OLYMPICS REPORT / 33 DAYS TO THE GAMES : Defending Champion Qualifies in 100

Olympic champion Linford Christie won Saturday’s 100 meters in the British Olympic trials at Birmingham, England, in 10.04 seconds, his best time of the season.

The victory automatically qualified Christie to represent Britain at the Atlanta Olympics, but he still didn’t say if he will seek to defend his title at the games. Reportedly, Christie will wait until the July 1 deadline to announce his decision.

Christie said last year that he would not run in the Olympics, claiming he was fed up with alleged harassment and mistreatment by the British media. Fellow athletes, however, have suggested that Christie will run.

Diane Modahl, embroiled for almost two years in a drug-related controversy, also qualified for the British team. She finished second in the 800 meters to Kelly Holmes.

Modahl was cleared of doping charges three months ago by the governing body of track and field after testing positive for excessive amounts of testosterone at a meet in Portugal in 1994.