■ ATHLETICS
Elanso wins Beirut marathon
Tamrat Elanso of Ethiopia won the Beirut International Marathon in Lebanon on Sunday, finishing the 42.2km race in 2 hours, 19 minutes, 46 seconds. Elanso, who earned US$3,000 for the win, was followed by David Kiplagat Kuino of Kenya in 2:21:51. Abraham Yilma Belete of Ethiopia was third in 2:21:54. About 20,000 runners took part in this year's race, which took a different route for the second consecutive year because of a year-long sit-in by the Hezbollah-led opposition in downtown Beirut.
■ Rodeo
Dead rider named champion
Australian rodeo rider Greg Meech was named all-round national champion on the same night he was trampled to death by a bull, news reports said yesterday. "On the completion of that bull ride we had the presentation night for the 2007 awards and Greg actually won the all-round champion in the cowboy title," National Rodeo Association spokesman Jason Hall told national broadcaster ABC. "He ... would have been crowned, or still is, the all-round champion for 2007." Meech, 33, died on Saturday in Ipswich Hospital from internal bleeding after he was thrown and trampled by a bull at a rodeo in Ipswich, near Brisbane.
■ Athletics
Psitet wins in Philadelphia
Kenya's Timothy Psitet won the Philadelphia Marathon in 2 hours, 25.01 minutes after dropping training partner and countryman Solomon Too at the 40km mark on Sunday. Too was second in 2:26.03. Kristin Price of the US won the women's title in 2:42.05. Psitet and Too broke together from the lead pack after 16km and tried to work together against the elements. At the 40th kilometer, Too began to weaken and gestured for Psitet to take over. "I told him to go ahead," Too said. "I started to have a headache and felt like I could fall down." Both winners said they were affected by the gusty winds and temperatures of around 5?C. "The winds were the worst part," Price said.
■ Motorsport
Johnson breaks record
Jimmie Johnson became the first driver to win consecutive NASCAR championships in nine years by wrapping up the title by finishing a trouble-free seventh in the season-ending Ford 400 in Florida on Sunday. He came into Homestead-Miami Speedway with a cushy 86-point lead over Jeff Gordon, his friend, mentor and teammate at Hendrick Motorsports. Although Johnson needed only to finish 18th or better, he refused to play it safe and crew chief Chad Knaus gave him a pole-winning car. Johnson led the first lap to earn a quick five-point bonus, then settled in for the 644km ride into the record books. At a time when no single team is supposed to dominate, the No. 48 crew did just that.
■ Golf
Tommy Armour takes title
Tommy Armour won the Callaway Pebble Beach Invitational, closing with a 2-under 70 for a two-stroke victory over Ronnie Black and Rocco Mediate in California on Sunday. The 48-year-old Armour, a two-time winner on the US PGA Tour, had a 16-under 272 total in the event that features both male and female players.
Black shot a 68, and Mediate had a 67. ``I just played good all week and never had a three-putt,'' said Armour, whose last tournament win was the 2003 Texas Open. ``I told myself this morning that I had to shoot 70 to win. I shot 70.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely