Davis Sets World Record in Speedskating’s 1,500

Shani Davis, who won a gold and a silver medal at the Turin Olympics, set a world record in the men’s 1,500 meters Sunday at the International Skating Union world all-around speedskating championships in Calgary, Canada.

Davis finished in 1 minute 42.68 seconds, breaking the mark of 1:42.78 set in 2005 by U.S. teammate and rival Chad Hedrick, with whom Davis feuded publicly at the Turin Games last month.

Hedrick, paired with Davis in Sunday’s race, finished second in 1:42.85. Canada’s Denny Morrison was third in 1:42.97.

In Alpine skiing, Austria won the team event at the World Cup Finals, holding off the U.S. when Olympic combined champion Ted Ligety had the worst time of his round in Are, Sweden.

Daron Rahlves, racing in the last World Cup race of his career, put the U.S. into second place by winning his super-G round. Sweden finished third.

In cross-country skiing, Canada’s Beckie Scott ended her World Cup career impressively at Sapporo, Japan, edging Norway’s Kristen Steira in a women’s 2x7.5-kilometer pursuit race with a time of 45 minutes 35.18 seconds. Germany’s Evi Sachenbacher Stehle was third in 46:04.9.

In biathlon, Kati Wilhelm of Germany clinched the overall World Cup title by finishing second in the 12.5-kilometer mass start in Kontiolahti, Finland.

Belarus’ Olena Zubrilova missed one shot and finished 29.5 seconds ahead of Wilhelm.

In the men’s 15-kilometer mass start, Tomas Sikora of Poland won by 30 seconds over France’s Raphael Poiree.

Debbie McCormick of Rio, Wis., and Dordi Nordby of Norway picked up victories at the World Women’s Curling Championship in Grande Prairie, Canada.

McCormick, the 2003 world champion, beat Bingyu Wang of China, 8-5.

Nordby, making her 18th appearance at the international event, defeated Silvana Tirinzoni of Switzerland, 8-2.

BASEBALL

Toronto’s Burnett Could Return in a Week

A.J. Burnett’s elbow problems aren’t as serious as Toronto first feared, and the Blue Jay pitcher could be back on the mound in a week, the team said.

Burnett left Toronto’s loss to Boston on Saturday after throwing one pitch in the second inning, but an MRI showed it was only scar tissue breaking away in his right elbow. Burnett had reconstructive surgery in 2003.

Al Leiter, 40, retired Sunday after pitching to one batter in the New York Yankees’ 2-0 victory over Cleveland, with the end becoming official in the seventh inning when he got Cleveland’s Eduardo Perez to ground out to third, the only batter he faced. Time was called and Leiter made a slow, teary walk off the field.

Leiter, who played for four major league teams over a span from 1987 to 2005, had a record of 162-132.

“I love the game very much, but when you were a certain type of player for a few years, being a front-end starter, that’s the way I still think I can pitch,” he said. “But the body tells you no.”

Juan Gonzalez, limited to one at-bat with Cleveland last season after tearing a hamstring, agreed to a minor league contract with Boston.

Kansas City Royal closer Mike MacDougal has a strain in his upper right arm and is expected to be sidelined for at least a month, the team said.

MOTOR RACING

Fisichella, Alonso Give Renault a 1-2 Finish

Giancarlo Fisichella and Fernando Alonso gave Renault only its second 1-2 finish with their effort at the Malaysian Grand Prix in Sepang.

Fisichella won by 4.5 seconds to help Renault achieve a finish it hadn’t earned since 1982 at the French Grand Prix. Honda’s Jenson Button was third.

Rain at the Atlanta Motor Speedway postponed NASCAR’s Golden Corral 500 moments before the start in Hampton, Ga., and it was rescheduled for today.

Angelle Sampey beat teammate Antron Brown with a run of 7.138 seconds at 187.73 mph to win the pro-stock motorcycle event in the ACDelco Gatornationals, and two other female drivers advanced to the finals at Gainesville, Fla.

Dave Grubnic beat Melanie Troxel in the top-fuel final, and Tom Martino edged Erica Enders in the pro-stock championship. In funny car, Ron Capps beat John Force to remain the season leader. Force’s daughter, Ashley, won the top-alcohol dragster sportsman title.

ARENA FOOTBALL

Dolezel Ties Record With 11 Touchdowns

Clint Dolezel matched his own AFL record with 11 touchdown passes, and Terrill Shaw had a franchise-record six scoring catches in the Dallas Desperados’ 87-62 victory over the host Orlando Predators. Dallas is 7-1, while Orlando is 4-4.

MISCELLANY

Super Strut Prevails in a Photo Finish

Super Strut, an 8-1 shot, edged 60-1 outsider Mr. Wolverine and favored Uncle Denny in a three-way photo finish to win the $100,000 Crystal Water Handicap at Santa Anita. Ridden by Tyler Baze after Corey Nakatani had taken off his mounts earlier in the day, the 6-year-old Lil Tyler gelding won for the sixth time in 14 starts on the turf. He ran the mile in the race restricted to California breds in 1:35.14.

Jockey Victor Espinoza recorded the 2,000th win of his career when favored Fear No Darkness took the fourth race at Santa Anita.

Boxer Kevin Payne, 34, died in Evansville, Ind., one day after suffering a brain injury during a fight. Payne won an eight-round welterweight bout by split decision over 26-year-old Ryan Maraldo but had to be helped from the ring and was taken by ambulance to a hospital.