OneWorld, Alinghi Post Victories

Seattle’s OneWorld Challenge benefited from a penalty imposed on Prada of Italy, tying its America’s Cup challenger semifinal series, 1-1, today off Auckland, New Zealand.

In the other semifinal, Alinghi beat Oracle by 46 seconds to extend its lead to 3-0 and move within one victory of the challenger final.

OneWorld tied its series with Prada when the Italian team was penalized for sailing above its proper course at the second mark.

Prada had gained the lead on its superior downwind speed when it turned in a defensive maneuver approaching the leeward mark. Umpires ruled the Italian team had to execute a penalty turn and, in doing so, it handed OneWorld an unassailable lead.

Alinghi moved out to a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven semifinal against the heavily funded San Francisco entry of software magnate Larry Ellison.

Alinghi helmsman Russell Coutts beat fellow New Zealander Chris Dickson in the pre-start for a four-second advantage across the start line.

Oracle, with Dickson replacing Peter Holmberg at the wheel, took the lead on the first beat and rounded the top mark nine seconds ahead.

It led around the first four marks.

Alinghi regained the lead when the wind shifted in its favor on the final beat, allowing it to sail past Oracle on the left side of the course and extend its lead on the run home.

“We knew they’d made a mode change overnight and were issued with a new measuring certificate this morning,” said Alinghi pitman Josh Belsky. “So we knew they had something up their sleeve.

“We were a bit surprised to see Chris Dickson on the helm. They were able to get ahead of us on the first beat and they stayed ahead for most of the race.”

Belsky said Oracle’s tactics worked in Alinghi’s favor.

“Each time they shoved us out to the left we got a better shift, something like two degrees each time,” he said. “We got into a little better pressure and eventually ... we were doing better over on the left. But they certainly didn’t lack boat speed.”

Winter Sports

Norway’s Tor Arne Hetland and Marit Bjoergen won men’s and women’s World Cup cross-country sprints, respectively, at Clusone, Italy.

Hetland finished ahead of Germany’s Rene Sommerfeldt and Sweden’s Anders Hoegberg.

Bjoergen was followed by Germany’s Claudia Kuenzel, and Norwegians Maj Helen Sorkmo and Olympic bronze medalist Anita Moen.

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Russia won a women’s World Cup biathlon relay at Ostersund, Sweden, combining perfect shooting with fast cross-country skiing to beat Germany by 2 minutes 8.1 seconds.

Bulgaria was third, 2:26.2 behind, in a race just south of the Arctic Circle that started in sunshine and finished under the lights.

Miscellany

The president of Eastern Washington University wants the NCAA to investigate why the Eagles were not selected for the women’s volleyball national tournament.

Stephen Jordan asked NCAA President Myles Brand to look into the matter. The Eagles were not selected for the 64-team NCAA tournament despite a 29-2 record and No. 18 ranking.

Jordan wants an investigation before the national championship match Dec. 21 at New Orleans.

He is demanding either an apology from the NCAA or changes in the way teams are selected for the tournament.

Eastern Washington lost to Cal State Sacramento in the Big Sky Conference tournament championship match, and Sacramento received the conference’s automatic berth to the NCAA tournament. The Eagles had hoped to be invited as one of 33 at-large teams, as they were in 1998 and 1999.

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Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia earned $1 million by setting a world best for 10,000 meters on a road course that starts and finishes at the same spot.

Gebrselassie finished in 27:02 in the QSI road race at Doha, Qatar. The previous record was 27:11 by Sammy Kipketer.

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Canadian swimmer Jennifer Carroll was reprimanded by her federation for waving a Quebec flag on the podium at the Commonwealth Games in the summer.

Carroll said she faces a six-month suspension by Swimming Canada, but the governing body said she was only reprimanded.

The Montreal swimmer waved the flag after winning a silver medal in the 50-meter backstroke in the games at Manchester, England.