INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, 9 March 2004 — Paul Terek successfully defended his title Sunday at the 2004 USA Indoor Combined Events Championships, storming back on the final day and finishing with 6,040 points.

Tiffany Lott-Hogan also defended her women’s title on Sunday.

Stephen Harris was second behind Terek with 5,989 points. Phil McMullen was third with 5,898 points.

Terek won the 2003 US men’s indoor crown with 5,870 points, giving him a 139-point margin over runner-up Jeff Sander.

Terek finished third in the decathlon at the 2003 USA Outdoor Championships and 12th at the World Outdoor Championships in Paris, France.

Terek dominated the pole vault on Sunday with a clearance of 5.41 meters (17ft 9in).

Tom Pappas, the 2003 World Outdoor Championships decathlon gold medalist, led after the first day of competition.

But Pappas did not compete in the pole vault on Sunday, choosing to rest his right shoulder following surgery to remove cartilage on Jan. 27.

In the women’s pentathlon competition, Lott-Hogan won with 4,224 points. Runner-up Michelle Moran had 4,093 points.

Ivuti Dropped From Kenyan Cross Country Squad

In Nairobi, Patrick Ivuti was dropped from the Kenyan team for the 2004 World Cross Country Championships in Belgium later this month, despite picking up a silver in the main 12km race last year.

The six-man squad named yesterday to challenge Ethiopia’s double-champion Kenenisa Bekele for the world title includes reigning world 5000m champion Eliud Kipchoge, national champion John Korir and exciting prospect Simon Kiprop.

The team will head to Europe confident of retaining the overall title for the 19th successive year at the March 20-21 competition in Brussels.

Ivuti was part of an initial 53-member party that attended a residential training camp in Kigari on the foot of Mount Kenya, but was unable to force a place in the final line-up.

Other notable athletes dropped from the team were former African Games 5000m champion Leah Malot and perennial world cross country campaigners Jepkorir Aiyabei and Monica Wangare.

Main squads:

Men’s 12km: Eliud Kipchoge, John Korir, Wilberforce Talel, Richard Limo, Simon Kiprop, Charles Kamathi.

Men’s 4km: Abraham Chebii, John Kibowen, Kiplimo Muneria, Boniface Songok, Isaac Songok, Eliud Kirui.

Women’s 8km: Alice Timbilil, Sally Barosio, Irene Kwambai, Eunice Jepkorir, Jane Ngotho, Fridah Domongole.

Women’s 4km: Beatrice Jepchumba, Jane Gakunyi, Edith Masai, Peninah Jepchumba, Isabella Ochichi, Vivian Cheruiyot.