ZURICH, Reuter: American Butch Reynolds shattered the 20 year old 400 meters world record when he powered to a brilliant victory in 43.23 seconds at the Zurich Grand Prix Athletics meeting on Wednesday.

The 24 year old from Ohio blasted out of the blocks and sped away from his rivals on the final straight to beat the world mark of 43.86 set by compatriot Lee Evans at high altitude at the Mexico Olympics on October 18, 1968.

Reynolds, who in 1987 ran the three fastest ever low altitude times of 44.10, 44,13 and 44.15 seconds, swept across the line 10 meters clear of fellow Americans Danny Everett and World Junior Champion Steve Lewis,

Everett clocked 44.20 and Lewis 44.26.Reynolds, who held the world’s best times for this year of 43.93 seconds, was instantly mobbed by a battery of photographers and television crews as he flashed home to a deafening roar from the 30,000 capacity crowd packed into the Letzigrund Stadium.

“It’s been a long time, but I did it, I feel like crying,” Reynolds said after obliterating the 20 year old world markgm.

Olympic champion and former world record holder Evelyn Ashford had earlier won the women’s 100 meters, which included three of the four fastest women in the world this year.

Only Ashford’s fellow American Florence Griffith Joyner was missing, but Ashford’s relatively pedestrian time of 11, 03 seconds into slight headwind was a little disappointing,

GHENT, BELGIUM, Reuter: Stuttgart is to host the World Championships in 1991, the centenary year of the West Germany cycling federation.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the international cycling union (UCI) on Sunday, the opening day of this year’s

LONDON, Reuter: England’s Soccer Chiefs on Tuesday gave National team manager Bobby Robson a complete vote of confidence despite his side’s dismal performance at last June’s European Champion ships.

OLYMPIA, GREECE, Reuters ‘The Olympic torch was lit from the sun’s ‘Tuesday, amidst the ruins of the ancient birthplace of the games and began its 25day journey for the start of the Seoul games.

Article extracted from this publication >> August 26, 1988