Cal’s Baker sets world mark; Quakes tie
Cal’s Kathleen Baker set a world record in winning the 100-meter backstroke at the U.S. national championships Saturday night in Irvine. The 21-year-old Olympian won in 58.00 seconds, lowering the mark of 58.10 set by Kylie Masse of Australia last year. Baker completed a sweep of the backstroke events in Irvine.
“I’m sort of on cloud nine right now,” said Baker, known for keeping her goal times in her cell phone as a daily reminder.
“Right now it’s a 58.10, and I just broke that so now I’m going to put 57.99 down,” she said, laughing.
Former Stanford star Katie Ledecky dominated the 400 freestyle, leading all the way to win by 3.12 seconds at the U.S. national swimming championships.
She earned her 16th national long-course title, tying former Cal star Natalie Coughlin for seventh on the career list.
Cal’s Ryan Murphy, who swept the backstroke events in the Rio Games, edged 2012 Olympic winner Matt Grevers, in the men’s 100 back. Murphy touched in 52.51 and Grevers in 52.55. Murphy won all three men’s backstroke events.
Soccer
NEW LINEUP, SAME RESULT FOR QUAKES >> The Earthquakes shook up their lineup once again. And once again, it wasn’t enough to get a win. San Jose (2-127, 13 points) earned its first clean sheet of the season but was held scoreless for the third straight game in a scoreless draw against Real Salt Lake (9-9-4, 31 points) at Avaya Stadium.
Coach Mikael Stahre benched forwards Chris Wondolowski and Danny Hoesen, who combined for
16 of San Jose’s 29 goals this season, and midfielder Florian Jungwirth, who had started every game.
Instead, Quincy Amarikwa made his first start of the season as the lone player up top, while midfielders Tommy Thompson and Luis Felipe made their second starts. Marcus Eriksson hit the top netting on a free kick just outside the box in the 45th minute for the Earthquakes, and Amarikwa’s one-touch shot off a cross from Nick Lima hit the crossbar in the 66th minute.
Motorsports
MILLICAN, FORCE, ANDERSON TAKE TOP SPOTS >> Clay Millican (Top Fuel), Courtney Force (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) locked in No. 1 qualifying positions in their respective categories at the NHRA Sonoma Nationals at Sonoma Raceway.
Eliminations at Sonoma Nationals begin at 11 a.m. today.
Top Fuel’s Millican scored his seventh No. 1 qualifier of 2018 and first at Sonoma, as his pass of 3.700 at 327.98 mph from Friday held up. Points leader Courtney Force secured her 10th No. 1 qualifier of the season thanks to her run of 3.910 at 326.16 mph on Friday.
HARVICK PUSHED TO BACK OF PACK >> Kevin Harvick’s bid for his first Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, victory will start from the rear of the field Sunday. Harvick had turned a lap of 177.750 mph to win the pole, and Kyle Busch joined him on the front row at Pocono but both cars had their qualifying sessions tossed out when they failed inspection. Joe Gibbs Racing driver Daniel Suarez starts first at Pocono.
ROSSI AT THE FRONT >> Alexander Rossi won his third pole of the season, leading qualifying for Sunday’s Honda Indy 200 at the MidOhio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio.
Rossi, the 2016 Indianapolis 500 winner, denied Will Power his third pole at the course. His NAPA Auto Parts Honda had a one-lap speed of 125.677 mph over the 13-turn, 2.258-mile permanent road course.
WNBA
MOORE STARS AT ALL-STAR GAME >> Lynx star Maya Moore won her third straight All-Star MVP award to lead Team Parker past Team Delle Donne 119-112 in the WNBA AllStar game in Minneapolis. Moore scored 18 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and dished out six assists to win the MVP award on her home court.
Allie Quigley of the Chicago Sky also scored 18 points, and Skylar DigginsSmith added 17 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists for Team Parker.
Team Delle Donne’s Kristi Tolliver of the Washington Mystics led all scorers with 23 points, including 7-for-11 shooting on 3-pointers. Rookie A’ja Wilson of the Los Vegas Aces added 18 points.
Gymnastics
BILES SHINES IN RETURN >> Olympic gymnastics champion Simone Biles picked up where she left off in her return to competition, winning the U.S. Classic in Columbus, Ohio, with relative ease following a nearly twoyear layoff. The 21-year-old overcame some early jitters and an uncharacteristic mistake on uneven bars to post an all-around score of 58.700, ahead of Riley McCusker and reigning world champion Morgan Hurd.