Joyner-Kersee Hopes to Improve on Second-Place Performance

After finishing second in her first indoor race of the season, Jackie Joyner-Kersee will attempt to win the 55-meter hurdles in the Mobil 1 Invitational track meet today at George Mason University.

LaVonna Martin, a former Tennessee star, defeated Joyner-Kersee in the Millrose Games Friday night in New York. Martin was timed in 7.41 seconds; Joyner-Kersee clocked 7.47.

Most of the athletes who competed in the Millrose Games will take part in today’s meet in suburban Washington, D.C.

Hurdlers Roger Kingdom and Renaldo Nehemiah also are coming off disappointing performances in the Millrose Games.

Kingdom, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, failed to qualify for the finals in the 55-meter hurdles. Nehemiah made the final but tripped over the first hurdle and failed to finish the race.

Three talented East German athletes are scheduled to compete in the meet: Sigrun Wodars, Olympic 800-meter champion; Christine Wachtel, indoor 800-meter world champion; and Jens-Peter Herold, Olympic 1,500 meter bronze medalist.

Herold finished second behind Marcus O’Sullivan of Ireland in the Wanamaker Mile.