Lewis’ Training Described as Intense

In the weeks before he collapsed and died, Boston Celtic captain Reggie Lewis was increasing the intensity of his workouts, according to a published report Saturday.

The Boston Herald reported that Lewis had at least one session of full-court running and shooting drills on July 17 with Northeastern University student Sean Curran.

On the day he died, Lewis was planning to play basketball with a group of former college players who expected a full-court game.

That information appears to contradict a statement issued Thursday by Lewis’ widow, Donna Harris Lewis, who said her husband had been careful not to exert himself while uncertainties remained about his health.

Lewis died Tuesday after collapsing during what witnesses said was a light workout at the Brandeis University gymnasium in Waltham. His death came three months after he collapsed during an NBA playoff game against the Charlotte Hornets.

Lewis had received conflicting information about whether the earlier collapse was the result of a serious heart disorder or a minor nerve problem.

A third series of examinations were inconclusive.

In her statement, Donna Lewis said her husband was planning to undergo a session of monitored exercise this week in Baltimore. Until then, she said, he was careful not to overexert himself.

But Curran told the Herald that he and Lewis worked out together, hustled through shooting drills and that Lewis dunked the ball several times. Curran, a 20-year-old sophomore who is training to make the Northeastern team, said he tired from Lewis’ pace.

Basketball

Wesley Person of Auburn scored 14 points and the United States beat France, 87-73, to win the Under-22 World Basketball Championships at Valladolid, Spain.

Former Chinese Olympian Ma Jian has signed a letter of intent to play basketball for the University of Utah. Jian, who played last season for Utah Valley Community College, has been granted two years of eligibility by the NCAA.

Motor Sports

Tracy Leslie beat David Green to the finish line by 0.73 seconds to win the Kroger 200 NASCAR Grand National race at Indianapolis Raceway Park. The victory was the first in 77 Grand National starts for Leslie.

Eddie Hill, John Force and Scott Geoffrion are the leaders for today’s finals of the Autolite Nationals at Sears Point International Raceway in Sonoma.

Hill’s dragster covered the quarter-mile in 4.922 seconds at 291.73 m.p.h. Force is the funny-car leader at 5.221 and 286.62, both track records, and Geoffrion is the No. 1 qualifier in pro stock with a 7.162 at 193.96.

Tom Kendall of La Canada, driving a Ford Mustang Cobra, will start from the pole in today’s one hour IMSA Exxon Supreme GT race at the 1.95 mile Portland International Raceway in Portland, Ore.

Miscellany

Khalid Skah of Morocco set a world record in the two-mile run, shaving nearly a second off the previous mark.

Skah, 26, finished in 8 minutes 12.17 seconds at Hechtel, Belgium. The previous record was set by countryman Said Aouita on May 28, 1987, at Turin, Italy.

Foxtrail stumbled at the start but recovered to lead wire to wire and win the fourth Alabama Derby by 10 lengths at Birmingham Race Course.

Foxtrail, ridden by Bobby J. Walker, paid $4.20, $4, $3.20. Wa Bert, ridden by Kenneth Bourque, paid $8.60 amd $5.80. Rowdy Rowdy Rowdy, ridden by Brent Bartrum, returned $5.20.

Elton (Sam) Langford, who shares the record for most outfield assists in a major league game, died Saturday in Plainview, Tex., at 94.

He shares the record of four outfield assists with eight other players. Langford was the last American Leaguer to accomplish the feat, doing it May 1, 1928, for the Indians.

Domenic Mobilio scored in the 58th minute to lead Canada to a 2-1 victory over Australia in a World Cup soccer qualifying match before 27,775 at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton.

More than 75 Southern California bowlers will compete in the $100,000 Pacific Cal Bowl PBA Senior Open, which starts today at Cal Bowl in Lakewood.

Italy sailed to victory in two of three classes in the Channel Race to move into the overall lead in the Admiral’s Cup yachting competition at Cowes, England.