Canada’s Vathje earns silver in Lake Placid
Canada’s Elisabeth Vathje won a silver medal at the first World Cup women’s skeleton race of the Olympic season Thursday at Lake Placid, N.Y. She finished second behind Austria’s Janine Flock with a two-run time of one minute 50.39 seconds. Flock (1:50.13), won gold for the second-straight season in Lake Placid while reigning Olympic champion Lizzy Yarnold of Britain was third in 1:50.46.
4 Russian skiers banned
Four more Russian cross-country skiers were found guilty of doping at the 2014 Sochi Olympics on Thursday, including three-time silver medallist Maxim Vylegzhanin. The International Olympic Committee said all four had their results disqualified and have been banned from all future Olympics. The cases against the Russians were built on evidence of a state doping conspiracy detailed by World Anti-Doping Agency investigator Richard McLaren. The IOC dropped a case against another athlete but declined to confirm the person’s identity. Russian news agencies reported that it was figure skating gold medallist Adelina Sotnikova.
Halladay tribute in Florida
A celebration of life for former Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Roy Halladay will be held next week in Florida at the spring-training home of the Philadelphia Phillies. Halladay was killed Tuesday when the sport plane he was flying crashed. The service, open to the public, will be held Tuesday afternoon at Spectrum Field in Clearwater.
Tippin’s steals lead to win
Julie Tippin recorded steals in three consecutive ends for a 5-4 extra-end win over Kelsey Rocque Thursday at the Road to the Roar Olympic curling pre-trials at Summerside, P.E.I. Tippin improved to 3-1 while Rocque fell to 2-2. In men’s action, Greg Balsdon downed Dayna Deruelle 10-7 and William Lyburn edged Pat Simmons 8-7.
Kizzire up 2 at OHL classic
Patton Kizzire carried some momentum from last week in Las Vegas by running off six straight birdies Thursday for a career-low 9-under 62 and a two-shot lead in the OHL Classic at Mayakoba in Mexico. Rickie Fowler, playing for the first time since the Presidents Cup on Oct. 1, showed little rust in opening with a 65. In women’s play, Ashleigh Buhai shot a 4-under 68 Thursday to take a one-stroke lead after the second round of the Blue Bay LPGA tournament in China. The South African birdied four of the last seven holes to finish at 9-under 135 overall, one shot ahead of Shanshan Feng (67). Alena Sharp of Hamilton, Ont., was at 1-under after a 74.