■ MOTOCROSS
US takes sixth Nations title
Ryan Dungey and Andrew Short finished 1-2 in the final race on Sunday as the US captured its sixth straight title at the Red Bull FIM Motocross Of Nations at Thunder Valley track in Lakewood, Colorado. The Americans, seeded first after Saturday’s qualifying round, entered Sunday’s third race in second place, five points behind Germany. Dungey, competing in the MX1 division, finished first for the second time on Sunday to propel the US to the Chamberlain Cup crown with 23 points. Belgium was second with 30 points and Germany finished third with 44. The team with the lowest point total wins.
■ MARATHONS
Mungara beats own record
Kenya’s Kenneth Mungara won the Toronto Waterfront Marathon for the third straight year, breaking his own record on Sunday with a time of two hours, seven minutes, 57 seconds. Reid Coolsaet was the top Canadian, finishing 10th in two hours, 11 minutes, 22 seconds — the fastest-ever by a Canadian on home soil — to smash his personal best by more than five minutes and qualify for the 2012 Olympics. Kenya’s Sharon Cherop won the women’s race in two hours, 22 minutes, 42 seconds.
■ EQUESTRIAN
US takes gold in Kentucky
The US took the first gold medal of the World Equestrian Games, winning the team reining competition on Sunday at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. Reining, which is the only western-style discipline at the games, is viewed as America’s contribution to the event. It debuted at the 2002 games in Spain, and the US has never lost the team competition. Belgium captured its first team reining medal by finishing second, while Italy took bronze for the third consecutive time. Spain’s Maria Mercedes Alvarez Ponton won the grueling 161km endurance competition, beating Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed by less than a minute. The World Equestrian Games take place through Oct. 10.
■ ROAD RUNNING
Laalou wins Fifth Avenue
Morocco’s Amine Laalou surged past two-time Olympic medalist Bernard Lagat of the US in the final straight to win the Fifth Avenue Mile road race in New York on Sunday. Defending champion Shannon Rowbury led a US sweep in the women’s race. Laalou won in three minutes, 52.83 seconds in his first appearance in the race on the famed New York City avenue. Lagat came up short in his third attempt, finishing in three minutes, 53.30 seconds. Defending champion Andy Baddeley of Britain was third in three minutes 53.34 seconds, and Alan Webb of the US was fourth in three minutes 53.72 seconds.
■ SOCCER
South Korea edge Japan
South Korea saw off neighbors and rivals Japan 5-4 in a penalty shootout to win the women’s FIFA Under-17 world title after the two sides had finished all square 3-3 after extra-time in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. The Koreans kept their nerve at the Hasely Crawford stadium after a see-saw match that saw Lee Jung-eun give them the lead after only six minutes. The Japanese responded and turned things around with goals from Hikaru Naomoto and then Yoko Tanaka inside six minutes, giving them the lead all inside the opening 20 minutes. Kim A-reum leveled for 2-2 on the stroke of half-time, but Chika Kato put the Japanese back in front just before the hour mark only for Lee So-dam to equalize with 11 minutes remaining.
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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