Clarksville's McFadden wins two silver medals
PARALYMPICS
Tatyana McFadden of Clarksville captured two silver medals yesterday at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing. She started her day in the women's 200-meter final, where she won bronze at the 2004 Paralympic Games. This time she set a new personal best time, 28.43 seconds, to clinch silver. The Atholton graduate grabbed a second silver medal, this time in the women's 800 meters with a personal best time of 1:46.95. "Oh my gosh, I'm so overwhelmed," McFadden, 19, said after winning her second silver medal of the meet. "I'm here in Beijing competing with the best of the best. The 800 meters made me nervous because I didn't qualify in Athens, so I'm happy to see how my training has paid off." Jessica Long's final event of the Paralympics yesterday was the only one in which the swimmer failed to win a medal. Long, of Middle River, finished sixth in the women's 50 freestyle in 32.58 seconds. It was the seventh event of the Games for the 16-year-old, who captured four gold medals, one silver and one bronze while setting three world records. Also yesterday, Phil Scholz, a Loyola College sophomore, took 13th in the men's 50 freestyle. Though Scholz failed to medal in any of his five events, he did set an American record in the men's 50 butterfly (32.17 seconds).
MIKE KLINGAMAN
Stanford prevails in Ala. despite her 1-over day
GOLF
Angela Stanford won the Bell Micro LPGA Classic for her second career LPGA Tour title, making a 3 1/2 -foot par putt on the final hole for a 1-over-par 73 and a one-stroke victory over China's Shanshan Feng in Mobile, Ala. The Texan, 30, four strokes ahead entering the day after consecutive 67s in the second and third rounds, had an 11-under 277 total on The Crossings course at Magnolia Grove. Feng finished with a 68.
Champions Greater Hickory Classic: : R.W. Eaks successfully defended his title in Conover, N.C., closing with a 1-under 71 in windy conditions for a four-stroke victory over Tom Jenkins and Tom Kite. Eaks, 56, had a 16-under 200 total and earned $255,000 for his second victory of the year. He has four Champions Tour victories, all in the past two years.
Ryder Cup: : Strong wind felled a TV tower and some trees at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky., five days before the start of the Ryder Cup between the United States and Europe. Kerry Haigh, managing director of championships and business development for the PGA of America, said the course will be ready for the competition.
Thigpen congratulates F. Rodriguez on record
baseball
Former Chicago White Sox reliever Bobby Thigpen was quick to congratulate the man who broke his single-season saves record, sending a note yesterday to Los Angeles Angels closer Francisco Rodriguez. Rodriguez earned his 58th save when he finished out Los Angeles' 5-2 win over Seattle on Saturday night. Thigpen posted 57 saves for Chicago in 1990. "Your record-setting season is an accomplishment you should treasure this year for and for years into the future," Thigpen wrote. "I am certain your record for saves will stand for many, many seasons to come."
Yankees: : Shortstop Derek Jeter hit a solo homer in the fifth inning, tying Lou Gehrig for the most career hits at Yankee Stadium. Jeter connected against Tampa Bay's David Price for his 1,269th hit at the ballpark, which is in its final season. Also, second baseman Robinson Cano was benched after manager Joe Girardi became upset with his lack of hustle on a fielding play.
N. Carolina's Barnes off ventilator, family says
et cetera
North Carolina swimmer and Bel Air native Allison Barnes has been removed from a ventilator but remains in critical condition, her family said in a news release. Barnes, 19, was hospitalized after experiencing "some level of distress" during practice last week. The cause of her condition has not been disclosed. "We ask that you continue to keep Allison in your prayers during her recovery time," said Keith Barnes, her father.
Cycling: : A three-man team that included Lance Armstrong won the inaugural 12 Hours of Snowmass race in Colorado. Team Livestrong won over Team Beaver Creek with both teams completing 17 laps, but Livestrong finished about 6 minutes, 39 seconds faster. Armstrong recently announced his return to the sport to pursue an eighth Tour de France title.
Auto racing: : Sebastian Vettel became the youngest driver to win a Formula One race when the 21-year-old German captured the Italian Grand Prix on a wet Monza course that made for difficult driving. Vettel was on the pole and edged Heikki Kovalainen of McLaren by 12.5 seconds to give Torro Rosso its first victory. ... Valentino Rossi won the rain-shortened inaugural Indianapolis GP, the first time motorcycles competed at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway since 1909, the year the track was built and two years before the first Indianapolis 500.
Volleyball: : Olympic gold medalists Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh won the AVP Crocs Cup Shootout San Francisco, beating Nicole Branagh and Elaine Youngs, 21-16, 21-12, for their first victory in three tournaments since Beijing.
Tennis: : Russia won its fourth Fed Cup in five years, defeating host Spain when Svetlana Kuznetsova beat Anabel Medina Garrigues, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4, to clinch the title.
WNBA: : Charde Houston scored 18 points to lead the Minnesota Lynx to a 96-70 win over the host Washington Mystics in both teams' season finale.