the final 70 minutes later, she ran 12.29. The old mark was 12.36.

Donkova tied Rabsztyn’s mark, set in 1980, at a meet in her hometown of Sofia, Bulgaria, Wednesday.

Sydney Maree, a South African native living in the United States, won the men’s 1,500 meters in the year’s best time, 3 minutes 32.56 seconds. The world record in the event, 3:29.46, is held by Moroccan Said Aouita.

Aouita, who did not compete in the 1,500 meter race, won the 3,000 meters in Sunday’s meet in 7:32.23, also the best time of the year.

Igor Paklin of the Soviet Union won the high jump, clearing the bar at 7-9 on his first attempt. He failed on three attempts to equal his own world record of 7-10 3/4.

Chidi Imoh of Nigeria won the 100 meters in 10.12 seconds, finishing ahead of Poland’s Marian Woronin and Harvey Glance of the United States, who were both timed at 10.17.

Americans Andre Phillips and David Patrick finished 1-2 in the men’s 400-meter hurdles. Phillips was clocked at 47.84 seconds and Patrick at 48.82.

William Wuyke of Venezuela upset Johnny Gray of the United States to win the 800 meters. Wuyke clocked 1:44.70, while Gray was timed in 1:44.80.

Evelyn Ashford of the United States easily won the women’s 200 meters in 22.31. Ewa Kasprzyk of Poland was second in 22.46.

First in the women’s 400 meters was Lillie Leatherwood of the United States, who edged compatriot Valerie Brisco-Hooks. Leatherwood was timed at 50.56 seconds, Brisco-Hooks at 50.61 and third-place finisher Genovefa Blaszak of Poland at 50.66.

Nigeria’s Innocent Egbunike, a former Azusa Pacific University competitor, was first in the men’s 400 meters in 45.04. Darrel Robinson of the United States was second at 45.35 and Bert Cameron of Jamaica was third in 45.45.

Thierry Vigneron of France won the pole vault by clearing 18-10. Sergei Bubka of the Soviet Union, the favorite, failed to clear his opening height of 18-8.

About her record-breaking day, Donkova said: “I was very motivated after the first race and I was sure I would clock a better time in the final. I had enough time to recuperate.

“I had a better start than in the first race. I was faster off the blocks.

“I knew I was ready for the world record already in Sofia but I had a bad start there and also struggled against a strong head-on wind.”

Donkova said she was peaking after overcoming serious injuries to both.