Athletics: Christie enjoys revenge on Bailey

Victory was sweet for Linford Christie in Nuremburg last night as he defeated the Canadian world 100 metres champion Donovan Bailey. But for Britain's other Olympic champion, Sally Gunnell, and their world 110m hurdles world record holder Colin Jackson, the evening turned sour.

After his double defeat in the Rome grand prix on Wednesday, Christie got back into winning form with a time of 10.06sec. It was the first time he had met Bailey since the Canadian accused him of feigning injury in the world championship final.

The day before last night's race, Bailey had described Britain's reigning Olympic champion as "just another runner." Perhaps the news got back to Christie. Whatever the case, he gave a jubilant salute to the crowd in the Frankenstadion after crossing the line ahead of Bailey, who made a wretched start.

The Canadian, who ran 9.97 last weekend, recorded 10.09, with Germany's Marc Blume third on 10.13. "It was all right," Christie said with a shrug afterwards. "You guys [the Press] had built it up, not me."

Gunnell, making an uncertain comeback to the 400m hurdles, finished third in 56.03sec behind Germany's Heike Meissner and Debbie Parris of Jamaica. She was dominating such runners before suffering the heel injury that put her out of action last year.

"I really wanted a good one here," the Olympic champion said. "But I'm holding back. I'm not attacking the hurdles. I don't know why. Maybe it's a mental thing. But I'm not giving up."

Jackson suffered his fourth defeat in 10 days, finishing third in 13.40sec behind Florian Schwarthoff, who beat him in last weekend's European Cup. The German, who is looking like a genuine Olympic contender, recorded 13.11. But there was some consolation for Jackson as fellow Welshman Jamie Baulch, whom he coaches, won the 400m in a personal best of 44.97.

In Moscow, John Regis continued his comeback after Achilles problems with a 200m win in 20.47.

Results, Sporting Digest, Page 28