The decision was hardly surprising, given Devers's history of winning close calls between herself and Ottey: the 36-year-old Jamaican had lost out to Devers over 100m on two crucial occasions - the 1993 World Championships, where the American was adjudged winner by 0.001sec, and last month's Olympic final, where Devers won by the twist of a shoulder despite a protest from the Jamaicans. In the aftermath of a close finish involving Merlene Ottey, Gwen Torrence and Gail Devers, the winner's bouquet was handed to Devers. But a final- round jump of 17.79m assured him of victory over the man who took gold to his silver in Atlanta last month, Kenny Harrison. The American managed only two counting jumps, the best of them 17.23m.The women's 100m produced a moment of ironic confusion. Svetlana Masterkova, Russia's double Olympic champion, reduced Paula Ivan's seven-year-old mark for the mile of 4min 15.61sec, finishing 25m clear of the pack in 4:12.57.Remarkably, the 28-year-old Russian had never run a mile race before last night.
It was a fine season's finale for Masterkova, who was the surprise winner of the Olympic 800 and 1500m. Masterkova, who speaks fluent Spanish and has a home near Alicante, only returned to the international circuit this season after giving birth to a daughter, Anastasia, last year.Jonathan Edwards was still unable to recapture the form which brought him the world triple jump title and world record last season. And they have gone."Zurich experienced the 20th world record in its history after another astonishing performance by the woman who can now claim to be the world's leading middle-distance runner. Would victory here have done something to efface the memory of Atlanta? He wrinkled up his face and shook his head "Not really Even if I had won, the Olympics are the Olympics. On both occasions Christie was jubilant, firing imaginary pistols into a crowd which chanted his name, football-style. Last night the guns were silent.Christie, who was not sure of where he had placed until he consulted the TV monitor beyond the finish line, was a sombre figure afterwards. Two years ago, in torrential rain, he beat the best Americans.
Last season he proved a point again by beating Bailey after the Canadian had taken over his world title. However, a third consecutive win at the Zurich Grand Prix proved beyond him. This was the 36-year-old's biggest opportunity to set the record straight against the men who had claimed the Atlanta booty. Against a field that included the gold and bronze medallists, Christie was third behind the winner, Dennis Mitchell of the United States.
He recorded the same time - 10.06sec - as the second-placed runner, the world and Olympic champion Donovan Bailey.Zurich has been Christie's special hunting ground in recent times. Meanwhile, Rangers' Glasgow rivals Celtic announced their turnover had risen by 54 per cent, to pounds 16m, in the 1995- 96 season.. Athletics In what was possibly, even probably, his last appearance on this fabled track, Linford Christie encountered neither triumph nor disaster last night - but something in between. The man whose defence of the Olympic title ended with two false starts two weeks ago did not handicap himself in similar fashion. Rovers' owner, Jack Walker, has strict rules on checking players with past problems.The governing body of European football, Uefa, yesterday told Rangers that they must play next week's European Cup tie in Vladikavkaz despite the nearby conflict in Chechnya. QPR are angry with the club for talking to the media about the player when they have been told he is not available.Patrik Berger is set to make his Premiership debut for Liverpool at Middlesbrough on Saturday after the Department of Education and Employment cut through red tape to allow him to register as a player at Anfield.Doubt has been cast on Robbie Elliott's move to Blackburn Rovers because the Newcastle left-back had a cruciate ligament operation as a teenager. Leicester will today complete the signing of the Millwall goalkeeper Kasey Keller for pounds 1m.Queen's Park Rangers, however, are in no mood to sell and are threatening to report Leeds to the Football Association over their attempts to sign the forward Trevor Sinclair.
Brian Little signalled his intention to make Aston Villa serious challengers for the Premiership this season when he broke the club's transfer record and agreed yesterday to pay pounds 4m for Bolton's Yugoslavian international midfielder Sasa Curcic. However, Little revealed Curcic was unlikely to play for the club for at least a couple of weeks while they obtained a work permit. The work means Chelsea are down to a 29,700 capacity, and they have dispensation (along with Newcastle) from the Premiership requirement to reserve 3,000 seats, or 10 per cent of capacity, to away fans.Chelsea could have tried to close the ground to away fans, as Manchester United did during last season's redevelopment, but Colin Hutchinson, the chief executive, said: "We did not want to do that We felt you need away fans for atmosphere.". These days you need 20 players at least for a good season, with players of quality."Chelsea have sold a record number of season tickets, having had to halt sales in order to leave enough space within their restricted capacity to accommodate floating fans and members - the latter now total 30,000.The South Stand - the former Shed - will be closed all season while a pounds 28m redevelopment proceeds. All three have impressed, and Gullit added: "I'm pleased how they have adapted so quickly They all speak English, which has helped them understand I have everyone I wanted.