Moses Takes the 400-Meter Hurdles in Sweden for 102nd Straight Victory

Edwin Moses, unbeaten in the 400-meter hurdles since 1977, extended his winning streak to 102 straight finals Tuesday, although he missed his world record by more than a second.

Moses had an unofficial winning time of 48.28 seconds in a meet at Malmo Stadium. The time was well off the world record of 47.02 he set in 1983.

With his victory, Moses came closer to the men’s track and field record streak held by fellow American Parry O’Brien, who won 116 consecutive meets in the shotput in the 1950s. In women’s competition, high jumper Iolanda Balas of Romania won 140 straight in the mid-1960s. In all, Moses has 117 straight wins, but 15 of those came in heats rather than finals.

It was Moses’ fourth meet in 11 days, and it showed as he trailed Sweden’s Sven Nylander early in the race. But he eventually cruised to victory over Kevin Young, who made it an American double in 49.42. Nylander was third in 50.06.

The United States dominated the meet with eight other winners. Sydney Maree easily won the 1,500 meters in a fast 3:34.70, Sunder Nix was first in the 400 in 45.79, Ken Washington took the 800 in 1:48.71, Jim Spivey won the 3,000 in 7:51.57 and Robert Cannon won the triple jump in 54 feet 8 inches.

Valerie Brisco-Hooks had a 22.93-second clocking to win the 200, and Jeanette Bolden led the United States to a triple in the 100-meter dash in 11.17 seconds. Alice Brown was second in 11.20, and Jackie Joyner, the world record-holder in the hepthathlon, was third in 11.71. Joyner later finished second in the 200.

Carol Lewis, Carl Lewis’ sister, won in the women’s long jump at 21-9 3/4.