Athletics: Christie to resist race with Burrell

LINFORD CHRISTIE is set to resist pressure to race Leroy Burrell, the new 100 metres world record holder, in next week's grand prix meeting at Crystal Palace.

No official announcement has been made but the indications are they will not meet until the Goodwill Games in St Petersburg on 25 July.

Burrell, who ran 9.85sec in Lausanne, said: 'I want to prove I'm the No 1 and I'm ready to run against Linford. But they don't seem prepared to let me.'

His manager, Joe Douglas is said to have asked for around pounds 130,000 for a package of Santa Monica Club athletes to compete, headed by Burrell in the 100m and Carl Lewis in the 200m. The meeting has a budget of pounds 500,000.

Meanwhile, Christie is preparing to race in today's TSB Challenge in Edinbugrgh over 100 yards, against a field which includes the former 100m world record holder, Calvin Smith. In the 800m, Curtis Robb is due to make his first major appearance since September following a knee injury, against a field which will feature Martin Steele and the leading Americans, Mark Everett and Johnny Gray.

Robb needs to make a case to the selectors as the 20 July deadline for entries to the European Championships and Commonwealth Games draws uncomfortably close.