JEREMY WARINER maintained his unbeaten record in the 400m when he held off Gary Kikaya, of Congo, to win at the World Athletics Final in Stuttgart. Wariner finished his race in 44.02sec, just 0.03sec shy of his goal to join his manager Michael Johnson as the only runners to post four sub-44 races in a season.
The American has one more shot when he races in Shanghai in two weeks.
In the 110m hurdles, world record holder Liu Xiang of China won in 12.93sec, a mere 0.05sec off the world mark he set earlier this season.
Asafa Powell ran his 12th legal sub-10sec 100m of the season, clocking a championship record 9.89sec to remain unbeaten over the distance in 2006.
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Allyson Felix won the 200m ahead of 400m specialist Sanya Richards in 22.11sec.
Golf
BRADLEY DREDGE will take a two-shot lead into the final round of the Omega European Masters in Switzerland. Dredge carded a third-round 65 at Crans-sur-Sierre for a 13-under-par total of 200. Germany’s Marcel Siem lies in second place on 11 under after a 67 with England’s Oliver Wilson in third two shots further back after a 67. Defending champion Sergio Garcia is another stroke back on eight under. oENGLAND’S Justin Rose stands on the brink of his maiden PGA Tour victory today after a third-round 65 in the Canadian Open. Rose finished with an 11-under-par total of 199 and is one shot ahead of a Bart Bryant, Trevor Immelman, Jonathan Byrd and Sean O’Hair
Moto GP
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VALENTINO ROSSI starts today’s Malaysian Grand Prix in pole position after a little help from the weather. A heavy downpour led to the cancellation of the timed qualifying session and the grid was set according to the fastest time achieved by riders in the three free sessions. That left Rossi on pole with American Nicky Hayden, the championship leader, alongside him on the front row on his Honda.
Hockey
GERMANY rallied from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Holland in an ill-tempered match at the men’s hockey World Cup.
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India were eliminated from when Ian Symons scored with six minutes left for South Africa to draw 1-1. New Zealand beat Japan 1-0 to lead Group A, while Australia beat Argentina 4-0.
Tennis
DEFENDING champion Rafael Nadal has pulled out of this week’s China Open because of an ankle injury, organisers said yesterday. The world No 2, who was knocked out of the US Open quarter- finals by Mikhail Youzhny, would have been top seed at the Beijing Tennis Centre.
Cycling
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TOUR DE FRANCE winner Floyd Landis will ask the United States Anti-Doping Agency to drop the case against him. Samples taken from Landis during the Tour in July showed excessive amounts of the male sex hormone testosterone and he faces a two-year ban. The US Cycling Federation referred the case to the USADA, who set up a review panel which has to make a recommendation on whether or not there is a case. The USADA will then decide whether to charge Landis.
Motor racing
LEWIS HAMILTON won the GP2 title after taking the point he needed for setting the fastest lap in yesterday’s race at Monza. The McLaren driver initially thought he needed a point in today’s final race after coming third yesterday. His only title rival, Nelson Piquet Jr, was second and cannot beat Hamilton, even if he wins today.