■ LUGE
Huefner retains her title
Tatjana Huefner led a top-three sweep for Germany in retaining her world championship luge title on Friday. Huefner completed the two runs in a combined time of 1 minute, 26.007 seconds, setting a track record in the first heat of 43.019 seconds. Natalie Geisenberger lowered that record in the second run to 42.933 and finished second overall in 1 minute, 26.047 seconds. "I knew it would be a close race and that's why I am specially pleased," Huefner said. Former Olympic champion Silke Kraushaar-Pielach, in her last major competition, finished third. German women have not lost a race in the last 10 years.
■ CYCLING
Greipel takes ochre jersey
German cyclist Andre Greipel took the overall lead in the Tour Down Under when he won yesterday's stage, breaking away from a bunch sprint at the finish. Greipel has four wins this week -- three in the Tour and one in the Down Under Classic exhibition race last Sunday. He took the race leader's ochre jersey from Australian Mark Renshaw, who missed the crucial break up the decisive Willunga Hill climb near the end of the 147km stage south of Adelaide. The German now has an unofficial seven-second lead over Australian Allan Davis ahead of today's final stage, an 88km street race in Adelaide's East End.
■ RALLYING
Loeb extends overall lead
Sebastien Loeb won five of six stages in the Monte Carlo Rally on Friday to extend his overall lead. The four-time world champion leads Citroen teammate Daniel Sordo by 56.6 seconds after the second day of competition, where racers battled patches of dampness on course roads. Finland's Mikko Hirvonen, in a Ford Focus, is third overall, 1 minute, 22.8 seconds back. He is seeking a record fifth Monte Carlo title. "I went flat out. I have a very good feeling with the car," Loeb said on the Automobile Club de Monaco's Web site. Ford driver Khalid al Qassimi of the United Arab Emirates, who was in 10th place overall through five stages, skidded off the road and hit a bank in the sixth stage, crashing out of the race.
■ SKI JUMPING
Schlierenzauer claims win
Gregor Schlierenzauer of Austria had jumps of 134m and 131m to win a large hill ski jumping event and claim his second World Cup victory of the season. Schlierenzauer finished with 276.5 points, beating Norwegian Anders Jacobsen's total of 270.4 points after jumps of 136.5m and 129m. World Cup leader Thomas Morgenstern of Austria was third with 264.9 points after jumps of 126m and 132m, followed by countryman Wolfgang Loitzl, who scored 264.2 points from leaps of 131m and 128m.
■ EQUESTRIAN
Todd to try for Olympics
Olympic equestrian double gold medalist Mark Todd of New Zealand will attempt to qualify for this year's Beijing Olympics, eight years after retiring from top competition. Todd, 51, hopes to represent New Zealand in Beijing and to add to his tally of two gold and one bronze medals. He last represented New Zealand at the Sydney Olympics eight years ago, winning bronze. "It's a long shot. I've got to get qualified, I've got to get up to speed, I've got to produce the performances before I even think about going to the Olympics," Todd said. Todd has trained racehorses for the past eight years and has not practiced for equestrian competition since his retirement.
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
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