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TRACK AND FIELD / WORLD INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS : Surin, Devers Prove Something in 60

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TIMES STAFF WRITER

Two sprinters dispensed with nagging ghosts Friday night at the World Indoor Championships, tossing years of history aside like so much unwanted baggage.

For Bruny Surin of Canada, his victory in the 60 meters pulled him out of Ben Johnson’s enormous shadow. For Gail Devers, the record-setting effort meant she vanquished not only the world record-holder, but also disease and self- doubt.

Devers’ time of 6.95 seconds over 60 meters bettered her American record of 6.99, which she set on Feb. 2. Devers’ time was second fastest ever. Only Irina Privalova of Russia, the world record-holder at 6.92 , has run faster. But Devers had the superior start and Privalova finished second in 6.97.

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The sprints were the highlight of the first day of competition at the fourth IAAF indoor championships, held in the cavernous SkyDome. A sparse crowd lent little atmosphere to the proceedings, which run through Sunday.

Surin’s victory did manage to rouse the fans. He stumbled out of the blocks but recovered well. His time of 6.50 was a Canadian record and, for a moment at least, Canadians were able to put aside the shame of Johnson’s lifetime ban for drug use and celebrate their countryman.

Devers announced herself a sprinter for all seasons. Never before had the UCLA graduate mounted an indoor campaign and there was some doubt how she would fare. Her performance during the season left little doubt that Devers was comfortable indoors. She has lost only once this season, to Privalova, and has broken the American record three times in four weeks.

This season is a redemption of sorts. Devers was the surprise winner of the Olympic 100 meters at Barcelona and was heavily favored to win the 100-meter hurdles. Fate intervened. Devers led until the last hurdle, when she tripped and fell and finished fifth.

To many it seemed the cruelest twist: Devers had already lost two years of competition battling Graves disease.

Devers said she has thought of the race, but not dwelt on it.

“I have yet to cry over that hurdle race,” Devers said Friday night. “I don’t feel I have a reason to.”

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Surin has lived his career hearing himself compared to Johnson, who last week retired after testing positive for the second time. Surin, like Johnson, was born abroad and came to Canada as a boy.

But unlike Johnson, Surin is quiet and unassuming, even in victory.

“When I won the Canadian championships in 1989, people said it was because Ben Johnson wasn’t there,” Surin said. “Even in 1990 and after Ben was back, he still got all the attention. I thought it was not fair to me. But now I proved to all the people that I am the fastest Canadian.”

The American shotputters duplicated their Olympic finish: Mike Stulce won the gold medal here with a throw of 69 feet 9 1/2 inches and Jim Doehring was second in 69-2.

Doehring led the competition after his first throw but fouled on his next four efforts. Stulce passed him on his fifth throw, which held up for the victory.

Other final winners were Romania’s Marieta Ilcu in the women’s long jump at 22-5 1/4, and Irina Belova of Russia in the women’s pentathlon with 4,787 points.

Butch Reynolds, the outdoor world record-holder at 400 meters, competed in his first meet as a member of a U.S. team since earning the 1988 Olympic silver medal. He won his first-round heat in 46.37.

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There were two notable withdrawals--Greg Foster, the defending champion in the men’s 60-meter hurdles, and sprinter Merlene Ottey of Jamaica, winner of five medals at the indoor championships.

Foster pulled out because of an undisclosed injury, a U.S. team spokesman said.

Ottey apparently had no intention of competing again, although she was listed on the start sheet for the women’s 60.

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