Ledecky dominates first major race amid pandemic

Like everyone else, Katie Ledecky was forced to shelve her plans when the coronavirus pandemic took hold. Instead of looking far into the future, the five-time Olympic champion swimmer switched to a more immediate mindset.

Forget that the fouryear cycle leading to the 2024 Paris Olympics is already underway. Ledecky, the Stanford star, is still working toward making a big splash at this summer’s delayed Tokyo Games.

Ledecky returned to national competition on Wednesday for the first time in a year, winning the 1,500-meter freestyle at the TYR Pro Swim Series meet in San Antonio, Texas.

She led by a half-pool length for most of the 30lap race before touching in 15 minutes, 42.92 seconds. Ashley Twichell finished well back in second at 16:04.29.

Ledecky’s Olympic schedule will focus on the 200, 400, 800 and 1,500, plus any relays. The 1,500 is a new women’s event in Tokyo.

Ledecky isn’t sure what awaits in Tokyo. She wants to know more details on how frequently the athletes will be tested for coronavirus, where they’ll be tested, and what the swimming venue will look and feel like.

“Of course, I want everyone to stay healthy,” she said. “I guess that would be my biggest fear, that there’s a huge outbreak at the games. I’m pretty confident in how Tokyo is managing it so far.”

Women’s college basketball

CAL FALLS IN OPENING ROUND >> Taylor Jones had 17 points and 13 rebounds, and Oregon State moved on in the Pac-12 women’s basketball tournament with a 71-63 opening-round victory over Cal in Las Vegas at the Mandalay Bay Event Center.

Leilani McIntosh had 14 points to lead No. 12 seed Cal (1-16), which trailed by as many as 15 points but threatened late. Evelien Lutje Schiphol added 13 points and 10 rebounds and Ugonne Onyiah scored 13.

Talia von Oelhoffen had a career-high 20 points for fifth-seeded Oregon State (11-6), which has won four straight and seven of its past eight. The Beavers face fourth-seeded and 19th-ranked Oregon in the quarterfinals today.

• USC’s 71-65 win over Arizona State earns the Trojans (11-11) a quarterfinal meeting today with top-seeded Stanford (222). Stanford earned a firstround bye. The Cardinal swept the Trojans this season, winning the first game 80-60, and the second 8659.

NFL

JETS’ DOUGLAS PRAISES DARNOLD, BUT OPEN TO TRADE >> Sam Darnold’s time as the face of the New York Jets franchise might be nearing a disappointing end.

The 23-year-old quarterback was considered an untouchable player on the roster only a year ago. General manager Joe Douglas has backed off that stance, though, and it could signal a major change at the position as free agency and the NFL draft approach.

“I will answer the call if it’s made,” Douglas said when asked if he’d listen to offers for Darnold. “As it pertains to Sam, Sam’s, we think, a dynamic player in this league with unbelievable talent and who really, really has a chance to really hit his outstanding potential moving forward.

“But, you know, like I said earlier, if calls are made, I will answer.”

Douglas’ comments during a video call that included new coach Robert Saleh marked the first time the GM directly acknowledged being willing to trade Darnold. And that has the quarterback’s future with the Jets murky — just three years after being hailed as a potential longterm solution at a position that has long lacked consistent production.

TOM BRADY’S MEMORY OF LOMBARDI TROPHY TOSS A BIT WOBBLY >>

Maybe the most memorable pass of Tom Brady’s career is one the 43-year-old quarterback claims he doesn’t remember.

During the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ celebration of the Super Bowl win, Brady launched the Lombardi Trophy from his boat in the direction of a nearby vessel, where backup tight end Cameron Brate successfully spared Brady the shame of sinking the NFL’s coveted championship hardware.

In an appearance on the “Late Late Show” with James Corden on Tuesday night, Brady said his 8-year-old daughter was the voice of reason in the moment. She chided Brady for throwing the trophy, but Brady said he doesn’t remember much else. The presence of adult beverages was not hidden by the celebrating champions.

“First of all, I was not thinking at that moment. It was not a thought,” Brady said. “It was, ‘This seems really fun to do.’ I found out later, had that been an incomplete pass, that would have went down like 80 feet.”

• Brady said he rushed away quickly when his wife, Gisele, asked him during the postgame embrace what he had left to prove.

“I just gave her a big hug. I was trying to figure out a way to change the subject really quick,” Brady said. “I think I moved on to something else pretty quickly.”

Tennis

MEDVEDEV, ZVEREV ELIMINATED IN 1ST ROUND IN ROTTERDAM >> Top-seeded Daniil Medvedev’s 12 aces weren’t enough as the Australian Open runner-up lost 7-6 (4), 6-4 to Dusan Lajovic in the first round of the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

It wasn’t the day’s only upset in Rotterdam, with third-seeded Alexander Zverev also losing. Alexander Bublik beat Zverev 7-5, 6-3.

No seeded players remain in the top half of the Rotterdam draw.

Medvedev, Zverev and Felix Auger-Aliassime were all in that half of the draw but none reached the second round.