Lindsey Vonn reclaims World Cup lead

Lindsey Vonn capped a successful weekend with a third-place finish in a super-G that helped her reclaim the sole lead of the overall World Cup standings less than two months before the Vancouver Olympics.

After her victory in Friday’s super combined, Vonn made mistakes Sunday in the upper part of the Oreiller-Killy course at Val d’Isere, France, but finished strong to gain a spot on the podium. Franzi Aufdenblatten posted her first World Cup victory, leading Nadia Styger to a 1-2 Swiss finish with Vonn 0.26 of a second off the pace.

“Every race is important, especially for the overall, and for myself for building confidence for Vancouver,” said Vonn, who has yet to win an Olympic medal.

After a mediocre weekend of technical events last week in Are, Sweden, where she lost the World Cup lead to rival and friend Maria Riesch of Germany, Vonn bounced back in Val d’Isere. The 25-year-old American has had success at the French Alps resort, winning the super-G and the downhill at the world championships this year.

Tim Burke made U.S. biathlon history, adding to the American squad’s expectations for the Vancouver Olympics.

In a first for a U.S. biathlete, Burke, of Lake Placid, N.Y., took over the lead in the World Cup standings by placing sixth in a men’s 12.5-kilometer pursuit at Pokljuka, Slovenia.

BASEBALL

Athletics, Crisp close to a deal

The Oakland Athletics were closing in on a one-year contract with free-agent outfielder Coco Crisp, with a club option for the 2011 season.

A person with knowledge of the negotiations confirmed an impending deal on condition of anonymity because a formal announcement had not been made by the club.

The 30-year-old Crisp can play all three outfield positions but is primarily a center fielder.

BASKETBALL

Calhoun appears near an extension

Connecticut and Coach Jim Calhoun appear to be close to a new multiyear contract.

ESPN.com, citing unidentified sources, reported Saturday that the 67-year-old Calhoun had agreed to a five-year deal. But athletic department spokesman Kyle Muncy said Sunday that nothing was final.

Calhoun is making $1.6 million in 2009-10, the final year of a six-year deal.

Iowa starting guard Anthony Tucker has been suspended after Iowa City police said he was charged with public intoxication.

Iowa Athletic Director Gary Barta said that the 20-year-old Tucker, the team’s second-leading scorer at 11.9 points per game, would be suspended indefinitely. Officials at the Johnson County Jail said Tucker pleaded not guilty to one count of public intoxication and was released on $325 bond.

HORSE RACING

Blind Luck wins Hollywood Starlet

Blind Luck bounced back from a third-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies with a seven-length victory in the $405,250 Hollywood Starlet on a season-ending Sunday at Hollywood Park.

Ridden by Rafael Bejarano for trainer and part-owner Jerry Hollendorfer, Blind Luck was briefly last in the field of seven on the backstretch and fifth at the halfway point.

She took the lead four-wide coming out of the second turn and had no filly near her in the final furlong as she covered 1 1/16 miles in 1:41.96 in the Grade I Starlet.