Sanya Richards - reuters

BERLIN (AP)

Sanya Richards thinks she can break the 22-year-old U.S. record in the women's 400-metre sprint in her next three races.

The 21-year-old runner, who has recorded the fastest times of the year in the 400, has her eyes on Valerie Brisco-Hook's record of 48.83 seconds, set at the 1984 Olympics.

But breaking the world record of 47.60 run by Marita Koch of the former East Germany in 1985 is a far more daunting job, Richards said yesterday.

"I never used to think about it," she said. "My training performance have shown me, however, that it is possible in the next few years."

Richards' immediate goal is winning Sunday's meet in Berlin, where a US$1 million jackpot is up for grabs to athletes who stay unbeaten at the Golden League events.

Three other runners unbeaten in the five previous races will start Sunday's Golden League final - 400-metre Olympic champion Jeremy Wariner, 5,000m-world champion Tirunesh Dibaba and 100m world record holder Asafa Powell.

If more than one wins Sunday, they will share the jackpot.

"My whole planning since the season start have been aimed at the chance of winning the jackpot," Richards said.