TRACK AND FIELD
Relay victory gives Gay a third gold
Tyson Gay joined some fast, fast company. Allyson Felix is a race away from doing the same.
The powerhouse pair helped the United States sweep the men's and women's 400-meter relays Saturday night at the world track and field championships in Osaka, Japan.
Gay joined Carl Lewis and Maurice Greene as the only men to win three gold medals at one world meet. Felix, winner of the 200 meters on Friday night, earned her second gold and can get a third in the women's 1,600 relay in the meet's final session tonight.
"It was my first relay tonight, it was a great feeling and I can't wait to do it again tomorrow," Felix said.
Only one other woman has won three golds in the meet's history -- Marita Koch of East Germany at the first world championships in 1983.
Gay did not run the anchor leg in the men's 400 relay. He ran third, on the curve, leaving young LeRoy Dixon to fend off world record holder Asafa Powell of Jamaica in the last 100 meters.
Gay, who swept the 100 and 200 here, confessed to being a little confused himself when he was told the lineup for the relay on Friday night.
"Normally the fastest American always runs last, and they told me, 'Well, you're a great third leg, so we're going to make an exception,' " he said. "So you know I rolled with it, and I'm happy with the decision."
The Americans also got a gold from Brad Walker, who cleared 19 feet, 2¾ inches in winning the pole vault. Heading into today's final day of competition, the United States has 22 medals, 11 of them gold.
• Czech Roman Sebrle, the world record holder and Olympic champion in the decathlon, finally got his first world title, edging Maurice Smith of Jamaica by 32 points -- 8,676 to 8,644. Former world champion Tom Pappas of the United States withdrew after his first event Saturday because of a foot injury.
Meseret Defar of Ethiopia won the 5,000 world title to add to her Olympic gold and world record in the event.
"I achieved the world record and I wanted the [Olympic] gold medal," she said. "Finally, I am the world champion."
Kenya's Catherine Ndereba, the 2003 world champion and silver medalist in 2005, became the first woman to win two marathon titles at the worlds. She won in 2 hours, 30 minutes and 37 seconds-- 8 seconds clear of No. 1-ranked Zhou Chunxiu of China. Reiko Tosa finished third for Japan's first medal of the meet.
BASKETBALL
Nash, Anthony to lead all-stars
Steve Nash, Carmelo Anthony and Greg Oden will be on a team of NBA players that will travel to China this month for an exhibition game against Yao Ming and the Chinese national team.
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