ATHLETICS
Runner admits stabbing
An English champion fell runner yesterday admitted to the attempted murder of former rugby union player turned athletics administrator Ralph Knibbs. Lauren Jeska, 41, pleaded guilty to attempting to kill Knibbs, who was stabbed at the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham, England, in March. Jeska also admitted two charges of having a knife in a public place, during a video-link appearance at Birmingham Crown Court. Knibbs, British Athletics’s head of human resources and welfare, was in court to hear Jeska enter her pleas from a video suite at Foston Hall prison in Derbyshire, England. Judge Philip Parker was told Jeska had been the subject of psychiatric assessment, but that further reports would be needed before she was sentenced on Nov. 15. Fell running, also known as hill or mountain running, is an established sport in rural areas of Britain.
OLYMPICS
Ali to get posthumous nod
The first Jesse Owens Olympic Spirit Award will recognize the late Muhammad Ali. The Owens Award was started this year, the 80th anniversary of Owens’ four-gold-medal performance at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, and is to be presented annually to recognize Olympians who have served as an inspiration in society. Owens’ granddaughter, Marlene Dortch, will present the award at next week’s Best of the Games awards ceremony to Ali’s widow, Lonnie. Ali won the gold medal at the Rome 1960 Olympics, then took three world heavyweight championships — in 1964, 1974 and 1978.
RUGBY UNION
Thorn set for comeback
Rugby World Cup winner Brad Thorn is expected to make his return to top-class rugby at the age of 41 tomorrow after he was named in the Queensland Country squad to play in Australia’s National Rugby Championship. New Zealand-born Thorn ended his international rugby career after the All Blacks won the 2011 World Cup, but continued to play for Irish side Leinster, the Otago Highlanders and then English club Leicester Tigers until last year. Thorn never officially retired and when he joined the Queensland Reds he hinted he would be keen to participate in this year’s competition if needed. He did not play for the Reds but became a player-coach under former Wallabies loose forward Toutai Kefu for Queensland Country in Australia’s third tier competition and was named in the squad for tomorrow’s clash against the Western Sydney Rams.
NFL
Peterson to undergo surgery
Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson on Wednesday said he will undergo surgery on his injured knee this week as his team acknowledged he might be sidelined for the rest of the season. Peterson, 31, told ESPN he was scheduled to go under the knife yesterday to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee following last weekend’s win over the Green Bay Packers. “[I’m] doing it with faith and optimism,” Peterson told ESPN. ESPN reported that Peterson, the leading running back in the NFL last season, had suffered what was known as a “bucket handle tear.” The typical recovery time for the injury was between three and six months, ESPN reported.
Taiwanese gymnast Tang Chia-hung on Sunday topped the men’s horizontal bar event at the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) World Cup in Osijek, Croatia, scoring 15.233 to take his third title this season. Tang delivered an outstanding performance in the final, earning a difficulty score of 6.500 and an execution score of 8.633 with a 0.1 stick bonus. His closest competitor was Milad Karimi of Kazakhstan, who finished second with 14.933 points. It was Tang’s third gold medal in the FIG World Cup series this year, following his horizontal bar wins in Azerbaijan on March 8, and in Turkey on March
The Daredevils yesterday took eight catches in the final as they eked out a victory in the Taiwan Cricket Triangular Tournament against PCCT at Yingfeng Cricket Ground in Taipei’s Songshan District. PCCT’s batting lineup collapsed after they asked the Daredevils to bowl in the T20 decider of the weekend tournament that also involved the Formosa Cricket Club. PCCT were bundled out for 76 in 16.2 overs against a disciplined Daredevils attack. Ninad Malwade was the top scorer in the innings with 21, but he was among those who offered chances to the fielders. Shane Ferreira and Jason Cameron took three wickets each, with
This year’s Taiwan Athletics Open, which offers Taiwanese athletes an opportunity to compete against their international peers, would be held under a new name after its organizers had earlier announced the event’s cancelation. In a statement issued yesterday, the Chinese Taipei Athletics Association said the competition would still take place on June 6-7 at Banciao Stadium, but under the name “New Taipei City Athletics Open 2026.” The event was given a new name to emphasize its local identity and conform with the international practice of naming World Athletics Tour events after cities, the association said. It said it would soon
Taiwanese shortstop Cheng Tsung-che on Friday made history for the Boston Red Sox’s Triple A affiliate, hitting the Worcester Red Sox’s first cycle, while netting two runs, as they beat fellow Taiwan teammate Stuart Fairchild’s Columbus Clippers. The 24-year-old former Pittsburgh Pirates prospect went 4-4, completing a full cycle, starting with a triple in the second inning off Ryan Webb in the WooSox’s 9-3 victory over the Cleveland Guardians’ Triple A affiliate. He scored in the same inning after teammate Vinny Capra, a fellow former Pirate, grounded out. The Pingtung County native followed that up with a walk in the third, an
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