clarinews@clarinet.com (JOE ILLUZZI, UPI Sports Writer) (02/02/90)
NEW YORK (UPI) -- The elder statesmen will be out to prove they can still compete with the new elite Friday night at the Panasonic Millrose Games. Eamonn Coghlan, among the highlight performers in the history the meet, made a late switch this week and will shoot to extend his record of seven victories in the Wanamaker Mile at Madison Square Garden. The 37-year-old Irishman, known as the Chairman of the Boards for his dominance in indoor track, last month said he would run indoors this season after a three-year absence. But instead of entering the mile, Coghlan entered the 3,000 meters. However, slow times in the mile this year convinced Coghlan to challenge compatriot Marcus O'Sullivan, his heir to the indoor throne. O'Sullivan, 28, is the defending champion in the Wanamaker Mile and two-time world indoor king in the 1,500. He and Jens-Peter Herold, the Olympic bronze medalist from East Germany, were the men to beat, but Coghlan's presence could change that. Renaldo Nehemiah and Greg Foster, who rank among the top three hurdlers in history, are two other veterans competing in the 83rd Millrose Games. Nehemiah, 30, had been the world record-holder in the 110-meter hurdles until two-time Olympic champion Roger Kingdom eclipsed the eight-year mark last summer. Foster, 31, is the two-time world champion at 110 meters, but serious injuries to his forearm have prevented him from competing in top form the last two years. Nehemiah and Foster waged fierce battles in the late `70s and early `80s before Nehemiah left track for pro football. Since Nehemiah's return, however, Kingdom, 27, has surpassed both of them in the hurdles. ``I say Roger is like us,'' said Nehemiah, competing in the Millrose Games for the third decade. ``He doesn't have any respect for us. That's the way I was when I was that age. But if I can stay in the top five or 10, there's no reason to put down your toys. I'm not vintage, but I'm still one of the best in the world.'' Foster, who had disdain for Kingdom after the 1984 Olympics, has grown to respect Kingdom. But he believes he and Nehemiah can still beat Kingdom. ``Renaldo and I still have what it takes,'' Foster said. The Millrose Games has attracted a fine field of East Europeans. Sigrun Wodars and Christine Wachtel, who finished 1-2 at the Olympics, will run the women's 800. Romanians Paula Ivan and Doina Melinte, both Olympic champions, and Svetlana Kitova of the Soviet Union will compete in the women's mile. The men's 600 could be the best-stocked event. It includes Butch Reynolds, the world outdoor record-holder in the 400, three-time defending champion Ian Morris of Trinidad and Danny Everett, the Olympic bronze medalist in the 400. They'll be chasing Martin McGrady's world indoor record of 1:07.6, which has stood since 1970.