Swiss’ Gut close to season title
Lara Gut all but wrapped up Alpine skiing’s biggest prize, extending her lead in the overall World Cup standings. The 24- year- old Swiss star placed fifth in a super- G race won by Cornelia Huetter of Austria at Lenzerheide, Switzerland. Two weeks ago, after then- leader Lindsey Vonn suffered a season- ending knee injury, Viktoria Rebensburg was the one active racer who appeared within range of Gut, but the German skier placed 18th Saturday, leaving her 295 World Cup points behind. Rebensburg would need to win her last three races in St. Moritz, Switzerland, gaining 300 points in total, and hope Gut fails to score there. However, Rebensburg said she would skip the combined event at Lenzerheide on Sunday, and the slalom at St. Moritz.
Dominik Paris won the next- to- last downhill of the World Cup season at Kvitfjell, Norway, leaving the competition for the discipline title wide open. Paris trails Italian teammate Peter Fill by four points going into the final race at St. Moritz.
Kyle Busch made it three for three in the Xfinity Series this season, cruising to another victory at Phoenix International Raceway at Avondale, Ariz. Busch led 175 of 200 laps on the mile oval to win for the record 79th time in the second- tier series.
Team Penske swept the top four spots in qualifying for the IndyCar season- opener with Will Power taking the pole in a record lap time of 1 minute 0.245 seconds at St. Petersburg, Fla. Power broke his own track record three times. His best time around the streets of St. Petersburg was in the second session, but he won the pole in the third session. The record set in his second session was 1: 00.0658.
Suzuki’s Ken Roczen won the Monster Energy AMA Supercross race at Rogers Centre in Toronto for his third 450SX win of the year. KTM’s Marvin Musquin was second, and teammate Ryan Dungey was third to break a tie with Chad Reed for the series record for consecutive podium finishes with 26.
The Atlanta Braves released right- handed pitcher Kyle Kendrick. The Braves also put righthander Chris Volstad on unconditional release.
Memphis Grizzlies guard Mike Conley has Achilles tendinitis in his left foot that will keep him out for at least three to four weeks, after which he will be reevaluated. Conley had missed the three games before Saturday because of soreness in his foot. Memphis also signed guard Ray McCallum and center Alex Stepheson to 10- day contracts.
Golden State forward Andre Iguodala will miss at least two weeks because of a sprained left ankle. Iguodala got hurt in the second half of the Warriors’ win over Portland on Friday.
The Pac- 12 CEO Group approved a policy that prohibits transfer athletes who have a history of misconduct from joining a team or receiving athletic aid.
Olympian Matt Centrowitz held off a late surge by Robby Andrews to win the 1,500 meters at the U. S. indoor track and field championships at Portland, Ore. Centrowitz f inished in 3: 44.33, and Andrews was at 3: 44.40. Both advanced to next week’s world championships, also at Portland. The biggest surprise on the meet’s final day was the high jump win for Vashti Cunningham, the daughter of former NFL quarterback Randall Cunningham. A high school senior, she cleared 6 feet 61⁄4 inches, the best woman’s high jump of this year.