Nigeria’s Ezinwa Runs Year’s Fastest 100

Davidson Ezinwa of Nigeria ran the 100 meters in 9.94 seconds, the best time in the world this year and an African record, and Britain’s Linford Christie lost for the first time this season in an international meet Monday at Linz, Austria.

Christie, who finished in 10.03, was third behind Ezinwa and American Dennis Mitchell (9.97).

Gwen Torrence of the United States also recorded the fastest time of the year in the women’s 100, 10.89, and Mark McKoy, running for Austria for the first time instead of Canada, won the men’s 110 hurdles in 13.15, also fastest this year.

Hockey

The St. Louis Blues, looking to beef up their defense, acquired the rights to Calgary’s Al MacInnis and signed New Jersey’s Scott Stevens to an offer sheet. In exchange for MacInnis and a draft pick, the Blues sent the Flames defenseman Phil Housely, along with two draft picks.

By acquiring MacInnis, the Blues have the right to match any other offer for the six-time NHL all-star. MacInnis reportedly was offered more than $2 million for next season by the Flames; the Blues are offering $3 million.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Stevens’ deal is for $16 million over four years, including a signing bonus of at least $2.5 million. The New Jersey Devils have seven days to match the Blues’ offer for Stevens, also a six-time all-star.

Cycling

Dutchman Jean-Claude Van Poppel won the 126-mile second stage of the Tour de France, edging Olag Ludwig of Germany at the finish in Boulogne-sur-Mer. Ludwig also finished second in the first stage.

Chris Boardman, the first British rider to lead since 1962, retained the yellow jersey. Favorites Miguel Indurain and Tony Rominger were in the pack and did not lose any time to the leader. They remained second and third.

American world champion Lance Armstrong was 38 seconds behind, and three seconds ahead of three-time winner Greg LeMond.

Motor Sports

Robby Unser, son of three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Bobby Unser, won his sixth Pikes Peak title and the 35th for the Unser family by winning the open-wheel division in record time near Colorado Springs, Colo.

Unser’s Chevy needed only 10 minutes 5.85 seconds to negotiate the 156-turn, 12.42-mile course from the 9,400-foot level to the summit at 14,110 feet.

Unser, of Lincoln, Neb., had led qualifying in both open-wheel and super-truck divisions, but had to settle for second in the latter in 12:01.22. Leonard Vahsholtz of Woodland Park, Colo., drove a Ford to a super-truck record of 11:36.63.

Rod Millen of Newport Beach drove a Toyota Celica to a record of 10:04.06 in the unlimited division and Katy Endicott of San Pedro drove an electric Honda to victory in 15:44.71 in the electric class, run for the first time this year.

Television

Greg Gumbel will replace Jim Lampley as the host of NBC’s “NFL Live” pregame show, the network announced.

When Gumbel was signed last month, NBC said he would be used as a play-by-play announcer on NFL football. But Gumbel and Lampley have switched roles, with Lampley taking over Gumbel’s play-by-play spot.

Miscellany

German Bernd Karbacher upset second-seeded Henrik Holm of Sweden, 4-6, 6-1, 7-5, in the first round of the $313,750 Swedish Open tennis tournament. Top-seeded Magnus Larsson, ranked 27th in the world, withdrew because of a strained shoulder. That put Russian Andrei Chesnokov, 37th in the world, into the top-seeded position.

Cuba’s Rolando Tucker Leon scored an upset in the final of the men’s foil at the World Fencing Championships at Athens, defeating Italy’s Alessandro Puccini, 15-12. Russia’s Pavel Kolobkov retained the epee title, beating Olivier Jaquet, 15-8.

The United States volleyball team defeated Canada, 15-6, 9-15, 15-7, 15-11, at Austin, Tex., in he second of a five-game series between the two countries. The series is tied, 1-1, with the third game set for Wednesday at St. Louis. In Monday’s match, Jeff Nygaard had 13 kills and three blocks for the United States.