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Isinbayeva Sets World Record in the Pole Vault

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From Wire Reports

Yelena Isinbayeva of Russia set a world record in the women’s pole vault for the third time in five weeks, clearing 16 feet-0 3/4 on Friday in the London Grand Prix.

Maurice Greene, who blamed his defeat on a poor start, lost to Asafa Powell of Jamaica, who finished in 9.91 seconds to win the men’s 100 meters.

Powell, 21, ran the fastest time on British soil. He is undefeated this season and served notice he could be among the favorites in the event at the Athens Olympics.

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“I was all over the track, going side to side, and he was just going straight ahead,” Greene said. “But I’ll fix that. I’ll get it together for Athens. When I do -- woooo!”

Greene, the 2000 Olympic gold medalist, three-time world champion and former world record holder, finished second in 9.97. Another American, Leonard Scott, was third in 10.04.

Isinbayeva, 22, surpassed the mark of 16-0 1/2 set five days ago at Birmingham, England. She earned $50,000 for the record. Olympic champion Stacy Dragila missed three tries at 15-5 and finished fourth.

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Meet directors in Zurich, Switzerland, and Linz, Austria, said they were wary of having three-time Olympic gold medalist Marion Jones participate in their events.

Jones is being investigated by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, but she has not been charged with drug use and repeatedly has denied using performance-enhancing substances.

She had been scheduled to compete in the London Grand Prix but pulled out earlier in the week without giving a reason.

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Meet officials at Linz said Jones had wanted to run the 100 meters there but would not compete after all.

Golf

Karen Stupples shot a two-under-par 70 and held a three-stroke lead over three players after the second round of the Women’s British Open at Sunningdale, England.

Beth Daniel (69), Jeong Jang (68) and Seol-An Jeon (69) were tied for second at six-under 138.

Defending champion Annika Sorenstam moved within two strokes of the lead with three early birdies, but faltered with two bogeys and no birdies on the back nine. She shot a 71 that left her tied for fifth place at 139.

Vijay Singh, Jim Furyk and Billy Andrade were tied for the lead after two rounds of the Buick Open at Grand Blanc, Mich.

Singh, the first-round leader, shot a two-under 70 and was at 11 under with Furyk, the defending champion who shot a 67, and Andrade, who shot a 65.

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John Daly matched his best round of the year with a 64 and was tied with three others, one stroke behind the leaders. Tiger Woods shot a 68 and was among four players tied at two strokes behind.

The second round of the U.S. Senior Open at St. Louis was postponed because of unplayable conditions after heavy rain. The tournament will be completed with 36 holes Sunday.

Robert Gates Jr. of Gainesville, Fla., defeated Ben Leong of Orlando, Fla., on the first playoff hole to win the HP Boys Junior Championship at Bay Hill Golf Club in Orlando.

Leong shot a 32 on the back nine during fourth-round play to force the playoff, but he hit his tee shot into the water on the playoff hole. Gates and Leong tied at even-par 288.

Samuel Saunders of Windermere, Fla., who led the first three rounds, finished at 289, followed by Rory Hie of Lakewood at 292.

Commissioners in Augusta, Ga., voted to pay $120,000 to the attorneys of Martha Burk, who claimed the city improperly restricted a protest against Augusta National’s all-male membership.

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Burk, who heads the National Council of Women’s Organizations, filed a federal lawsuit against the city. She claimed an ordinance that kept her from protesting near the main gate of Augusta National during last year’s Masters violated her rights.

College Football

Colorado Coach Gary Barnett testified for four hours in front of a statewide grand jury as part of an investigation into the program’s recruiting practices.

Barnett, who was suspended for nearly four months this year for comments he made about two women accusing football players of rape, declined to comment to reporters before his testimony behind closed doors.

Also called to testify was Jon Burianek, senior associate athletic director at the school.

The grand jury investigation is the first indication criminal charges could be filed in a scandal that led to sweeping changes in the football recruiting program and a scathing review of university leadership.

Brent Rawls, a quarterback who transferred from Oklahoma, is academically ineligible to play for Louisiana Tech next season, Coach Jack Bicknell said.

Tennis

Top-ranked Roger Federer of Switzerland ran his winning streak to 21 matches by beating Fabrice Santoro of France, 7-5, 6-4, and defending champion Andy Roddick beat Jan Hernych of Czech Republic, 6-4, 6-2, to reach the semifinals of the Tennis Masters Canada at Toronto. Federer, who has won three consecutive tournaments since losing in the third round of the French Open, plays Thomas Johansson of Sweden today and second-seeded Roddick plays Nicolas Kiefer of Germany. Kiefer beat Jurgen Melzer of Austria, 3-6, 6-1, 6-1, and Johansson beat Joachim Johansson of Sweden, 6-3, 7-6 (5).

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Women’s Basketball

Anna DeForge scored 23 points to lead the Phoenix Mercury over the host San Antonio Silver Stars, 68-59, in a WNBA game in front of 8,861.... Betty Lennox scored 23 points and the Seattle Storm defeated the Minnesota Lynx, 70-55, at Minneapolis in front of 8,788.... Rookie Alana Beard scored 14 points to lead the host Washington Mystics over the Connecticut Sun, 69-68, in front of 11,021.... Cheryl Ford had 19 points to help the Detroit Shock beat the New York Liberty, 88-79, at Auburn Hills, Mich., in front of 9,543.

Miscellany

Specially treated energy patches used by swimmers at the U.S. Olympic trials July 7-14 at Long Beach will be sent to the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency for testing amid concerns the patches contain testosterone.

David Schmidt, president of the company that makes the LifeWave Energy Enhancer, told the San Francisco Chronicle that the accusation was ridiculous and said the patch contained only amino acids and water-based solutions. Officials at the anti-doping agency would not confirm they received the patches. Six female swimmers from Stanford wore the patches on their shoulders during the trials. Two made the U.S. team -- sisters Tara Kirk (100-meter breaststroke) and Dana Kirk (200-meter butterfly).

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