FORT WORTH, Texas -- Versatile Carl Lewis set the world indoor record in the long jump Friday night, cranking up a leap of 27 feet, 10 inches that eclipsed a year-old mark owned by Larry Myricks.
Earlier in the evening Lewis had turned in the third fastest time ever in the 60-yard dash -- a clocking of 6.06 seconds that has been beaten only by Stanley Floyd and Houston McTear.
Lewis' stunning leap came on his second attempt, having turned in a 27-1 on his first try. The University of Houston freshman, who won both the NCAA indoor and outdoor long jump title last year, broke Myrick's record set on Feb. 22, 1980, in San Diego.
Lewis' time in the 60-yard dash came despite a poor start. The winning time was only :02 off the world indoor standard set last month in Dallas by Floyd, now a fellow student of Lewis' at Houston.
'I was just trying to jump to win,' said Lewis. 'When I hit it, I knew it was on. I've been training really hard and I felt more relaxed tonight than usual.
'My previous best was 27-4 but that was wind-aided outdoors. It will probably hit me on the bus on the way back home. I'm doing things now a little earlier than I thought I would because the Houston coaches have been working with us very slowly.
'I've been working on my technique all year. Running in the 60 helps my speed. I figure if I can outrun people in the dashes there's no reason I can't jump farther than people.
'I accelerated well (in the 60). But I probably ran the best race in my life in the semifinals. I was third here last year and my main goal was to win it.
'Actually the start I got wasn't bad for me. I'm a tall person and I can't get out of the blocks with the short people. I can accelerate with the short people and that's what I did in this race.'
With the SWC track and field at its strongest level in history, the league's indoor championships turned out one record after another.
In addition to Lewis' two standout performances, SMU's Keith Connor cracked the SWC mark in the triple jump with a leap of 53-11 3/4, Leslie Kerr of Texas A&M set a new standard in the 440-yard dash with a time of 48.25 and SMU's Sammy Koskei reduced the record in the 880-yard run with a 1:49.58.
Defending NCAA indoor and outdoor shot put titleholder Michael Carter of SMU did not set a record, but he won his specialty with a toss of 65-9 1/2.
Lewis' long jumping talent is so unique that his coaches and trainers at Houston feel his potential is almost unlimited.
'With the proper training Carl can jump 28 feet this year,' said his weight coach, Clyde Duncan. 'And next year he could go over 30 feet.'
The world outdoor longjump record has been held by Bob Beamon since 1968, when he leaped 29-2 1/2 at the Mexico City Olympics.
