Krayzelburg Sets Backstroke Mark

Lenny Krayzelburg broke the world record of fellow American Jeff Rouse in the 100-meter backstroke Saturday to highlight a short-course World Cup at Berlin.

Krayzelburg, 24, sped through Berlin’s new Europasportpark Swimming hall in 51.28 seconds, breaking Rouse’s mark by 0.15 seconds.

“I already felt very good this morning. Then I concentrated and a record came out of it,” said Krayzelburg, the 100- and 200-meter backstroke world champion.

The Ukrainian-born American, who lives in West Hollywood, was more than 1 1/2 seconds faster than short-course world champion Josh Watson of Australia, who finished second in 52.98.

Barbara Bedford of Etna, N.H., recorded the second-fastest 50-meter backstroke ever as the top swimmers tested the swimming hall for the first time.

Bedford’s time of 27.72 seconds was well short of the 27.27 record held by Germany’s Sandra Voelker. Bedford was one of three double winners Saturday, also sweeping the 200 backstroke in 2:08.60.

Pro Football

With 41 players making their first appearances in today’s Pro Bowl in Honolulu, attention focused on the rising number of young stars and the fading away of some of the game’s most recognizable names.

Thirty first-timers and half of the 86 players in the game have played in the NFL five seasons or less, and their presence among the league’s elite is energizing the game.

“I think there is a changing of the guard. There are a lot of new exciting players coming into the league,” said Minnesota Viking guard Randall McDaniel, making his record 11th consecutive Pro Bowl start.

“This is the biggest change I’ve seen over here, and it’s good for the game. But they still a got a few spots for the older guys to slip in, just to remind them what happened before.”

Winter Sports

Hermann Maier dethroned Franz Klammer as the most successful Austrian in Alpine ski racing, getting his 27th career World Cup win in a giant slalom at Todtnau, Germany.

The former bricklayer got his ninth victory of the season and moved past Klammer on the career wins list into a fifth-place tie with American Phil Mahre. Sweden’s Ingemar Stenmark holds the record with 86 wins.

Second behind teammate Benjamin Raich after the opening leg, Maier rallied with a swift second run down the steep Ahornbuehl course for a winning two-run time of 2 minutes, 13.75 seconds.

At the World Luge Championships, Germany’s Sylke Otto edged defending titlist and countrywoman Barbara Niederman for her first world title, with a two-run combined time of 1:55.128 at St. Moritz, Switzerland. In the men’s doubles, the German team of Patric Leitner and Alexander Resch successfully defended their title in 1:54.303. Mark Grimmette of Muskegon, Mich., and Brian Martin of Palo Alto were third in 1:54.978, the first medal for the United States at the championships. . . . Germany’s Andre Lange and braker Rene Hoppe mastered fog and subfreezing temperatures to lead the two-man event at the men’s Bobsled World Championships at Altenberg, Germany with a combined time of 1:54.89 seconds. . . . Germany’s Gabi Kohlish, a former luge champion, and braker Kathleen Hering won the first women’s bobsled world championship race at Winterberg, Germany in a combined time of 1:58.09 seconds.

Germany’s Gunda Niemann-Stirnemann put herself in contention for yet another title with two solid races in the World Allround Speedskating Championships at West Allis, Wis. Niemann-Stirnemann, who has won the championship every year since 1991 except for 1994, finished second in the 3,000 meters with a time of 4 minutes, 6.83 seconds, and was eighth in the 500 at the Pettit National Ice Center. Jennifer Rodriguez of Miami, the only U.S. woman who qualified for the championships, finished a disappointing 14th in the 500 and was 18th in the 3,000, hurting her bid for a top-10 finish. . . . Finland’s Jari Isometsa won a World Cup cross-country ski pursuit event, defeating Johann Muhlegg of Spain by 15.1 seconds at Lillehammer, Norway.

Auto Racing

Defending champion Dyson Racing was in control as the attrition-filled Rolex 24 neared its halfway point Saturday night at Daytona International Raceway in Daytona Beach, Fla.

The Ford-powered Riley & Scott, driven by James Weaver of England, Elliott Forbes-Robinson, Max Papis and team owner Rob Dyson, held a 12-lap lead over the second-place car during the 12th hour.

“The track is slick and some of the guys aren’t watching where you are,” said Forbes-Robinson, a two-time Daytona winner. “My last shift I probably drove a little more conservatively than I had to, but there’s still a long way to go and I just want to get us to dawn. Then we’ll worry about racing people.”

Miscellany

Defending champion Martina Hingis of Switzerland defeated Chanda Rubin, 7-6 (2), 6-4, in the semifinals of the Pan Pacific Open at Tokyo. In today’s final, the top-ranked Hingis plays Sandrine Testud, who defeated unseeded Katarina Srebotnik of Slovenia, 3-6, 7-5, 6-1. Testud is ranked 15th.

The USOC’s full membership unanimously approved a restructuring plan that created the position of chief executive officer-secretary general and formally installed Norman Blake in the role with a three-year contract.

American League stolen base champion Brian Hunter won a $700,000 raise to $2.45 million when an arbitration panel ruled against the Seattle Mariners’ $1.75-million offer. . . . The Mariners have asked major league baseball to investigate reports of threats made against Ken Griffey Jr. and his family. . . . Parker Bohn III became the first person to win a title from the eighth seed, rolling to victory in the Professional Bowlers Assn. Tour’s Chattanooga Open in Tennessee with a 226-203 victory over John May in the title match.

Marshall is under NCAA and Mid-American Conference investigation reporting allegations of unethical conduct in its athletic department. . . . Team USA rallied for a 17-11 victory over Iran to cap the first day of the World Cup of Freestyle Wrestling at Fairfax, Va. Earlier, Team USA swept eight matches en route to a 25-4 victory over Ukraine.