Lowery Sets Record in 500 Meters; Lewis Wins in Return After Layoff

Ken Lowery set a world indoor best in the 500-meter run, and Carl Lewis made a triumphant return from a knee operation by winning the 60-meter dash Friday night at the Hoosier Dome Invitational track and field meet.

Lowery, 25, a Chicago State Track Club runner, had a time of 1:00.17, breaking the previous indoor mark of 1:00.86 set by American Clarence Daniel in 1986. A strong finishing kick enabled Lowery to edge Michael Parks, who was second in 1:00.45.

Lewis won the 60 meters in 6.68 seconds, edging Albert Robinson by .01. The event was the first competition for Lewis since he underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee last September.

The 25-year-old Lewis was timed by stopwatch in 6.4 seconds in the semifinals of the 60 meters, but this did not break Houston McTear’s nine-year-old American record of 6.54 seconds because it was not automatically timed.