Posted: October 7, 2004

Athletics: Batten & Buford-Bailey setting new world record named 11th top moment

Kim Batten and Tonja Buford-Bailey both surpassing the women's 400m hurdles world record at the 1995 World Outdoor Championships was honored by USA Track & Field on Wednesday as the 11th 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.

The women's 400m hurdles final at the 1995 World Outdoor Championships was not considered a premiere event due to the absence of such stars as world record holder Sally Gunnell, Sandra Farmer-Patrick and Marie-Jose Perec, who ended the 1995 season ranked #4 in the world in that event by Track & Field News. Ignoring the lowered expectations, U.S. stars Kim Batten and Tonja Buford-Bailey provided a race for the ages.

Due to the windy conditions, the Americans decided to go out hard and take command of the race. Buford-Bailey held the early lead out of lane three, but was later overtaken by Batten (lane five) on the backstretch. Buford-Bailey staged a comeback over the final turn before chopping her steps at the ninth hurdle. She recovered well and the two met the final hurdle together.

They hit the finish at the same time, with Batten winning the race with a better lean in the new world record time of 52.61 seconds. Buford-Bailey finished a mere 0.01 behind, also under Gunnell's previous world record of 52.74 set in 1993. Batten went on to win the silver medal, while Buford-Bailey captured the bronze medal at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.

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's 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
11. Batten, Buford better world record at 1995 World Outdoor Championships

From USATF.org.