Foster Defeats Nehemiah in Millrose Games Hurdles

Greg Foster continued his recent domination over Renaldo Nehemiah, winning the 55-meter high hurdles in the Millrose Games Friday night at Madison Square Garden.

Long jumper Jackie Joyner-Kersee and sprinter Gwen Torrence also scored victories.

Foster’s victory was his fifth in five meetings over his archrival since Nehemiah returned to track in 1986 after four years in the National Football League with the San Francisco 49ers.

Foster was timed in 7.07 seconds. Nehemiah, still struggling to find the form and technique that carried him to the world outdoor record in the 110-meter hurdles and the world indoor best in the 55-meter hurdles, finished fifth in 7.22, edging 1984 Olympic champion Roger Kingdom, who was last in the same time.

Nehemiah was the first out of the blocks in the six-man race, but Foster caught him quickly, beating him over the first hurdle. Foster never trailed again.

“I’ve gotten used to the fact that I won’t always start first,” said Foster, who was competing with a slight cold.

Arthur Blake finished second in 7.10, and Cletus Clark was third in 7.12.

Joyner-Kersee won the long jump with a meet record of 22 feet, 8 1/2 inches--only two inches short of her U.S. indoor record.

In smashing the meet mark of 21-11 1/2 she set in 1986, Joyner-Kersee had three jumps over 22 feet.

Torrence sped to victory in the women’s 55-meter dash in 6.64 for her 34th consecutive victory in 16 meets, including trials and semifinals.

Torrence burst out quickly and easily beat 1984 100-meter gold medalist Evelyn Ashford, who finished second in 6.71.

In the Wanamaker Mile, Ireland’s Marcus O’Sullivan, the 1987 world indoor champion, waited patiently before seizing the lead with 1 1/2 laps remaining, and breezed to victory in 3:56.89.

The women’s mile was won by Doina Melinte of Romania in 4:21.45, the second-fastest indoor clocking in history.

Melinte, unbeaten in six races this season, swept past Kirsty Wade of Britain with one lap remaining and just missed the world indoor record of 4:20.5, set by Mary Decker Slaney at San Diego in 1982.

Wade wound up second in 4:23.86.