Duplantis betters own outdoor pole vault mark
Swedish pole vaulter Armand Duplantis improved his own outdoor world record by clearing 6.16 meters (20 feet, 21/2 inches) at the Stockholm Diamond League meet on Thursday.
Duplantis cleared the bar with plenty to spare on his second attempt to better his previous mark of 6.15, set in Rome in 2020 — when he broke Sergey Bubka's 26-year-old outdoor record.
Duplantis also holds the indoor world record of 6.20 (20 feet, 4 inches), set at the world indoor championships in Serbia this year.
The American-born Duplantis competes for Sweden and is also the reigning Olympic champion.
Poston takes lead in John Deere Classic
J.T. Poston shot a 9-under 62 to take a two-stroke lead in the PGA Tour's John Deere Classic.
Coming off a second-place tie last week in Connecticut, Poston eagled the par-5 second and had seven birdies in a bogey-free round at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Ill.
Canadian Michael Gligic was second at 64, playing in the final group of the day. Vaughn Taylor and Christopher Gotterup followed at 65.
• Carlos Ortiz shot a 5-under 67 to take a onestroke lead as the Saudi Arabia-backed LIV Golf tour visited North Plains, Ore., its first stop in the U.S. and second overall. Dustin Johnson, the 2020 Masters winner, was in second.
• New Zealand's Ryan Fox found himself leading the Irish Open after the opening round, extending his impressive form this season.
Fox had eight birdies, including seven in his last 11 holes, in a flawless 8-under 64 at Mount Juliet in Thomastown. He has a one-shot lead over Frederic Lacroix, Jorge Campillo, Fabrizio Zanotti and Marcel Schneider.
Red Wings hire Lalonde as coach
The Detroit Red Wings hired Derek Lalonde to coach their rebuilding team, hoping the two-time Stanley Cupwinning assistant can make the right moves to make the franchise relevant again.
Lalonde spent the past four years on Jon Cooper's staff with the Tampa Bay Lightning, a stretch that included championships in 2020 and '21 and, most recently, a third consecutive trip to the Stanley Cup Final.
• Goalie Craig Anderson is putting off retirement for now, returning to the Buffalo Sabres for a one-year contract.
Anderson, 41, also played for Buffalo last season, going 17-12-2 and leading the team in wins despite missing a lengthy stretch with a neck injury. The Illinois native has 308 career victories, ranking fifth among American-born goalies, heading into his 20th NHL season.
Anderson is projected fill the backup spot behind Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who spent last season developing in the minors.
• Emily Engel-Natzke wanted to make the NHL as a video coach.
When the Washington Capitals named EngelNatzke video coordinator, she not only accomplished that goal, but she also became the first woman to hold a full-time position on an NHL coaching staff.
Watson hearing over
Deshaun Watson's disciplinary hearing concluded with the NFL adamant about an indefinite suspension of at least one year and the quarterback's legal team arguing there's no basis for that punishment, two people with knowledge of the case told The AP.
Both sides presented their arguments over three days before former U.S. District Judge Sue Robinson in Delaware, according to people who spoke on condition of anonymity because the hearing isn't public.
Watson was accused of sexual misconduct by 24 women and settled 20 of the civil lawsuits.
Robinson, who was jointly appointed by the league and the NFL Players' Association, will determine whether Watson violated the NFL's personal conduct policy and whether to impose discipline.
Post-hearing briefs are due the week of July 11 so it's uncertain when Robinson will make a ruling. The Cleveland Browns are hoping to know Watson's availability before training camp starts July 27.
If either the union or league appeals Robinson's decision, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell or his designee “will issue a written decision that will constitute full, final and complete disposition of the dispute,” per terms of Article 46 in the collective bargaining agreement.
A person familiar with the case told the AP the league believes it presented evidence to warrant keeping Watson off the field this season. The person said the league's investigation determined Watson committed multiple violations of the personal conduct policy and he would be required to undergo counseling before returning.
A person familiar with Watson's defense told the AP they expect a suspension. Asked what would be acceptable, the person said: “our goal is to get him back on the field this year.”
Two separate Texas grand juries declined to indict Watson on criminal complaints stemming from the allegations. Watson has denied any wrongdoing and vowed to clear his name.
Justice Dept. gives out corruption case cash
The U.S. Justice Department has distributed about $92 million in additional compensation from money forfeited by convicted officials and associated companies resulting from the government's prosecution of corruption in soccer.
The money is for compensation for losses sustained by FIFA, the Confederation of North and
Central American and Caribbean Football, the South American governing body CONMEBOL and various national soccer federations.
The Justice Department last August recognized losses of more than $201 million in the cases, which began with indictments in May 2015, and it announced then an initial $32.2 million payment to a “World Football Remission Fund” overseen by the FIFA Foundation charity.
FIFA's charity supports school projects, helps the sport recover after natural disasters, develops women's and girls soccer and a FIFA Legends program that uses former players as ambassadors. The money was obtained in forfeitures to federal court in Brooklyn.
More than 50 people and corporate entities have been charged, mostly for giving and receiving bribes and kickbacks and laundering payments in arrangements between sports marketing companies and soccer officials for media and marketing rights to soccer events.
Twenty-seven indiviuals and four corporate entities have pleaded guilty. Former CONMEBOL President Juan Ángel Napout and former Brazilian Football Confederation President José Maria Marin, who was the head of Brazil's organizing commitee for the 2014 World Cup, were convicted in December 2017 and banks have acknowledged roles in criminal conduct through deferred prosecution and non-prosecution agreements.
Woman arrested in cyclist murder case
A Texas woman suspected in the fatal shooting of pro cyclist Anna Moriah Wilson at an Austin home has been arrested in Costa Rica, the U.S. Marshals Service said.
Kaitlin Marie Armstrong, 34, was arrested Wednesday at a hostel on Santa Teresa Beach in Provincia de Puntarenas, the Marshals Service said in a statement. Armstrong was expected to be returned to the United States, where she faces a murder charge, the agency said.
“The Marshals Service elevated the Kaitlin Armstrong investigation to major case status early in this investigation, which likely played a key role in her capture after a 43-day run,” said U.S. Marshal for the Western District of Texas Susan Pamerleau.
Wilson, 25, was found dead May 11, and Austin police on May 19 issued a murder warrant for Armstrong.
Authorities said Armstrong sold her vehicle May 13, then flew from Austin to Houston after being questioned that day by authorities about Wilson's death. She then flew to New York before using a fraudulent passport to fly from Newark, N.J., to San Jose, Costa Rica, on May 18, the service said.
Wilson, a competitive mountain bike racer and Vermont native known as “Mo,” had been in Austin for a cycling event. According to an affidavit, Wilson had previously dated Armstrong's boyfriend, cyclist Colin Strickland, who has cooperated with investigators.