Courtesy: USATF

In her final appearance at the USA Indoor Track & Field Championships Saturday, Regina Jacobs (pictured) delivered what fans at the sold-out Armory Track & Field Center had come to see - and what they had seen countless times before.

The fans also saw something - and someone - new when Nicole Teter made her first U.S. title one to remember with an American record.

Teter turned in a stunning performance in the Nike women's 800m run, powering far away from the field to win in 1:58.71 to shatter the former American record held by all-time greats Mary Slaney (1:58.9 hand time in 1980) and Suzy Favor Hamilton (1:59.92 in 1999). Teter had never before run under 2:00, indoors or outdoors.

"I am shocked, incredibly shocked," said the 28-year-old Teter, who sports a Razorback tattoo on her hip as evidence of her collegiate years at Arkansas. "I'm amazed. I've been training really hard with a new team, the Nike Farm Team with Frank Gagliano, and I have incredible training partners. . My coach had no doubts with me. He just told me to go out there and get that record."

Mary Jayne Harrelson was a distant second in the race in 2:04.00

Earlier in the meet, Jacobs moved away from the pack of Sarah Schwald, Harrelson and Miesha Marzell with just more than 200 meters to go to win the JP Morgan Chase women's mile run in a U.S.-leading time of 4 minutes, 32.13 seconds. Harrelson was second in 4:33.88 with Schwald third in 4:34.51.

It was the 21st USA national championship of Jacobs' historic career and her third indoor mile title. She also has won two indoor 3,000m titles, 10 outdoor 1,500m titles, three outdoor 5,000m titles and one outdoor 800m crown. In addition, she has won the last two U.S. 4,000m cross country titles. Though she plans to continue competing outdoors, it was the last run at USA indoors for the 38-year-old, who won her first U.S. title in 1987.

"It was great," said the 1995 World Indoor 1,500m champion and two-time World Outdoor 1,500m runner-up of the race. "Sarah (Schwald) went out and pushed the pace, which is the way it should be. She's the future of this event and she'll be the one to lead. The race wasn't about time for me, it was about winning and that's what I cared about, particularly since this was my last race at the Armory."

The men's 800m provided a different kind of electricity when Derrick Peterson won in a Championships record 1:46.80, beating Michael Stember by a whisker (1:46.97). Jess Strutzel was third in 1:47.75. Joseph Tengelei of Kenya previously held the Championships record at 1:46.70, a time run in 1995.

Though the 800 was close, the Verizon men's 60m was one of the most tightly contested races in history. World indoor 60m hurdles champion and 2000 Olympic 110m hurdles silver medalist Terrence Trammell won the race in 6.56 seconds, with Jason Smoots second in an identical time. Jon Drummond was third in 6.57 and Greg Saddler was fourth, also in 6.57. Shawn Crawford was fifth in 6.58, with Gerald Williams (6.60), Mickey Grimes (6.61) and James Shelton (6.63) in sixth through eighth.

The win came as a relief for Trammell, who had struggled through a slump throughout the indoor season. "This indoor season has been rough, and I just wanted to see it through," said Trammell, who ran in lane 8. "I thought I got out (of the blocks) pretty well. It's tough being young, starting out fast and then having a little down time. I'm just thankful I was able to come out and run like I did."

Chryste Gaines successfully defended her 2001 60m championship by soundly defeating an exceptional field. Gaines ran the fastest time by an American this year, 7.13, to beat World Indoor silver medalist Angela Williams (7.20) and two-time Olympic 100m gold medalist Gail Devers (7.29), who had been suffering from the flu.

Tim Seaman of the New York Athletic Club won his fifth consecutive indoor championships in the SoBe 5,000m walk, dominating the field with a time of 19:46.40. 1999 U.S. indoor champion Joann Dow won the women's 3,000m race walk with a time of 13:05.72.

Nathan Leeper successfully defended his title in a tight men's high jump competition, clearing 2.32m/7-7.25 to post the best mark by an American this year. Charles Clinger was second at 2.29m/7-6 and David Furman was third at 2.26/7-5.

Close competition also highlighted the women's 60m hurdles. Melissa Morrison won the fourth U.S. indoor championship of her career with a time of 7.91 seconds, just .05 ahead of second-place Miesha McKelvy.

Allen Johnson had an easier time of it in the Verizon men's 60m hurdles, winning in 7.45 over Ron Bramlett (7.59) and Larry Wade (7.70).

World indoor champion Shawn Crawford won the men's 200m in 20.49, with World outdoor bronze medalist Kelli White winning the women's 200m in 23.19.

Several athletes won their first-ever U.S. titles during Sunday's competition. Tim Rusan won his first national title in the men's triple jump with a leap of 17.01m/55-9.75; in the women's long jump, Grace Upshaw collected her first title with a mark of 6.41m/21-0.5.

The 400m had first-time winners on both the men's and women's side, with Brandon Couts winning the men's race (46.73) and Monique Hennagan taking the women's title (52.97).

2001 Goodwill Games gold medalist Tim Mack kept his championship streak going with his first US indoor title in the Visa men's pole vault (5.72m/18-9.25). Mack defeated Tye Harvey, who cleared the same height, by virtue of clearing the winning height on his first attempt.

The high school relays provided several crowd-pleasing moments. Boys & Girls High School again flexed their relay muscle, running the third- fastest prep time in history in the JP Morgan Chase girls' 4x400m relay with their time of 4:43.63, holding off Eleanor Roosevelt HS of Maryland (3:44.56). On Friday, BG broke the national record for the girls 4x800m relay. Mumford High School of Detroit, Michigan, also held off a late charge to win the JP Morgan Chase boys' 4x400m relay in 3:17.51. Other high school relay action saw Eleanor Roosevelt win the girls' (1:38.92) and boys' (1:28.31) 4x200m relays.

In other relays, the Nike Farm Team won the men's distance medley relay in 9:48.47. Westchester Track Club won the women's distance medley relay with a time of 11:49.26.

Mike Egle won the men's masters mile in 4:18.48, with Rose Monday winning the masters women's 400m in 59.96 seconds. 52-year-old Nolan Shaheed broke his own world record for the men's mile among 50 to 54-year- olds, running 4:26.75.

In Chapel Hill, N.C., Tom Pappas totaled 6113 points to win the 2002 USA Track & Field Championship held March 1-2 at the Eddie Smith Fieldhouse in Chapel Hill. Pappas finished ahead of Aaron Moser (5720 points) and Andy Giesler (5711).