Coe to Make Rare Indoor Appearance : World Record-Holder to Run 3,000 Meters in Feb. 19 Meet at Forum

British middle-distance runner Sebastian Coe, twice an Olympic gold medalist and holder of two world records, will make a rare indoor appearance in the 3,000-meter event at the Times/GTE Indoor Games in the Forum on Feb. 19.

Coe, who has never raced indoors in the United States, announced Tuesday that he will compete in two indoor meets--at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, N.J., on Feb. 13, and at the Forum. He is training in Tampa, Fla.

Five years ago, Coe said he would like to compete on the U.S. indoor circuit, but a series of injuries and illnesses and competitive considerations have kept him from making any indoor appearances in the United States until this year.

The 31-year-old runner is in training for the Seoul Olympic Games where he hopes to win this third gold medal. Coe won the 1,500 meters at Moscow in 1980 and at Los Angeles in 1984. He also won silver medals at 800 meters in both of those Olympics.

Coe won the 3,000 in an indoor meet between the United States and England last March at Cosford, England, in 7:54.33. However, he was prevented from competing in last September’s World Track and Field Championships at Rome because of a nagging foot injury.

In the summer of 1981, Coe set three world records, running 800 meters in 1:41.73, 1,000 meters in 2:12.18 and the mile in 3:47.33. The mile mark has since been eclipsed by Coe’s countryman, Steve Cram.

Coe will face a formidable international field in the Forum 3,000, including Frank O’Mara and Paul Donovan of Ireland who ran one-two at that distance in the World Indoor Championships last year at Indianapolis.

Americans Steve Scott and Doug Padilla will also be in the 3,000. Scott is the U.S record-holder in the mile (3:47.69) and held the U.S. indoor record at 3,000 meters until Padilla broke it, running 7:44.9 in 1983 and again in 1985.

Other standouts who will compete in the 3,000 are Bob Verbeek of Belgium, Terry Thornton of England, Julius Kariuki of Kenya, Ray Flynn of Ireland and Mark Junkerman of UCLA.