Eamonn Coghlan Injures His Back but Plans to Run Next Month

NEW YORK —  Injury-plagued Eamonn Coghlan, the fastest indoor miler in history, is hurt again.

Coghlan said Thursday that he suffered a strained ligament in his lower back last week when he missed a step while leaving his home in Rye, N.Y.

He said the injury was not serious and he should be able to resume training shortly for the 1988 indoor track and field season. He plans to run Jan. 15 at Vancouver, Canada.

Coghlan, 35, was undefeated in the mile during the 1987 indoor season but was injured during a road race at San Diego in June and was unable to defend his 5,000-meter title in the World Championships at Rome. Last December, he suffered dog bites on his hands and legs during a training run in his native Ireland.