Gail Devers and Stacy Dragila are proud champions in their 30s, each at an age when their doubters keep waiting for the years to catch up with them. Keep waiting, because the competition surely can’t seem to catch them.
Each set a U.S. record at last night’s Millrose Games.
The 36-year-old Devers ran a U.S.-record 7.78 to win the women’s 60-meter hurdles and the meet’s outstanding performer award, and Dragila – who turns 32 next month – continued her comeback from an injury-plagued season to vault 15-53/4 and break her own U.S. mark.
Devers, who hadn’t won at Millrose since 1992, is the best hurdler-sprinter ever. She ranked No. 1 in the world last year in the hurdles but wanted to concentrate on sprinting this season.
But some meddling by meet director Howard Schmertz helped produce a U.S. record.
He prodded her to run the hurdles, much to the chagrin of the field. She got out of the blocks first and finished that way, easily beating meet record-holder Melissa Morrison (7.95). Devers’ time was the eighth-fastest in history and broke Jackie Joyner-Kersee’s record of 7.81.
“I wanted to sprint this winter. Howard told Greg [Foster, her agent] they wanted [me] to hurdle,” said Devers, who was coy about how much longer she’ll compete. “The American hurdlers are great. They make me [run faster]. If you’re not going to retire, you’re going to have to step it up.”
Dragila stepped it up as well. After a foot injury led to a disappointing campaign last season – during which she had to watch Russian Svetlana Feofanova break her world record – Dragila showed she’s back in form and silenced her doubters.
Last night, Dragila experimented with a different pole – longer and stiffer than the one she’d been using – and soared 15-53/4. She missed three attempts at 15-73/4, which would have broken Feofanova’s world mark of 15-71/4.
“I walked off the pit angry, which is good to have something to shoot for,” Dragila said. “But I feel great right now. I’m excited that I’m back. I had a lot of critics saying ‘Oh, she’s done.’ I wish I would’ve had the world record to say: ‘Hey, I’m not done. I’m not even close to being done.’
“I’m the oldest competitor out there, and a lot of people thought, ‘She’s old, has foot problems,’ and that just made me upset. I worked on getting fit again, and I just want to prove my critics wrong.”