Bruce Jenner Track Meet : Joyner-Kersee Gets One More Shot at Record

It’s Jackie Joyner-Kersee’s turn to break the U.S. record in the women’s 100-meter hurdles in her ongoing exchange program with Gail Devers.

However, if Joyner-Kersee doesn’t lower the record today at the Bruce Jenner meet at San Jose City College, she probably won’t get another opportunity the rest of the year.

“This is her last shot,” said her husband and coach, Bob Kersee. “After this, she’ll be concentrating on getting ready for the heptathlon at the Olympic trials (July 15-23 at Indianapolis).”

The record-swapping routine began April 2 when Devers, who competes for UCLA, was timed in 12.71 seconds in a meet at Fresno. Then, May 7 at Modesto, Joyner-Kersee shaded it with a time of 12.70.

Devers came back last Saturday at the Pacific 10 Conference track and field finals to put a large dent in the record. She was timed in 12.61 seconds in a qualifying race.

As the world record-holder in the heptathlon, as well as an aspiring Olympic gold medalist, that event is Joyner-Kersee’s priority. She is also the co-world record-holder in the long jump.

Kersee, the UCLA women’s track coach, said it’s unlikely that his wife would be able to concentrate on breaking the 100-meter hurdles record while competing in the heptathlon in the Olympic trials. After all, she has six other events.

He added that Joyner-Kersee’s post-trials plan is to long jump in invitational meets in Europe.

Devers will get more opportunities to break her record, although it’s doubtful she will do it next week in the National Collegiate Athletic Assn. championship meet at Eugene, Ore.

Her schedule would preclude such a possibility considering that she’s trying to help UCLA win the team title while competing in the 100, hurdles, long jump and both relays.

She will run the 100 and hurdles again in the Olympic trials, where her main goal is just to make the team, not break records, according to Kersee.

After the trials, she will have an opportunity to run the hurdles in invitational meets without being burdened by qualifying races.

As for Joyner-Kersee, she has had to make her last shot at the record her best one.

Some other events featuring world-class athletes in the only Mobil Grand Prix meet on the U.S. tour:

Women’s 3,000 meters--Mary Decker Slaney, who hasn’t run competitively since the summer of 1985 due to injuries and the birth of her daughter, is apparently fit. She had a tuneup 1,500-meter race this month in Eugene. She needs a qualifying time to compete in the Olympic trials.

Slaney usually doesn’t have much domestic competition, but she could be challenged today by Mary Knisely, the United States’ best 3,000 runner during Slaney’s absence.

Triple jump--A select field, including Mike Conley, the silver medalist in the World Championships, world record-holder Willie Banks, Charlie Simpkins and Ray Kimble.

Sprints--Ron Brown, the former Ram wide receiver, will make his season debut in the 100, opposing Harvey Glance and California’s Atlee Mahorn, among others.

Lillie Leatherwood-King, America’s No. 1 ranked quarter-miler and fifth ranked in the world, will be in the 400 along with Diane Dixon and Jamaica’s Grace Jackson.

Men’s 1,500--Steve Scott, who lost his 10-year hold on the No. 1 U.S. ranking to Jim Spivey last year, will be opposed by Ireland’s Ray Flynn and Kenya’s Kip Cheruioyot.

Men’s 400-meter hurdles--Andre Phillips, top ranked in the event in 1986 but restricted by an injury last year, is reportedly in good shape again with some fast 200 times.

Other accomplished athletes competing include Kim Gallagher in the women’s 1,500, Ken Flax in the hammer throw, Louise Ritter and Coleen Sommer in the women’s high jump, Jimmy Howard and Doug Nordquist in the men’s high jump and Jamaica’s Grace Jackson in the 200 and 400.

Moreover, 10 members of the Chinese national track and field team will be making their first appearance in the United States since the 1984 Olympic Games.