ALBUQUERQUE (New Mexico), Feb 27: American Sanya Richards-Ross made her 27th birthday special in more ways than one Sunday by winning the women’s 400 metre title at the US Indoor Track and Field Championships.

Richards-Ross was also celebrating her wedding anniversary Sunday as she married American gridiron player Aaron Ross on her birthday two years ago.

Ross, who plays for the New York Giants, and was in the stands cheering her on.

Richards-Ross set a meet record of 50.71 in the 400 to beat runner-up Natasha Hastings who finished in 51.66.

The win clinched a trip to the World Indoor Championships coming up March 9-11 in Istanbul, Turkey.

Richards-Ross boosted her credentials for both Istanbul and the 2012 London Olympic Games with this win. She came to Albuquerque with the top 400 time of 2012, the 50.89 she ran at the Millrose Games in New York in February and will head to Istanbul as a strong favourite.

Results (finals):

Men’s:

60metres: 1. Trell Kimmons 6.45 seconds, 2. Justin Gatlin 6.47, 3. Dangelo Cherry 6.58 400m: 1. Gil Roberts 45.39, 2. Calvin Smith 45.96, 3. Frankie Wright 46.07. 800m: 1. Duane Solomon one minute, 48.58 seconds, 2. Michael Rutt 1:49.90, 3. Mark Wieczorek 1:49.96 1500 m: 1. Leonel Manzano 3:48.05, 2. Matthew Centrowitz 3:48.16, 3. Galen Rupp 3:48.44 60m hurdles: 1. Aries Merritt 7.43, 2. Kevin Craddock 7.46, 3. Terrence Trammell 7.51 Pole vault: 1. Brad Walker 5.86 metres, 2. Scott Roth 5.60m, 3. Mark Hollis 5.60m Long jump: 1. Ashton Eaton 8.06m, 2. William Claye 8.02m, 3. Norris Frederik 7.99m Shot put: 1. Reese Hoffa 21.75m, 2. Ryan Whiting 21.60m, 3. Christian Cantwell 21.53m, 4. Adam Nelson 20.58m Women’s: 800m: 1. Erica Moore two minutes, 01.08 seconds, 2. Phoebe Wright 2:03.07, 3. Latavia Thomas 2:04.50 400m: 1. Sanya Richards-Ross 50.71 seconds, 2. Natasha Hastings 51.66, 3. Dee Dee Trotter 51.68 1,500m: 1. Jennifer Simpson 4:15.04, 2. Brenda Martinez 4:15.11, 3. Sara Vaughn 4:18.25 60m: 1. Tianna Madison 7.02, 2. Barbara Pierre 7.06, 3. Lakya Brookins 7.14 60m hurdles: 1. Kristi Castlin 7.84, 2. Vanneisha Ivy 7.93, 3. Gabrielle Mayo 8.04 Shot putt: 1. Jillian Camarena-Williams 19.56 metres, 2. Michelle Carter 19.27m, 3. Alyssa Hasslen 17.77m High jump: 1. Chaunte Lowe 2.02m, 2. Inika McPherson 1.87m, 3. Rebecca Christensen 1.87m Long jump: 1. Janay DeLoach 6.89m 2. Brittney Reese 6.86m 3. Funmi Jimoh 6.81m.—AFP