Arakawa Skates to Early Lead

Former world champion Shizuka Arakawa took the lead at the Japanese national figure skating championships on Saturday in Tokyo, improving her chances of securing one of three spots for Japan at the Turin Winter Olympics.

In the men’s event, Daisuke Takahashi won on total points after Nobunari Oda was deducted points for a triple lutz late in his routine.

Oda was originally awarded the gold medal but the decision was reversed after judges reviewed the scoring.

The women’s event has five world-class skaters vying for three Olympic berths.

Arakawa, the 2004 world champion, skated a clean short program at Yoyogi Arena and was awarded 68.76 points.

Fumie Suguri, who has won the national championships four times, was second with 67.30 points. Teenager Mao Asada, who won the Grand Prix Final last week but is ineligible for the Olympics, finished third with 66.64 points.

Asada turned 15 in September, less than three months past the July 1 deadline the International Skating Union set for eligibility for the Winter Olympics.

Asada opened with a triple lutz and had planned to do a double axel late in her routine but had to settle for a single axel.

She is still planning to try at least one triple axel in the free skating as she did in winning the Grand Prix final a week ago in the same arena.

NCAA

School Closes Amid Legitimacy Probe

A Miami correspondence academy that drew the scrutiny of the NCAA and state officials amid growing concerns about “diploma mills” is shutting down, the school’s founder told the New York Times.

“It’s a disaster,” Stanley J. Simmons told the newspaper. “I’m finishing up everything, and I’m going back into retirement.”

University High School had no classrooms, teachers or teams but helped numerous athletes quickly earn diplomas, the New York Times first reported in November. The newspaper reported that University High graduated at least 14 students who signed with Division I football programs during the past two years. Because the school is private, students did not have to take the state-mandated exit exam.

The Miami-Dade state prosecutor’s office and the NCAA recently began investigations into the legitimacy of the school.

Ed Griffith, a spokesman for the state prosecutor, told the New York Times his office was awaiting returns from subpoenas in its investigation of the school over possible fraud.

BASEBALL

Pitcher Stanton Is Back in Washington

Mike Stanton returned to the Washington Nationals, agreeing to a $1-million, one-year contract.

The 38-year-old left-hander was signed by Washington on July 13, about two weeks after he was let go by the New York Yankees, and went 2-1 with a 3.58 earned-run average in 30 games with the Nationals.

With four days left in the regular season, he was acquired by the Boston Red Sox for their season-ending series against the Yankees in exchange for minor league right-handers Rhys Taylor and Yader Peralta.

Stanton was 1-2 with a 7.07 ERA for the Yankees last season and pitched one inning for the Red Sox.

Overall, he stranded 34 of 42 inherited runners, sixth among relievers inheriting 40 runners or more, and he held left-handers to a .235 batting average with two extra-base hits, both doubles.

PASSING

Hungarian Soccer Coach Was 91

Lajos Baroti, who coached Hungary’s soccer teams in several World Cups and Olympics, has died, the Hungarian Football Federation said. He was 91.

Baroti, who coached Hungary a record 117 times between 1957 and 1978 and played twice on the national team, died Friday.

He coached Hungary to a bronze medal at the 1960 Olympics in Rome and a sixth-place finish at the 1966 World Cup in England.