Posted: September 30, 2004

Athletics: Decker's double victory at '83 Worlds named 12th top moment in track & field of last 25 years

INDIANAPOLIS - Mary Decker Slaney winning gold medals in the women's 1,500m and 3,000 meters at the 1983 World Outdoor Championships was honored by USA Track & Field on Wednesday as the 12th greatest moment in U.S. track and field history in the last 25 years.

To help mark the 25th anniversary of USA Track & Field, fans joined USATF in selecting the Top 25 Moments in American Track & Field during the past quarter century. Fans voted for what they consider to be the top moments in the sports of track & field, long-distance running, and race walking by voting online at USATF's website, www.usatf.org.

A member of the National Track & Field Hall of Fame, Slaney's greatest international achievement came at the 1983 World Outdoor Championships in Helsinki, where she won the 1,500 and 3,000 meters -- a feat that helped earn her the title of Sports Illustrated's Sportsperson of the Year for 1983.

Known at that time as Mary Decker, she won the 1,500m in a titanic battle with Russia's Zamira Zaytseva that wasn't settled until the final 10 meters, when Decker's smooth stride finally overtook her rival. Decker won the race in 4 minutes, 00.90 seconds as the vanquished Zaytseva fell five meters from the finish before rolling across the line in 4:01.19.

Decker grabbed the early lead in the 3,000 meters and held on throughout until two-time Olympic 1,500m champion Tatyana Kazankina of the Soviet Union briefly wrested the lead from her on the final straight. Decker responded by displaying a strong kick of her own in retaking the lead and winning the gold medal in 8:34.62.

A four-time Olympic team qualifier, Mary Decker Slaney was inducted into the National Track & Field Hall of Fame in 2003. The only athlete ever to hold every American record from 800 meters to 10,000 meters, she continues to own the U.S. women's records in the 1,500m (3:57.12), mile (4:16.71) and 3,000m (8:25.83).

Suggestions for USATF's Top 25 Moments were taken through February 22, 2004. Fans voted for their favorite moments beginning February 28 and ending on June 20. The Top 25 Moments will be announced in reverse order, one per week, leading up to the USATF Annual Meeting in December, where the top three moments will be revealed.

For more information on USATF' Top 25 Moments, visit USATF.org.

USATF Top 25 Moments 
25. Jackie Joyner-Kersee breaks 7,000-point barrier in the heptathlon.
24. Khalid Khannouchi sets men's world marathon record in 2002.
23. Alan Webb sets U.S. boys' high school mile record.
22. Kevin Young breaks Edwin Moses' world record.
21. Lynn Jennings wins third World Cross Country title.
20. Alberto Salazar wins third consecutive New York City Marathon.
19. Flo-Jo sets women's 200m world record.
18. Gail Devers successfully defends Olympic 100m women's title.
17. Evelyn Ashford defeats two world record holders at 1979 World Cup.
16. Michael Carter sets national prep shot put record.
15. Valerie Brisco wins four gold medals at 1984 Olympic Games.
14. Stacy Dragila wins first ever women's Olympic pole vault.
13. Maurice Greene wins double sprint gold at 1999 World Outdoors
12. Decker wins two gold medals at 1983 World Outdoor Championships

Source: USATF.org.