BRIEFLY : JOHNSON RUNS FASTEST 400 OF YEAR.

In his 1996 outdoor debut, Michael Johnson put up the fastest time in the world this year and set a meet record in winning the 400 meters Saturday at the Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa.

Johnson coasted to victory over a talented field despite tightening slightly in the final 50 meters, finishing in 44.41 seconds. It was Johnson's 52nd straight victory in a 400 final.

The race marked the start of Johnson's bid to become the first man to win the 200 and 400 in the same Olympics.

Kevin Little, who had run 44.71 a week ago, was second in 45.17.

GOLF Mark O'Meara tied a course record with a 62, but former Taft High School and UCLA player Duffy Waldorf caught him and tied for the lead in the third round of the Greater Greensboro (N.C.) Classic.

Waldorf is looking for his first top-10 finish at Greensboro in five tries. He highlighted his day with an eagle on the par-4 seventh hole - playing partner Keith Fergus also eagled the hole. However, a wobbly finish marked by a bogey at 18 left Waldorf with a 5-under-par 67 and a three-day total of 11-under-par 205.

Caroline Pierce shot a 69 for one-stroke lead after the second round of the $600,000 Sara Lee Classic at Nashville, Tenn.

First-round leader Marianne Morris shot a 73 and was tied for second with Shirley Furlong (68), Meg Mallon (71), Stephanie Maynor (70), Stephanie Farwig (69) and Pam Wright (70).

Bob Charles and Tommy Aaron tied for the second-round lead in the Las Vegas Senior Classic by shooting 2-under-par 70s.

HOCKEY Kevin Stevens of the Kings scored twice in the United States' 4-3 victory over Slovakia at the World Ice Hockey Championships in Vienna, Austria, assuring the Americans a spot in the medal round.

The victory gives the United States six points in four games in Pool A, two behind tournament-favorite Russia - the only team in the 12-team field with four wins. The Americans finish pool play today against Canada.

MOTOR SPORTS Al Unser Jr. turned out to be the best of the survivors, winning the second round of the 1996 Pontiac-True Value International Race of Champions Series after a multi-car crash eliminated more than half of the field at Talladega, Ala.

Unser passed Sterling Marlin with three laps remaining and held on to win by about a car length.

Robby Gordon and Scott Pruett finished second and third, followed by Marlin and Terry Labonte.

Paul Tracy posted the fastest one-mile lap ever while claiming the pole position for today's Bosch Grand Prix at Nazareth (Pa.) Speedway. Tracy went 190.737 mph.

BOWLING Dave D'Entremont overcame two open frames to beat Dave Arnold 215-202 in the title match of the Tournament of Champions at Palantine, Ill., for his first PBA major win.

D'Entremont, from Middleburg Heights, Ohio, had strikes on his last five balls to overcome his mistakes in the first two frames.

ETC. UCLA's Valorie Condos was named Coach of the Year by the National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches.

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PHOTO AL UNSER JR.

He took the lead with three laps remaini ng to win the IROC race in Talladega, Ala.