Gay Wins in 19.68 Seconds in Third-Fastest 200 Meters

Michael Johnson’s world records are starting to look within reach.

Tyson Gay joined exclusive company Sunday when he won the 200 meters at the World Athletics Final in 19.68 seconds at Stuttgart, Germany. Only two men have run faster times: the 19.63 clocked by fellow American Xavier Carter this summer and the decade-old 19.32 mark Johnson set in winning at the Atlanta Olympics.

“I believe it is attainable,” Gay said of Johnson’s record.

In the 400, Jeremy Wariner has been closing in on the 7-year-old mark of 43.18 held by Johnson, also his manager.

However, all eyes were on Gay, who finished in a time also run by Frankie Fredericks of Namibia.

“That was kind of crazy -- I never heard a crowd scream that loud,” Gay said of the 30,000 fans.

Compatriot Wallace Spearmon ran a personal best 19.88, and Jamaica’s Usain Bolt took third in 20.10.

In the women’s 100, Jamaica’s Sherone Simpson ran a 10.89 to beat Torri Edwards (11.07), Allyson Felix (11.07) and Me’Lisa Barber (11.10).

In the 400 hurdles, European champion Periklis Iakovakis of Greece surged past Bershawn Jackson down the stretch to win in 47.92 seconds. Jackson faded badly, and L.J. Van Zyl of South Africa beat him at the line in 48.08, with the American 0.16 of a second behind.

*

World Anti-Doping Agency Chairman Dick Pound wants to investigate why Marion Jones’ backup sample came up negative for the banned endurance enhancer EPO, clearing her of a positive doping test last week.

Pound said he found the inconsistent tests “disturbing.”

“We are going to see how that happened, learn from it, and try to make sure it doesn’t happen in the future,” Pound told BBC Radio. “The worry we have is that someone is misinterpreting things or doing things wrong.”

One of Jones’ attorneys, Howard Jacobs, criticized Pound.

“From what I have heard from our experts ... it was borderline positive to start with, so although it is very unusual, I cannot say I was shocked by it,” Jacobs told the same BBC program. “I would assume if the ‘B’ was negative, you have to assume that the ‘A’ was the mistake. Marion is very clear she has never taken performance-enhancing drugs, and I think people should accept that.”

SOCCER

AC Milan Reduces Its Points Deficit

AC Milan won its first game of the Italian league season, beating Lazio, 2-1, in Rome to decrease its deficit in the standings from minus eight points to minus five.

Four Serie A clubs -- Milan, Lazio, Reggina and Fiorentina -- received point penalties for their role in a game-fixing scandal. Juventus was relegated to the second division and given a 17-point penalty.

Filippo Inzaghi and Ricardo Oliveira scored for Milan.

Milan is eight points behind defending champion Inter Milan.

*

A match involving Argentine champions Boca Juniors was abandoned at halftime on Sunday amid allegations that referee Daniel Gimenez had been threatened by officials of home team Gimnasia La Plata. Gimnasia was winning, 1-0.

*

Zinedine Zidane said he had nightmares about France’s World Cup loss, but he is trying to get over his infamous head butt.

“Things happened the way they happened,” the retired Zidane told Canal Plus television. “We have to live with it.”

Zidane was ejected for ramming his head into Italy’s Marco Materazzi’s chest during extra time, and Italy won the final on penalty kicks. Materazzi acknowledged last week he had insulted Zidane’s sister.

MISCELLANY

Cranmer, Lasek Earn Victories

Scotty Cranmer won the BMX park and Bucky Lasek was first in skateboard vert on the final day of the Toyota Challenge in San Jose.

Cranmer, the BMX park points leader, had a score of 93.75 on his first run, securing the win with a no-handed front flip and a double tailwhip tire tap. Lasek won with a score of 91.75.

PASSINGS

Canadian Runner Is Killed in Crash

Emilie Mondor, a 5,000-meter runner for Canada at the Athens Olympics, was killed in a single-car accident near Hawkesbury.

Mondor, 25, finished 17th in the 5,000 at the 2004 Olympics and was expected to make her debut in the marathon at November’s race in New York.