International Capsules: Americas team leads at Continental Cup in Croatia
SPLIT, Croatia (AP) — Bernard Lagat, Jeremy Wariner and Tyson Gay staked the Americas team to a first-day lead at the Continental Cup on Saturday.
The two-day meet features athletes from four regions: Africa, Americas, Asia-Pacific, Europe.
The Americas won eight of 20 competitions and leads with 219 points, nine ahead of Europe. Africa has 148 points and Asia-Pacific 134.
Lagat, the 2007 world champion, won the 5,000 in 13 minutes, 58.23 seconds. Wariner took the 400 in 44.22 seconds. The 400 relay team led by Gay finished first, as did Dwight Phillips in the long jump and Christian Cantwell in the shot put.
In women's races, Olympic silver medalist Janeth Jepkosgei Businei of Kenya won the 800 for Africa in 1:57.88. She was followed by Kenia Sinclair, running for Americas, 0.28 seconds behind. Jepkosgei is having a winning streak lately, having beaten both European leader Mariya Savinova and Caster Semenya a week ago in Brussels.
Africa is third with 148 points and Asia-Pacific is last with 134 points.
Gay, the fastest man this season at 100 meters, was unable to run the individual race because he missed the USA Nationals this season and Continental Cup regulations require that an athlete must have competed in their nation's individual championships.
However, he combined with Daniel Bailey, Wallace Spearmon and Churandy Martina to win the sprint relay in 38.25 seconds.
In Gay's absence, Christophe Lamaitre of France won the 100 for Europe in 10.06 seconds, followed by Bailey for the Americas in 10.10. Britain's David Greene added another victory for Europe in the 400 hurdles, finishing in 47.88 seconds.
Phillips, a three-time world champion and the 2004 Olympic champion, won the long jump with a leap of 27 feet, 4½ inches. Cantwell, the world champion, won the shot put with a throw of 71-9. Tomasz Majewski, the 2008 Olympic champion, was second with a 69-7½.
ASA to take back control of track in SAfrica
BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa (AP) — South Africa’s Olympic committee says it will hand back control of track and field to the national federation on Sept. 18.
Temporary administrator SASCOC will hand over control when elections are held for a new Athletics South Africa board in two weeks.
SASCOC says the elections will choose seven new board members to replace those who resigned. The Olympic body adds that the future of suspended ASA members who did not resign, including president Leonard Chuene, will be decided by the new board.
SASCOC took temporary charge of ASA last November when the entire executive, including Chuene, was suspended after allegations of financial irregularities.
Some ASA officials will face a disciplinary hearing on Sept. 9.
Cycling
Moncoutie wins 8th stage of Spanish Vuelta
XORRET DE CATI, Spain (AP) — David Moncoutie of France won the eighth stage of the Spanish Vuelta on Saturday and Igor Anton claimed the overall race lead.
Cofidis rider Moncoutie crossed the line after a descent from the 3,609-foot Alto Xorret del Cati peak to finish the stage in 5 hours, 14 minutes, 32 seconds.
Serafin Martinez of Spain, Johan Tschopp of Switzerland and Jose Luis Arrieta of Spain crossed next, 54 seconds behind.
Although Anton took the standings lead, fellow Spaniard Joaquin Rodriguez has the same overall time of 32:28:49.
“To take the race leader’s jersey in a big event like this is a great joy and very beautiful,” Moncoutie said. “Now I’ve got to enjoy it, and I want to dedicate it personally to Txema Gonzalez.”
Gonzalez, Team Sky’s 43-year-old masseur, died Friday after going into septic shock following a bacterial infection. The team withdrew from the race Saturday.
The stage began with a large crash 6.8 miles from the start that involved a number of the leading riders, including then race leader Philippe Gilbert of Belgium, who finished the stage 38th. He fell to 14th overall, 1:55 back
Alessandro Petacchi of Italy, winner of Friday’s stage, badly tore his jersey and bloodied his lower back rode but managed to finish the stage, placing 124th nearly 16 minutes off the pace.
Sunday’s stage is a 116.6-mile ride from Calpe to Alcoy.
Snowboard
Russian teen dies at Swiss snowboard training camp
GENEVA (AP) — Police in southern Switzerland say a teenage member of the Russian national snowboard team has died at a training camp in the Alps.
Valais state police say the 14-year-old died Friday after losing her balance during a jump on a boardercross course in Saas Fee.
Police say the unidentified athlete was flown to hospital in Visp where she died of head injuries. The police statement late Friday says the teen was wearing a helmet and spine protection.
