ATLANTA, Georgia. Mar 2: Gail Devers won the 60m and Mary Slaney claimed the 1,500m. each with the best times in the world this year, to take titles at the United States Indoor Athletics Championships. reports AFP.

The finals here Saturday determined 60 US qualifiers for next week's World Indoor Athletics Championships at Paris.

Devers, who took her SWBnrJ consecutive Olympic crown here last year, won the 60m sprint in 7.00 seconds with rival Gwen Torrence second in 7.12..

Devers is focused on defending her world indoor 60m title. "I am excited about going to the world indoors." Devers said. "I have some work to do still. Bobby (Kersee, her coach) will have some things to holler about. I was too high and too long, but I'm going to work on

Alaney. 38. won the 1,500m in 4:03.08, 5.78 seconds ahead of runner-up Suzy Hamilton. Slaney had not run at the US indoor finals since competing as a 15-year-old high school student in 1974.

"I feel like I am starting all over again, especially Indoors." Slaney said.

"The 1.500 really feels all new to me. I haven't run that many. I'm happy with the time."

Slaney won the Millrose Games mile last month in 4:26.67 — the fastest women's indoor mile in three years. Slaney began fast and set a strong pace, something she has done more since her infamous 1984 Olympic tangle with Zola Budd.

"If you go back to '84 when I feel. if I had gone out harder, that wouldn't nave happened," Slaney said. "Now that I feel better I can push myself and that's what sport is really about, being competitive."

Allen Johnson, the Olympic 110 hurdles champion, failed to qualify for the world meet after suffering a groin injury.