Bone Spur Puts Nehemiah Out of Meet at Dallas and Perhaps Out for Season

An anticipated showdown today between Renaldo Nehemiah and Greg Foster in the 60-yard hurdles is off after Nehemiah withdrew from the Dallas Morning News Indoor Games, citing a bone spur that could force him to miss the rest of the indoor season.

The spur in the hurdler’s left heel has caused an inflammation of the Achilles’ tendon, according to Nehemiah’s agent, Ron Stanko, who told meet director Ted McLaughlin Friday that Nehemiah will undergo surgery next week.

Neither Stanko nor Nehemiah was available for comment. McLaughlin said he was told by Stanko that Nehemiah is “80% certain” he will have the spur removed Monday or Tuesday in a New York-area hospital.

“They’re looking at a three- to four-week rehabilitation period,” McLaughlin said. “With the national championships at the end of the month, that just about destroys the indoor season for him. It’s also unlikely that he’d be ready for the world championships (in early March).”

The injury apparently developed in last weekend’s Millrose Games, in which Nehemiah, the former pro football player, was defeated for the second time this year by Foster.