Marathon mark set; Skaggs case deepens
VIENNA — Roger Bannister, 1954. Neil Armstrong, 1969. Eliud Kipchoge, 2019?
Like the sub-four minute mile and walking on the moon, running a marathon in less than two hours had seemed impossible — until Saturday. So when Olympic champion Kipchoge broke the barrier, the question arose as to where to rank his achievement in historical context.
The 34-year-old Kenyan completed the 42.195 kilometers (26.2 miles) in 1 hour, 59 minutes, 40.2 seconds at the INEOS 1:59 Challenge, an event set up for the attempt.
“It is a great feeling to make history in sport after Sir Roger Bannister,” Kipchoge said. “I am the happiest man in the world to be the first human to run under two hours and I can tell people that no human is limited..”
With all variables tailored to his advantage, it was still the full marathon distance but not a regular marathon race, which means his finishing time will not be ratified by
IAAF.
BASEBALL Report: official supplied drugs
The Los Angeles Angels say they don’t know whether a longtime public relations official had been providing drugs to late pitcher Tyler Skaggs ,as detailed in a report Saturday on ESPN’s “Outside the Lines.”
Eric Kay, a 24-year employee of the Angels’ PR department, told the Drug Enforcement Agency he had provided opioids to Skaggs and used them with the pitcher for years, according to ESPN.
Kay reportedly watched as Skaggs snorted three lines of crushed pills in his hotel room in Southlake on the night before he was found dead.
The Los Angeles Times reported Kay’s attorney described the pitcher as “an addict who overdosed.”
Kay, who has worked for the team in media relations for 24 years, engaged Newport Beach criminal defense attorney Michael Molfetta nearly two months ago out of concern that he might be made a “scapegoat” in the investigation into the drug-related death of Skaggs.
Skaggs was found dead in his hotel room July 1 before the start of a series against the Texas Rangers.
The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office said the 27-year-old died after choking on his vomit with a toxic mix of alcohol and the painkillers fentanyl and oxycodone in his body.
NFL Gurley won’t play against 49ers
Rams running back Todd Gurley, who bruised his left thigh in last week’s loss to the Seahawks, will not play against the undefeated 49ers on Sunday at the Coliseum, a Rams representative said.
Malcolm Brown is expected to start.
In other news:
• Packers running back Aaron Jones has been fined more than $10,000 for waving goodbye to Cowboys cornerback Byron Jones on his way to the end zone.
The gesture came on the third of Jones’ franchise record-tying four touchdowns in a 34-24 victory Sunday at Dallas. Jones will appeal the fine.
GOLF Barron, Austin lead Champions
Woody Austin shot a 5-under 67 that moved him into a share of the lead with Doug Barron going into the final round of the SAS Championship on the PGA Tour Champions at Cary, N.C..
MOTOR SPORTS Elliott leads Hendrick sweep
Chase Elliott rebounded from last week’s devastating engine failure to lead a Hendrick Motorsports sweep in qualifying for Sunday’s playoff race at Talladega Superspeedway.
Elliott turned a lap at 192.552 mph in Saturday qualifying to give Chevrolet the front two rows. Elliott bested Hendrick teammates Alex Bowman, William Byron and Jimmie Johnson in the qualifying session.
Bowman and Byron are both challenging Elliott for the seven remaining spots in the next round of the NASCAR’s playoffs.
“To have all for Hendrick cars 1-2-3-4 was really sharp,” Elliott said.
SOCCER
Dash fall at Utah in season finale
The Dash finished their 2019 NWSL with a 2-1 loss to Utah Royals FC at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah.
Houston midfielder Christine Nairn made league history this evening, becoming the first player to appear in 150 NWSL appearances. The Dash scored in the 78th minute when midfielder Kristie Mewis slid to drive home a low cross