100 Mark Is Promised Land for Moses

Ed Moses has been on the brink of breaking the world record in the 100-meter breaststroke for more than a year. He did it Wednesday at the USA Swimming National Championships at Austin, Texas, with a time of 1 minute, 0.29 seconds.

That broke Roman Sloudnov’s mark (1:00.36) set last June at the Russian Olympic trials.

“I’ve been so close to that record, and after this morning’s swim, I expected to break it,” the Olympic silver medalist said. “I think I have a better swim in me and look forward to breaking a minute.”

Robert Margalis won the 400 freestyle in 3:48.72. Chad Carvin of Mission Viejo finished second in 3:49.47.

Winter Sports

Erik Schlopy was the first skier on a snowy slalom course. That meant everybody else was racing for second place.

Schlopy won the men’s slalom at the U.S. Alpine nationals, beating runner-up Casey Puckett by more than one second at Whitefish, Mont. Schlopy’s two-run combined time was 1 minute 29.46 seconds.

Sarah Schleper won the women’s race, with Tasha Nelson second and Swedish skier Pernilla Wiberg third.

Other than Daron Rahlves winning the super-G world title, Schlopy arguably had the best season by an American. His second-place finish at Bormio, Italy, in December was the best U.S. giant slalom showing in 18 years.

Jonna Mendes of Heavenly, who won Tuesday’s giant slalom, needed surgery to repair a broken right foot after she crashed on her second slalom run at U.S. Alpine nationals.

Former Olympic downhill champion Bill Johnson is progressing from a nearly fatal ski crash last week but remained comatose and in critical condition in Kalispell, Mont., a spokesman said. Dr. Rob Hollis, the neurosurgeon who operated on Johnson, expects the skier to remain in the critical care unit an additional 10 days.

Jurisprudence

Stanley Drew Abraham, a 20-year-old co-defendant in the murder trial of former NFL player Rae Carruth, was sentenced to 90 days in jail and five years probation after reaching a plea agreement with prosecutors in Charlotte, N.C., in the December 1999 shooting death of the pregnant Cherica Adams.

Abraham had been charged with murder, conspiracy to commit murder, firing into Adams’ vehicle and trying to kill her unborn baby.

Tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams and Lindsay Davenport might be called to testify next week at the Miami trial of Dubravko Rajcevic, a man charged with stalking Swiss star Martina Hingis.

Rajcevic’s attorney said he wants the players to support his contention that Hingis is not emotionally distressed, as the prosecution claims, by his 46-year-old client’s professed love for her.

Olympics

Police and Olympic organizers insist there will be no widespread roundup of homeless people during the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City. The treatment of the indigent was criticized during the previous Games in Atlanta and Sydney, Australia. . . . A House committee approved a nonbinding resolution, 27-8, urging Olympic organizers to reject China’s bid to host the Games in 2008, citing human rights concerns. . . . Prime Minister Lionel Jospin told visiting Olympic officials that France would guarantee the financial health of the 2008 Games if they were held in Paris. . . . Delta Holdings SA, Greece’s largest milk and ice cream maker, and FAGE Dairy Industry SA agreed to jointly pay $16.4 million to become sponsors of the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, said the Greek organizing committee. The fee more than doubles the $7.5 million paid for last year’s Sydney Games.

Miscellany

The Ice Dogs set a team a record for goals in a game in a 9-1 West Coast Hockey League victory over the Phoenix Mustangs at Long Beach Arena. . . . Greg Steadman, crew chief for John Andretti, was fined $20,000 by NASCAR because the Dodge Andretti drove to a second-place finish last weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee did not meet the minimum height requirements when it was inspected after the race. . . . Barring immigration obstacles and minor contract details, former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson probably will fight David Izon on June 17 in Sydney, said Shelly Finkel, Tyson’s advisor.