Athletics: Adeniken too quick for Christie

LINFORD CHRISTIE, Britain's European 100 metres champion, was beaten by Nigeria's Olapade Adeniken at a grand prix meeting in Lausanne last night - reversing the result of their encounter in Oslo on Saturday.

The impressive Adeniken, who beat the American No 1 Dennis Mitchell in Stockholm last Thursday, made ground over the last few metres to out-dip Christie at the line and take the race in 10.06 seconds. Christie was 0.01sec behind, with the Canadian, Bruny Surin, third with 10.12sec.

In the 400m hurdles, Kevin Young of the United States produced an immaculate performance to beat the world champion, Samuel Matete, and the world bronze medallist, Kriss Akabusi, with some ease.

Young, the fastest man in the world this year and the gold medal favourite for this month's Barcelona Olympics, led throughout in a highly impressive time of 47.97sec. The Zambian, Matete, struggling to recapture last year's form, was second in 48.18sec, with Britain's European champion, Akabusi, third in 48.30sec.

Michael Johnson of the US, showing no ill-effects from a recent hamstring injury, defeated a classy men's 200m field; while Kenya's William Tanui took the 800m.

Germany's European champion, Heike Drechsler, equalled the second-best mark ever for the women's long jump with a leap of 7.48 metres.

Drechsler, a former world champion and world record holder while competing for East Germany, equalled her own best jump with her fourth attempt, helped by a slight following wind. Only Galina Chistyakova of the Commonwealth of Independent States, the current world record holder with 7.52m, has jumped further - she finished fourth last night.

Curtis Robb, who won the 800m at the British Olympic trials, has been named in a strong team for the European Under-23 Cup at Gateshead on 18 and 19 July. The Liverpudlian is one of 10 athletes in the team who will also be competing for Britain in Barcelona. It also includes Jason Livingston at 100m and David Grindley at 400m.

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