Aussies Win, U.S. Disqualified Again

Australian Ian Thorpe savored his sixth gold medal of the World Swimming Championships on Saturday in Fukuoka, Japan, while the United States was embarrassed by another disqualification.

In one of the most dramatic races of the meet, the “Thorpedo” barely beat American Anthony Ervin, from Valencia, at the end of the 400-meter medley relay.

Then the Americans were disqualified for an early takeoff by Ervin. It was their third disqualification in five relays.

Thorpe became the first man in nine World Championships to win six golds. He finished with three relay golds plus victories--and world records--in the 200, 400 and 800 freestyles.

American Natalie Coughlin, recovered from shoulder problems that troubled her for two years, ended the backstroke winning streak of Romania’s Diana Mocanu, beating her by 0.31 seconds over 100 meters.

Australian Geoff Huegill won gold in the 50 butterfly. Huegill had broken his world record by 0.16 seconds with a time of 23.44 in the semifinals. In the final, he finished in 23.50.

Germany’s Hannah Stockbauer, already a winner at 800 meters, led for the last 1,100 meters on her way to gold in the women’s 1,500, a new event at the World Championships. She finished at 16:01.02.

Switzerland’s Flavia Rigamonti pulled ahead of American Diana Munz in the final 150 meters and took silver at 16:05.99. Munz was third at 16:07.05.

Tennis

Lindsay Davenport advanced to the final of the Bank of the West Classic for the fourth consecutive year, defeating Monica Seles, 6-4, 6-2, in Palo Alto. Davenport will face third-seeded Kim Clijsters of Belgium, who defeated Meghann Shaughnessy, 6-3, 2-6, 6-1.

Albert Costa of Spain defeated Guillermo Coria of Argentina, 7-5, 6-3, to reach the final of the $900,000 Generali Open in Kitzbuehel, Austria. Costa will face sixth-seeded Nicolas Lapentti of Ecuador in the final. Lapentti, a wild card, defeated Galo Blanco of Spain, 6-2, 6-4, in the other semifinal. . . . Third-seeded Tommy Robredo of Spain defeated Argentina’s David Nalbandian, 6-3, 6-2, to reach the men’s final of the Idea Prokom Open in Sopot, Poland. Robredo will face second-seeded Albert Portas, a 6-3, 7-6 (3) winner over Armenia’s Sargis Sargsian.

Basketball

Forward LaPhonso Ellis signed a three-year contract worth about $10 million with the Miami Heat. . . . The Harlem Globetrotters will continue their economic boycott of South Carolina, which has the Confederate flag on the dome of the state capitol in Columbia, and won’t play games in the state, owner Manny Jackson said.

College Football

Florida Coach Steve Spurrier joined more than 1,000 mourners in Lafayette, La., at the funeral for Eraste Autin, who died after collapsing following a workout.

Jarrett Payton, the son of the late NFL star Walter Payton, and two other University of Miami football players were lucky to escape with cuts and bruises in a car accident in Miami. Payton, fellow running back Clinton Portis and defensive lineman Clint Hurtt were taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s trauma center and released.

None of the players were wearing seat belts, the top was down and Portis and Hurtt were ejected, the Florida Highway Patrol said. Payton’s BMW was totaled.

Miscellany

A racing car skidded out of control during a rally and killed a family of four watching from the sidelines in Biella, Italy. The crash occurred Friday during the final qualifying round of the RallyLana race. . . . Italian sensation Varenne broke the trotting world record for a mile by winning the $1-million Breeders Crown in 1 minute, 51.1 seconds at East Rutherford, N.J. . . . Sarah Uhl, 17, won the United States’ first gold medal in 10 years in the Junior Track World Cycling Championships, beating Germany’s Christin Muche in the match sprint at Trexlertown, Pa.