Poky Christie Is Fast Enough to Win 100

Linford Christie was slow--for him--but fast enough to win his third consecutive 100-meter meet title at the European Championships in Helsinki, Finland, on Monday.

Christie, the 1992 Olympic champion and world champion last year, was timed in 10.14 seconds, 0.13 seconds slower than his seasonal best and well off his European record of 9.87. But it was fast enough to get him a tie for the record of three titles in a row by Valery Borzov of the former Soviet Union in the 1970s. And it was fast enough to leave Norway’s Geir Moen 0.06 seconds behind.

“This silver (medal) is like gold to me,” said Moen. “Finishing second behind Linford, who is one of the greatest, is a dream.”

Christie took the lead at the 50-meter mark. No one was close to him at the finish line.

Steve Backley won in the javelin, throwing 279 feet 6 inches to beat Finnish favorite Seppo Raty’s throw of 272 feet.

Two Russians led in women’s competition, favored Irina Privalova winning the 100 in 11.02 seconds, and Ana Biryukova winning the triple jump at 48 feet 10 1/4 inches.

Hockey

The Kings acquired defenseman Ruslan Batyrshin and a 1996 second-round draft choice from the Winnipeg Jets for defenseman Brent Thompson.

Colin Campbell, an assistant under former Coach Mike Keenan with the Stanley Cup champion New York Rangers, is expected to replace him today. Keenan has taken a job with the St. Louis Blues in a messy departure stemming from a contract dispute that got him fined and suspended by the NHL.

The NHL, without a collective bargaining agreement since Sept. 15, 1993, will meet with the players association for the first time in five months on Aug. 18. Free agency and a salary cap are expected to be on the agenda.

Horse Racing

Steve Cauthen, 34, became the youngest person ever inducted into the National Racing Hall of Fame. Also inducted during ceremonies in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., were trainer Jimmy Croll and Ta Wee, Eight Thirty, Flatterer and Arts And Letters.

In 1977, Cauthen won 487 races and set an American jockey record with more than $6 million in earnings. The next year he guided Affirmed to his Triple Crown victory, barely beating Alydar each time.

Jurisprudence

Former Kansas City Chief wide receiver Tim Barnett was bound over for trial in Milwaukee on a charge of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl.

Barnett was charged with second-degree sexual assault of a child after the girl, a hotel maid, told authorities that Barnett pulled her onto his hotel bed. The incident occurred June 14.

College Football

Rich Brooks announced he is stepping down as athletic director at Oregon to concentrate on a “critical” football season. Brooks, 52, is beginning his 18th season as the Ducks’ football coach and is one of two in NCAA Division I holding both titles. The other is Chris Ault of Nevada.

Cotton Bowl officials are scheduled to meet this week to consider options for the 58-year-old event, which was left out of the Tier I bowl alliance. The Big 12 is considering holding a championship game in December in Texas Stadium, sending a team to the Cotton Bowl or both.

Names in the News

University of Alabama officials denied a report that they have offered a job to Boston Red Sox Manager Butch Hobson. . . . Jimmy Spencer suffered a broken right shoulder when he crashed Saturday during the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and will be replaced by Tommy Kendall of La Canada in Sunday’s Budweiser at The Glen in Watkins Glen, N.Y.