Auto Racing
An all-Andretti assault led by American Ryan Hunter-Reay
LONG BEACH, Calif. – Ryan Hunter-Reay, determined to rebound from a disappointing season, is off to a strong start in what he hopes will be another run toward the IndyCar championship.
Hunter-Reay won the pole Saturday for the 40th Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, knocking teammate James Hinchcliffe from the top spot while ensuring an all-Andretti Autosport front row.
Hunter-Reay won three poles last year, but as his performance tapered off in the second half of the season, he was unable to defend his 2012 championship. He opened this year with a second-place finish at St. Petersburg, and now will try for his first win of the season Sunday at Long Beach.
The American turned a lap in 1 minute, 7.8219 seconds on the temporary course through the streets of downtown.
Hinchcliffe wound up second after his lap at 1 minute, 7.9403 seconds.
Boxing
Pacquiao wins by unanimous decision over Bradley
LAS VEGAS – Manny Pacquiao won a unanimous decision in his rematch with Timothy Bradley on Saturday night, avenging his 2012 loss and claiming the WBO welterweight title.
Pacquiao (56-5-2) pursued and peppered the previously unbeaten Bradley around the MGM Grand Garden ring with an aggressive performance recalling the Pacman in his prime. Bradley fought back with counterpunching and elusiveness, but Pacquiao kept up his attack, while Bradley (31-1) struggled down the stretch.
College Basketball
Creighton’s Doug McDermott wins the Wooden Award
LOS ANGELES – Doug McDermott of Creighton accepted the John R. Wooden Award, one of several honors the senior won this year as college basketball’s player of the year.
McDermott received 3,930 points in nationwide voting. He was announced as the winner last week at the Final Four in Arlington, Texas.
Stanford’s Chiney Ogwumike wins the Wooden Award
LOS ANGELES – Chiney Ogwumike of Stanford won the John R. Wooden Award as college basketball’s female player of the year.
Chiney led the Cardinal to the Final Four, where they lost in the national semifinals. She was a two-time Pac-12 player of the year and three-time league defensive player of the year. As a senior, Ogwumike averaged 26.5 points and 12.1 rebounds this season. She ended her career as the league’s career scoring leader with 2,722 points.
Cycling
Contador’s fine form earns him a third Basque title
MARKINA, Spain – Alberto Contador won the Tour of Basque Country on Saturday for a third time, confirming the Spaniard’s strong return to form with his second title of the year as he prepares for the Tour de France.
After going a year without a multistage race title, Contador now has won the Tour of Basque Country and last month’s Tirreno-Adriatico, along with runner-up finishes at the Tour of Algarve and the Volta a Catalunya.
Michal Kwiatkowski of Poland finished the race in second place, 49 seconds behind Contador. Jean-Christophe Peraud of France completed the podium, 1:04 behind Contador.
Tony Martin won the 16-mile individual time trial in 38 minutes, 33 seconds.
42-year-old Horner to remain in hospital until next week
MILAN – Spanish Vuelta champion Christopher Horner will remain in the hospital until next week at least after Friday’s training accident in northern Italy.
Horner was moved to the chest surgery department where he is undergoing drainage on a punctured lung. The 42-year-old American rider also has four broken ribs and cuts on his head.
Horner won the Vuelta last year at the age of 41 to become the oldest Grand Tour champion.
Associated Press
