Christie beaten by Stewart in Qatar

Athletics

Linford Christie, keeping active in his retirement, was beaten into second place over 100 metres yesterday in an international meeting in the Arab state of Qatar.

The 37-year-old former world and Olympic champion recorded 10.15sec behind the winner, Ray Stewart of Jamaica, who clocked 10.11.

Christie, who said earlier this week that he had lost the desire to race in major championships, also took part in a 200m won in 20.31 by Patrick Stevens of Belgium, recording 20.59 for fourth place. "You win some, you lose some," Christie declared, with undeniable truth.

Christie's friend and business associate Colin Jackson had to give best to Jack Pierce, of the United States, in the 110m hurdles, finishing second in 13.65.

Jamie Baulch, who has benefited from the coaching skills of both Britons this winter, was fourth in the 400m in 45.74, a place behind the man who beat him in the World Indoor Championships last month, Sunday Bada.

The race was won in the outstanding early season time of 44.79 by Michael McDonald, of Jamaica, who beat the world record holder, Butch Reynolds of the United States.

The Qatar government has built a new track at Doha, on the banks of the Persian Gulf, as part of a planned bid for the 2006 Asian Games and, perhaps, the World Championships in 2001.

Good as the track may have been, it was the $2m (pounds 1.25m) budget for the event which tempted a collection of top athletes out of pre-season training for a run in the sun.