Tue, Sep 18, 2012 page18

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  • Agencies
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  ATHLETICS

  Kipsang wins England Run

  Wilson Kipsang defeated fellow Kenyan Micah Kogo in a sprint finish to win the Great North Run in northeast England on Sunday.

  Kipsang, this year’s London Marathon winner and the 2012 Olympic Games bronze medalist over the distance outsprinted Kogo in the final 20m to win in a time of 59 minutes and six seconds in the half marathon. Ethiopia’s Imana Merga finished third. In the women’s race, his compatriot Tirunesh Dibaba powered to victory on her half marathon debut. The three-time Olympic champion and four-time world champion, who became the first athlete to retain the Olympic 10,000m title in London, defeated last year’s world marathon champion Edna Kiplagat and 2012 Olympic Games marathon champion Tiki Gelana for victory in a time of 67 minutes 35 seconds.

  GOLF

  Ballesteros takes Open

  Javier Ballesteros, the son of Spanish golfing legend Seve, won the Madrid Open amateur title on Sunday and dedicated his victory to his father who died from cancer in May last year. The 22-year-old Ballesteros, a law student, finished the three-round tournament on six-under. “I thought about him [Seve] over the 18 holes and I dedicate this victory to him and to my mother,” Ballesteros told reporters. Seve Ballesteros won five majors in his career and played in eight Ryder Cups, captaining Europe to victory in 1997.

  RALLYING

  Finn claims Wales Rally

  Finland’s Jari-Matti Latvala won the Wales Rally GB on Sunday, finishing 27.8 seconds clear of championship leader Sebastien Loeb to claim a second victory of the season. Loeb edged Petter Solberg to second place to take a 61-point lead in the overall standings, meaning the Citroen driver is likely to clinch a ninth straight title in his home French Rally at the start of next month. Latvala, driving a Ford, was not headed after taking the lead after Friday’s third stage, with Loeb and Solberg never threatening the 24.5-second advantage he held from Saturday.

  SPEEDSKATING

  US coach investigated

  US speedskating coach Jae Su Chun was placed on administrative leave on Sunday, hours after his spokesman released a statement denying claims of verbal, physical and psychological abuse brought by current and former members of the national team, including five Olympic medalists. Nineteen short-track skaters filed a wide-ranging grievance against US Speedskating and 14 signed a code of conduct complaint with the US Olympic Committee on Aug. 30. A USOC spokesman confirmed Friday the organization is investigating charges that include accusations Chun slammed an athlete against a wall and repeatedly hit him, threw bottles and chairs at skaters, and repeatedly told female skaters they were “fat” and “disgusting.”

  RUGBY UNION

  Exiles clinch victory

  London Welsh head coach Lyn Jones was delighted as the Exiles clinched their first English Premiership win with a nailbiting 25-24 victory over Exeter on Sunday. For the Exiles, playing at their new home of the Kassam Stadium in Oxford, this was their first win since clinching promotion and followed heavy defeats by Leicester and champions Harlequins. With less than two minutes left, No. 8 Ed Jackson rounded off a desperate surge by forcing his way over for a try, which replacement fly-half Seb Jewell converted to win the match.
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