<?php
$recent = new WP_Query("cat=9&showposts=1"); while($recent->have_posts()) : $recent->the_post();
    the_title();
endwhile;

echo "<br />";

$recent = new WP_Query("cat=5&showposts=1"); while($recent->have_posts()) : $recent->the_post();
    the_title();
endwhile;

echo "<br />";

$recent = new WP_Query("cat=3&showposts=1"); while($recent->have_posts()) : $recent->the_post();
    the_title();
endwhile;
?>