Biles captures fourth world all-around championship
Simone Biles is still the best even when she’s not at her best. The 21-year- old star won her fourth world all- around championship Thursday in Doha, Qatar, surviving a series of uncharacteristic mistakes to become the first woman to earn four all-around titles. Biles had a score of 57.491, nearly 1.7 points in front of silver medalist Mai Murakami of Japan.
Battling a kidney stone, she sat down her vault in the first rotation, came off the beam on her third and stepped out of bounds on floor exercise. Yet she still had enough to extend her remarkable winning streak.
Biles has finished first in every meet she’s entered since the 2013 US championships, though this one was far tighter than usual.
College football
MILTON THROWS 3 TDS AS NO. 9 UCF HOLDS OFF TEMPLE » McKenzie Milton threw for 312 yards and three touchdowns to help No. 9 UCF hold off visiting Temple 5240 in Orlando, Florida, and extend the nation’s longest winning streak to 21 games.
Taj McGowan scored on runs of 1 and 10 yards, the latter finishing a long drive that put the Knights (8- 0, 5- 0 AAC) up by nine points after Temple (5- 4, 4-1) nearly rallied to tie it.
College basketball
IONESCU HEADLINES WOMEN’S ALL-AMERICA TEAM » Sabrina Ionescu, a junior at Oregon and former East Bay prep star and the NCAA women’s career leader in triple- doubles with 10, received 29 votes from the 31-member national panel to headline the preseason AP All-America team. Ionescu, who averaged 19.7 points, 7.8 assists and 6.7 rebounds last season, is joined on the team by Louisville’s Asia Durr, UConn’s Katie Lou Samuelson, Notre Dame’s Arike Ogunbowale and Baylor’s Kalani Brown.
Tennis
FEDERER, DJOKOVIC WIN » Novak Djokovic advanced to the Paris Masters quarterfinals when Damir Dzumhur retired trail- ing 6-1, 2-1. Dzumhur had a lengthy massage on his lower back late in the first set and got loud applause when he carried on playing, but after a few more games, he stopped for good. Djokovic, who will reclaim the No. 1 ranking next week regardless of where he finishes, faces Marin Cilic in the quarters. Roger Federer’s bid for a 100th career title remains on as he beat Fabio Fognini 6- 4, 6- 3 to reach the quarterfinals.
WNBA
PLAYERS WANT NEW CBA » WNBA players have opted out of the current collective bargaining agreement that runs through October 2021. The players’ union announced the decision Thursday. The current CBA is in effect, but themove allows the players’ union to start negotiating the next CBA now. The new agreement would go into effect for the 2020 season. The league has seen growth in several areas since the CBA was signed in 2014.
Baseball
RED SOX UNDECIDED ON WHITE HOUSE VISIT » The Boston Red Sox say they haven’t decided whether they will visit the White House if invited by President Donald Trump. Manager Alex Cora said Thursday he wants to use the platform he has as a World Series champion in the right way. A native Puerto Rican, Cora has been outspoken about the need for help on the island since it was devastated by Hurricane Maria. The traditional White House visit has become increasingly partisan. TROPHY HAS BEEN REPAIRED » The Red Sox say their brand new World Series trophy has been repaired after getting beaned by a beer can during the championship parade. The damage occurred during Wednesday’s duck boat ride through Boston, when boisterous fans took to throwing drinks to the players. One can struck the trophy as it was being held aloft, knocking loose some of the golden pennants that rise from the base.
Soccer
MLS’ GOLDEN BOOT WINNER GETS SURPRISE » Josef Martinez knew he was receiv- ing one of Major League Soccer’s top awards. The Atlanta United star was caught off guard by the presenter. The Venezuelan striker got a surprise when countryman and Atlanta Braves outfielder Ender Inciarte showed up at United’s training facility to hand out the Golden Boot. Martinez scored 31 goals, shattering the league’s previous scoring record of 27, which was shared by Roy Lassiter, Chris Wondolowski and Bradley Wright-Phillips.
Golf
UIHLEIN LEADS IN VEGAS; SPIETH 3 SHOTS BACK » Peter Uihlein topped the leader board at 8-under 63 in the Shriners Hospitals For Children Open, with Jordan Spieth three strokes back in his season debut at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas. Seth Reeves shot 64. Harold Varner III and Robert Streb were two strokes back at 65. DUNNE LEADS ROSE IN TURKEY » Paul Dunne shot a bogey-free, 7-under 64 to take a one-stroke lead over Justin Rose after the first round of the Turkish Airlines Open in Antalya.