# data[].attributes.headline
O'Sullivan Wins 3rd-Fastest Indoor Mile :  Irishman Runs 3:50.94; Abshire Sets U.S. 3,000 Mark; Coe Drops Out - latimes

# data[].attributes.subject
O'Sullivan Wins 3rd-Fastest Indoor Mile :  Irishman Runs 3:50.94; Abshire Sets U.S. 3,000 Mark; Coe Drops Out - latimes

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Sebastian Coe had a disappointing debut on the American indoor track circuit Saturday night at the U.S. Olympic Invitational meet at the Meadowlands Arena.

Coe floundered in the 3,000 meters, dropping out with two laps left, but Brian Abshire contributed an American record in the race, Jackie Joyner-Kersee set another U.S. mark in the long jump and Romania's Doina Melinte established a world indoor record in the women's mile.

Moreover, Marcus O'Sullivan, the Irishman who formerly competed for Villanova, ran the third fastest indoor mile of all time.

Abshire, who is normally a steeplechaser and is virtually obscure as an international competitor, led from the start, winning in 7 minutes 41.57 seconds.

The former Auburn runner, who went to De Anza High School in Richmond, Calif., broke Doug Padilla's U.S. record of 7:44.9 set in 1985. Padilla was fifth.

Only world record-holder Emiel Puttemans of Belgium has ever run faster indoors, 7:39.2 in 1973.

Joyner-Kersee, the world champion in the heptathlon and long jump, went 23 feet 1/2 inch on her fourth jump to break her U.S. record of 22-10 1/2 set in 1986.

Earlier Saturday in Vienna, Austria, East Germany's Heike Dreschler improved on her world indoor long jump record with a 24-2 effort.

Melinte, who had been threatening Mary Decker Slaney's record of 4:20.5 set in 1982, shattered it with a time of 4:18.66. Melinte took charge of the three-quarter mile mark.

Coe, who is training in Tampa, is expected to run another 3,000 next Friday night in The Times/GTE indoor games at the Forum. He was never a factor in Saturday's race.

He trailed the field from the start and, shortly after Abshire lapped him, he dropped out of the race.

"I was running badly and I didn't want to push it," said the British runner, who is a two-time Olympic gold medalist in the 1,500 meters. "It was my first race since May and it was a hell of a baptism."

It was the first time that Coe has ever raced on a banked, board track and he hasn't had much experience in the 3,000.

Yet, he wouldn't use the surface as an excuse.

"The boards weren't a significant factor, but I wouldn't like running the Olympics on them," he said. "I'm in shape, but not race fit."

Coe suffered an Achilles' tendon injury in May, and Saturday night's race was his first competition in 10 months.

He hinted that he may want to try another distance in The Times meet, but it wasn't a firm decision.

Abshire, who calls El Sombrante , Calif. his home, said he expected a rabbit to set the pace. When the so-called rabbit didn't emerge, he said he virtually became his own rabbit.

"I didn't see Coe and I didn't worry about him," said the front-running Abshire, who was third ranked in the United States last year in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. "I always try to run in front."

O'Sullivan had two rabbits to pace him, Ireland's Kieran Stack and Gerry O'Reilly. He took over from O'Reilly with 2 3/4 laps left and kicked home in the time of 3:50.94.

Only Ireland's Eamonn Coghlan, the famed Chairman of the Boards, has ever run faster indoors--3:49.78 and and 3:50.6.

'It was misinterpreted the past week that I was going for the world record," the 26-year-old O'Sullivan said. "I just wanted a fast time. But I felt terrific. If I had known that I was going to feel like that, I would have taken the lead earlier. I was running up Gerry's heels."

Coghlan, who was the race starter, almost saw his record fall. It was, though, a continuation of the Irish-Villanova connection.

Curiously, O'Sullivan wasn't disturbed that he didn't get the record.

"I'm glad I didn't get it to a certain extent because now I have a lot to look forward to next summer," he said. "If I got the record, I might feel that I had done enough this year."

Joyner-Kersee said that she has had problems extending her legs on indoor long jump pits.

Because of the close quarters of an indoor arena, Joyner-Kersee said that she sometimes has the feeling that she'll go out of the pit.

She wasn't aware that Dreschler had improved her world record from 24-0 until a reporter told her.

"Twenty-four feet is an indoor goal of mine, and I think that's good for Dreschler," Joyner-Kersee said. "I'll just have to set my goal higher, and it makes me hungrier."

A crowd of 11,076 came in from the cold and snow to watch the meet. The Meadowlands has one of the fastest tracks in the United States, 10 laps to the mile instead of the usual 11.

But it didn't help Coe, who said he just wasn't sharp competitively after a long layoff.

The Greg Foster-Renaldo Nehemiah rivalry, both on and off the track, is still flourishing.

Foster got a poor start, but caught Nehemiah by the first hurdle in the 55-meter race and won in 7.01 seconds. Nehemiah tied for second with Arthur Blake in 7.11.

Earlier, in a heat race, Tonie Campbell collided with Igor Kazanov of the Soviet Union. They both sprawled on the track and didn't make the final.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
O'Sullivan Wins 3rd-Fastest Indoor Mile : Irishman Runs 3:50.94; Abshire Sets U.S. 3,000 Mark; Coe Drops Out

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Sebastian Coe had a disappointing debut on the American indoor track circuit Saturday night at the U.S. Olympic Invitational meet at the Meadowlands Arena. Coe floundered in the 3,000 meters, dropping out with two laps left, but Brian Abshire contributed an American record in the race, Jackie Joyner-Kersee set another U.S.

# data[].attributes.headline
RUNNING / Competing for His Honor | Newsday

# data[].attributes.subject
RUNNING / Competing for His Honor | Newsday

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Peter Skelos may not be the only judge in New York who runs, bikes

and swims. But few have done it longer or more successfully than the

43-year-old State Supreme Court justice.

Skelos entered his first triathlon in 1979, while in law school at

Fordham. Twenty years later, hes still at it; out the door at 5 a.m. for

a morning run, cycling around Hempstead Lake Park, trying to keep up

with his two daughters in the pool. Quite honestly, I do it to keep my

weight down Skelos said. "I like the competitive aspect, and I have a

Subscribe to Sports Now newsletter

By clicking Sign up, you agree to our privacy policy.

group of fellows and ladies I run with in the morning, and there's some

camaraderie in that. But I like to eat. So I have to run to eat.

In truth, his appetite for endurance sports goes further than a mere

desire to burn calories. For the past seven years, Skelos has organized

a team for the Seacrest-Tobay Triathlon & Tri-Relay in Oyster Bay. Last

year, The Judge's Team finished first out of 105 in the relay division.

Skelos who has run, cycled and swam on his team over the years, will be

back to defend his title Sunday in the event, which consists of a

one-kilometer swim, a 15K bike and a 5K run. The judge, who will cycle,

has recruited a top-notch runner, John McLaughlin of Long Beach, and a

national-caliber swimmer, University of Virginia sophomore Dovydas

Pelegrimas of Port Washington, who Skelos laughingly describes as "a

ringer."

Pelegrimas swam for Skelos last year, and built a solid lead. But

when the judge was passed on the bike course by Runners Edge team

captain Bob Cook, it was up to his runner, Steve Josepher, to save the

team. "I was the slug of the three," Skelos said. "I hope to redeem

myself this year."

Like most of those in the Tri-Relay, Skelos enjoys the rare

opportunity to be part of a team in what are usually individual sports.

Having teammates gives you a little something extra to strive for, he

said. You don't want to let them down.

Skelos, whose brother, Dean, is a state senator, was elected to

district court in 1994, and to the Supreme Court in 1998. At the court

complex in Mineola, he deals mostly with matrimonial cases, the kind

that are often tense and fraught with emotion. Skelos' fitness regimen

gives his honor a release; a change of venue, if you will, for

expression. "It takes me to a different circle of people," Skelos said.

And it's a different conversation I can have."

The 12th annual Seacrest-Tobay Triathlon & Tri-Relay starts at

7:30 a.m. Sunday at Roosevelt Park in Oyster Bay. The race is closed.

Fast times at Belmont Park

A passel of local speedsters will lead the charge at Sunday's Eamonn

Coghlan 5K in Belmont Park. Kieran Stack, Marty Ryan, Joe Carpenter,

defending champ Trevor Murray and Marist College star Michael Tully Nehr

of Lindenhurst will compete on what is probably the fastest 5K course in

the New York area. (Murray's winning time last year was 14:34). Coghlan

himself will "jog" through his namesake race in 17 minutes or so. It is

part of the New York Irish Family Festival, a weekend-long celebration

of Irish culture. For information on the race, which starts at 10 a.m.,

or the festival, call 212-686-1210 or 685-4649.

On the roads

The sixth Merchants Mile starts on Lake Shore Drive in Massapequa

Park at 9 a.m. Saturday. Call 516-796-1900 . . . The fourth annual

Ellens Run will be held 9 a.m. Sunday, starting at East Hampton High

School. Over 90 percent of the money raised from this 5K goes to breast

cancer research and treatment. Call 516-267-3641 or visit

http://www.ellensrun.org . . . Scott Sullivan of Syosset completed the

recent Lake Placid Ironman in 10 hours, 21 minutes, 59 seconds, to

qualify for his third Hawaii Ironman on Oct. 23.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Peter Skelos may not be the only judge in New York who runs, bikes and swims. But few have done it longer or more successfully than the 43-year-old State Supreme Court justice. Skelos entered his first triathlon in 1979, while in law school at Fordham.