On a Different List, She’s Among 10 Best

Gwen Torrence, the former University of Georgia sprinter who is unbeaten in 40 straight indoor races, says it’s only by accident she’s competing in track. Her earliest ambition was to make the list of 10 best-dressed women.

“I didn’t want to participate in sports,” she told John Jeansonne of Newsday. “I had a reputation for dressing; I loved clothes. I didn’t want to go around in a track suit.”

She said in her sophomore year in high school in Decatur, Ga., her gym teacher ordered the class to run the 220.

“He said, ‘I’m giving you an F if you don’t run.’ But I hated changing my clothes for gym,” said Torrence. “I’d just wear my regular top and my stockings and my pumps, and all I’d change would be to put on gym shorts. I hated gym clothes.”

Wearing her regular top, stockings, pumps and gym shorts, she ran her 220 faster than anyone in the class. In fact, when they checked it out, they found that her time was faster than the existing state record.

A sprinter was born.

Add Torrence: In last summer’s world championships at Rome, she was fifth in the 200 meters, won by Silke Gladisch of East Germany.

She ran across Gladisch afterward in the streets of Rome and wasn’t particularly impressed.

“She wasn’t dressed that nice,” Torrence said. “Just a pink top and some blue jeans.”

Trivia Time: Name the only three coaches whose teams have won at least three National Basketball Assn. championships. (Answer below.)

Some miscellany from the Winter Olympics, past and present:

--Bobsledder Prince Albert of Monaco, who is listed in the entries as Albert Grimaldi, is officially titled His Serene Highness, Prince Albert Louis Alexandre Pierre of Monaco, Marquix des Baux.

--Super-G gold medalist Franck Piccard of France, who was named for Frank Sinatra, said his musical tastes run more to Pink Floyd.

--In 1956 at Cortina, when the popular German couple of Marika Kilius and Franz Ningel received scores good enough for only fourth in pairs skating, the audience pelted the judges with oranges, and the ice had to be cleared three times before the competition could go on.

--The Salchow, named for 1908 figure skating champion Ulrich Salchow of Sweden, is performed as follows: A skater takes off from the back inside edge of one skate, makes a complete turn in the air and lands on the back outside edge of the opposite skate.

Said Dwight Gooden after running the 2.3-mile course at the New York Mets camp: “I was third--third from the end. Brothers can’t run for distance.”

From Reggie Miller of the Indiana Pacers: “I could be All-Pro five times and most valuable player twice and I’d still be known as Cheryl Miller’s brother.

“You’ve got to understand, Cheryl’s a legend. In women’s basketball, she was a combination of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. But it’s great being Cheryl’s brother. We’re best of friends.”

Trivia Answer: Red Auerbach (Boston Celtics), nine; John Kundla (Minneapolis Lakers), five; Pat Riley (Los Angeles Lakers), three.

Add Lakers: From CBS analyst Billy Cunningham: “This is the best Lakers team Pat Riley has coached, and he won three titles.”

Quotebook

Houston Astros pitcher Joaquin Andujar, on the injury that plagued him last year at Oakland: “It wasn’t my arm. It was my forearm.”