Richards matches her season best in the 400

Sanya Richards was in a class of her own once again.

The 400-meter runner won the World Athletics Final in 49.27 seconds to match her fastest time in the world this season and leave the opposition far behind Sunday at Stuttgart, Germany. Richards beat all the medalists from the world championships in Osaka, Japan, that ended this month.

Dayron Robles of Cuba also put in a strong performance, matching Liu Xiang’s fastest time of the year in winning the 110-meter hurdles in a meet record 12.92 seconds. David Payne of the U.S. was second in 13.08, and countryman Terrence Trammell finished third in 13.15.

Liu, the reigning Olympic champion and world-record holder at 12.88, skipped the meet.

In the women’s 100, Carmelita Jeter led a 1-2 American finish, beating Osaka triple gold medalist Allyson Felix.

Jeter clocked 11.10, and Felix finished in 11.15. Lauryn Williams, who narrowly lost her 100 title in Osaka, was fifth in 11.31.

The men’s 200 saw Jaysuma Saidy Ndure of Norway improve his personal best by 0.36 of a second by winning in 19.89.

With the world 100 and 200 champion Tyson Gay staying away from the meet, Americans Wallace Spearmon, bronze medalist in Osaka, and Rodney Martin finished second and third, respectively.

Richards matched the time she clocked in Berlin one week ago that made her six for six in Golden League races. The perfect finish earned her half of a $1-million jackpot.

“The fast time at the end of the season is no surprise to me,” Richards said. “I tried to go out really hard and run the curve faster than normal.”

Sunday’s victory capped what would have been another outstanding season had it not been for the U.S. trials, where she was ill, finished fourth and failed to qualify for Osaka, where she won a 1,600-meter relay gold medal.

Richards improved her season best in three straight races coming into Sunday’s meet and nearly did it again.

Brad Walker won the pole vault at 19 feet, 4 3/4 inches and then attempted to beat Sergei Bubka’s world record of 20-2 1/4 . He didn’t come close with the bar at 20-2 1/2 .

Edwin Cheruiyot Soi completed a double when he added the 5,000 to his 3,000 win on Saturday, which made it a $60,000 weekend for the Kenyan.

The season-ending World Athletics Final has $3 million in prize money, with each winner earning $30,000. A world record is worth an extra $100,000, but none fell during the two-day meet.

Daniel Kipchirchir Komen won the 1,500 meters in 3:37.96. Alan Webb, who had the fastest time in the world this year, was fourth in 3:38.84.

TENNIS

Jankovic is upset by Szavay

Agnes Szavay rallied to defeat world No. 3 Jelena Jankovic, 6-7 (7), 7-5, 6-2, in the Beijing Open final.

Jankovic appeared to be cruising to the title after winning a tough first set in a tiebreak and then storming to a 5-1 lead in the second. But the 18-year-old took advantage when Jankovic began to show signs of fatigue, winning six straight games to win the second set.

Fourth-seeded Maria Kirilenko won the WTA Tour’s Sunfeast Open title, defeating Mariya Koryttseva, 6-0, 6-2, at Kolkata.

Top-seeded Tatiana Golovin beat Katarina Srebotnik, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4, to win the Slovenia Open for her second WTA title at Portoroz.

Rafael Nadal withdrew from this week’s Thailand Open in Bangkok because of knee injuries that have bothered him since the U.S. Open.

MISCELLANY

Pedroza keeps lead at Fairplex

Martin Pedroza maintained his three-win lead over Tyler Baze in the jockey standings going into closing day of the 16-day Fairplex Park meet, as each won only one race Sunday. Plug Me In, ridden by Alfonso Quinonez, won the $125,000 Ralph M. Hinds Pomona Invitational Handicap. Courtly Jazz, ridden by Michael Baze, finished second, and favored Raise The Bluff, ridden by Tyler Baze, finished third.

-- Larry Stewart

New Zealand and Australia extended their winning records at the Rugby World Cup to reach the quarterfinals and join South Africa in ensuring they finish atop their groups.

Tournament favorite New Zealand, seeking its first title in 20 years, beat Scotland, 40-0, after two-time champion Australia beat Fiji, 55-12.

South Africa held off Tonga two days ago.

Shaun White clinched his first Dew Cup title at Salt Lake City, finishing third in the skateboard vert in the Toyota Challenge.