Forty-year-old Gail Devers, in lane 4 between an Olympic champion and a world champion, showed she’s the still the best. Five minutes ago at the Millrose Games, she won the Visa women’s 60-meter hurdles in 7.86 seconds. They raced over 33-inch hurdles, not the 30-inch masters hurdles, so technically it’s not a masters record. (But who’s kidding whom? Certainly not announcer Dwight Stones, who amazingly noted that Gail had “smashed the masters record.” Dick Patrick of USA Today also mentioned masters — but erred on the margin of breakage).

Gail corrected ESPN2 interviewer Lewis Johnson, who alluded to her having “retired” last year — when she had a baby girl. Gail said she took time off to have her daughter but that only God would tell her when it’s time to retire. Lewis tried to pin Gail down on her major-meet plans, taling about the 2007 worlds (in Osaka) and the 2008 Beijing Games. Gail wouldn’t bite, saying she took it a day at a time, a step at a time.
Gail graciously dedicated her victory to all her fans who have encouraged her to keep a-going. She said she’d received a a lot of email. (But to what address? Her own Web site doesn’t list one.)
Whatever.
She’s a Force of Nature still.
USATF posted quotes from Gail:

My intention was when Danielle [Carruthers] came to me [to ask Devers to coach her] and said I want what you have, longevity in the sport, I told my husband I have to take her on. I pick her to be the next [star], to be here forever. Training is going well for her, she’s learning patience. She is like me, she wants everything yesterday. But she’s learning that it is an equation.
The reason I ran this race, first of all I always open up at Millrose. You have Danielle and my husband to thank for me being in this race. They said you’ve got to jump in a race. This has always been a great experience for me .I wanted to come back at 40 and do something great for my fans, for the people who supported me having a baby, saying please don’t retire. I say 40 is the new 20. I honestly believe that.
My body responds that way. I’m just excited, more excited for Danielle. I wanted her to go under (8 seconds) and she went under. I have absolutely no plans [for the rest of the season]. I was doing ballet with my daughter earlier today in her little tutu, so I’ll go back and do that. I don’t have any more plans.
This is the one race I said I would run, the 100th Millrose Games. I suppose if somebody calls and says I have to have you in this race, and if the money was right, I would probably do it.
[On Karsen watching her compete]: She will tell everybody ‘that’s my mommy.’ She’ll set up little hurdles, and she knows track and field. In Boston, she was challenging some of the athletes that were warming up. It’s important for my daughter to know you can do anything you put your mind do. I tell people when I go outside and look up at the sky, there is no ceiling. People thought I went away after the Olympic Games.
I went away to have my platinum medal [Karsen]. I never thought I would coach, but coaching has been a great experience. Danielle has given me a renewed passion. I took the time off because I needed it. Taking the time off, doing something I’ve always wanted which was to be a mother. Now training with Danielle and coaching her, I have a passion.
At 40, I don’t care how old I am, my goal is to win the race. I’m willing to pull every muscle in my body to get to that finish. In no way was that a great race for me.”

Only one problem with Gail getting a masters record, though. The masters 60-meter hurdles for W40 women has these specs: Hurdles are 30 inches (.762m) high, with 12 meters to the first hurdle, 8 meters between the five barriers and 16 meters to the finish.
In open and collegiate competition, the women’s hurdles are 33 inches (.840m). And it’s 13 meters to the first hurdle, 8.5 meters between barriers and 13 meters to the finish. Gail might even go SLOWER over masters hurdles, given the step-chopping necessary.
But no question she deserves recognition as the great short hurdler in masters history. The listed W40 age-group record for 60 hurdles is 8.71 by Italy’s Monica Pellegrinelli at the Linz, Austria, world masters indoor championships a year ago.