Harris Looking for Record in TAC 400-Meter Hurdles

Now that Danny Harris has ended Edwin Moses’ winning streak in the 400-meter hurdles, the former three-time NCAA champion in the event has a new goal in mind.

“I am thinking about 46 (seconds),” Harris said. “It can be done.”

Harris, who gave up his senior year of eligibility at Iowa State to run on the Grand Prix circuit, ended Moses’ 10-year winning streak of 122 races and 107 finals at Madrid, Spain, on June 4.

Harris ran the course in 47.56 seconds, his fastest time ever, but he said he did not run a perfect race against Moses, who holds the world record of 47:02.

“The big thing for me was to be with him at the eighth hurdle. He was taking 13 steps. I was taking 14 and hoping I would outkick him at the finish,” said Harris, who was the 1984 Olympic silver medalist behind Moses.

“I heard him hit (the 10th hurdle). I don’t think that made a difference. I would have won anyway,” he said. “In 1984, I was young and new to the event, and I didn’t tell myself I could beat him, because I didn’t have the experience. Last year, I began to think I could race Edwin and win. Now I’m very confident.”

Harris was recruited by Iowa State as a football defensive back and track man, but never ran the intermediate hurdles in high school. However, as a freshman he won the NCAA title in the event and finished second to Moses in the U.S. Olympic Trials and the Olympic Games. He added NCAA titles in 1985 and 1986 before giving up his senior eligibility to concentrate on his track career, although he is still enrolled there and trains with the Cyclone track team.

He came to Baton Rouge directly from Spain to watch his former teammates at the NCAA track and field championships and speak to a Track & Field Writers of America luncheon.

Harris now will concentrate on The Athletics Congress meet in San Jose later this month--where a confrontation could occur among Harris, Moses and another world-class hurdler, Andre Phillips.

“I can’t think about the TAC meet without my heart rate going up,” Harris said. “I think the winning time will be a world record.”

Harris said all three men are capable of breaking the 47:02 record held by Moses.

“I know Andre is capable of it, and I don’t think Edwin is through as a hurdler. I think I can do it, too. If we all get together in the right setting, it can go,” Harris said.

Moses has been accused of ducking Harris and Phillips in major events because the three have not run against each other since 1984, but it may be Phillips who breaks up the TAC dream race. Phillips has a minor stress fracture and his coach, Bob Kersee, said that he will not decide if Phillips can compete until June 22, the deadline for entering the meet.