Michael Johnson lost to a lesser-known rival from Namibia and Algeria's Noureddine Morceli got a rare taste of defeat at the Golden Gala, an IAAF Grand Prix Track meet and a warmup for the Olympics.

Namibia's Frankie Fredericks outleaned Johnson, the American rated first in the world in the 200 meters, and Britain's Linford Christie at the wire Tuesday night. Fredericks, a former BYU standout, won the photo-finish with a time of 20.23 seconds, while both Johnson and Christie were timed in 20.25.Italy's Gennaro Di Napoli of Italy charged down the final stretch in the 1,500 meters, passing Morceli about 30 meters from the finish to win in 3 minutes, 33.80 seconds. Morceli was second in 3:34.87, just nipping Dieter Bauman of Germany, who was timed in 3:35.02.

"In the last two years, Morceli has only known defeat twice," an obviously excited Di Napoli told Italian television. "I felt strong in the last 50 yards."

Although he finished third in the 200, Christie won the men's 100 in a slow time of 10.11. Jamaica's Reynold Stewart was second at 10.24, while Fredericks was third at 10.26.

Sergei Bubka of the Commonwealth of Independent States easily beat his younger brother by clearing 19 feet, 21/4 inches to win the pole vault. But he failed in three attempts to break his own world record of 20-01/4.

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He sailed under the bar with a weak first attempt at 20-01/2, knocked the bar off with his feet on the second and then brushed it with his body on the descent in the third.

Bubka's younger brother Vassily finished second at 18-61/2 and Pyotr Bochkarev, also of the CIS, was third at 18-21/2.

World champion Javier Sotomayor of Cuba won the high jump with a leap of 2.317-7, easily defeating Patrik Sjoberg of Sweden at 7-5 meters and Troy Kemp of the Bahamas, who cleared 7-21/2.

Italy showed strength in the men's 800. Andrea Benvenuti won in 1:45.36 and countryman Andrea Giocondi was third at 1:46.26 behind second-place Brian Whitle of Britain, timed in 1:46.03.

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