Athletics: Beaten Christie feels cheated

LINFORD CHRISTIE, angered by the quick-fire starter, lost his season's unbeaten record in Linz last night when he was beaten over 100 metres by Nigeria's Davidson Ezinwa.

It took a personal best of 9.94sec to see Ezinwa through to victory over the American Dennis Mitchell, who clocked 9.97sec, with Britain's Olympic and world champion third in 10.03. The Nigerian had delivered a warning to Christie earlier in the evening by breaking 10 seconds in the heats.

Christie felt cheated by the start. 'It was a case of 'on your marks, set - bang' before we had time to get set. The gun went and I was three metres down. I am never that far behind anyone,' Christie said. 'It was so sad. I felt really easy in the heat that I was almost jogging. I don't think I have ever been so disappointed.'

Mark McKoy, once of Canada but who is going to be hurdling for Austria after being naturalised three weeks ago, was inspired by his new colours to run 13.18sec, an Austrian record.