TRACK AND FIELD : Bubka (20-1 3/4), Ottey (21.87) Set World Records

Sergei Bubka of Ukraine and Merlene Ottey of Jamaica broke world records within 30 minutes of each other Saturday at an international indoor track and field meet.

Bubka, the indoor and outdoor world record-holder in the pole vault, soared 20 feet 1 3/4 inches, bettering the mark of 20-1 1/4 he set Feb. 21, 1992, at Berlin.

Ottey broke her world record in the women’s 200 meters with a time of 21.87 seconds.

It was the 33rd time Bubka broke the world record, the 17th time indoors. He cleared the height on his second try, brushing the bar with his chest. Earlier, Bubka soared 18-8 1/4, 19-4 1/4 and 19-10 1/4, all on first attempts.

Bubka was pushed to the record by Rodion Gataullin of Russia, who cleared 19-8 1/4. It was the first time two competitors cleared that height in the same meet.

Ottey’s previous 200-meter record was 22.24, set twice within a week in 1991--first at Sindelfingen, Germany, then at the World Indoor Championships at Seville, Spain.

In the women’s 60-meter hurdles, Ludmila Narozhilenko of Russia equaled her world record of 7.69. She came close to her outdoor best of 21.64, which she ran in 1991.

“I’m surprised, I’m in shock city,” Ottey said. “It’s the fastest I’ve run in two years.” Her best outdoors last year was 21.94.

She also won the women’s 60 in 7.01, not far off the world record time of 6.92, set by Irina Privalova of Russia last week.

Ottey was hoping to race against Privalova on Saturday, but the Russian became sick and withdrew.

“I was looking forward to racing Irina, but when she wasn’t there I had to stay focused and run alone,” Ottey said.

Ottey had only two other competitors in the 200.

Freddie Fredericks of Namibia had a time of 20.37 in the men’s 200, only .01 seconds off the world mark held by Bruno Marie-Rose of France, who set it on the same track in 1987.

Bruny Surin of Canada won the men’s 60 in 6.45, .04 seconds off the world record of 6.41 set by Andre Cason of the United States last year. Last week, Surin’s compatriot, Ben Johnson, was only .04 seconds off the world 50-meter record, but then suffered leg injury during a meet in Belgium.