Briefs: Lofgren wins gold with U.S.

BLED, Slovenia — Esther Lofgren, a former Newport Harbor High and Newport Aquatic Center standout, helped the U.S. women’s eight win the gold medal at the World Rowing Championships Friday on Lake Bled.

Rowing in the bow seat for the United States, Lofgren helped the Americans post a winning time of 6 minutes, 3.65 seconds, three-quarters of a second faster than second-place Canada.

It is the second straight world title for Lofgren and the sixth in a row for the United States in the event.

“We just had a race plan and we executed it,” Lofgren said in a release from Harvard University, where she was an All-American in 2008-09.

The U.S. boat was in fifth place out of six crews through the first 500 meters of Friday’s final but had moved into second by the midway point and took the lead in the third 500.

Finishing in the top five qualified the U.S. women’s eight, but not the individual athletes, for the 2012 London Olympics.

— From staff reports

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Ozougwu goes on IR

Cheta Ozougwu, Mr. Irrelevant XXXVI, was placed on the injured reserve list by the Houston Texans Saturday, when NFL teams were making moves and cutting players to get their rosters to 53 players.

Ozougwu suffered a concussion in the Texans’ first preseason game. The defensive end out of Rice University is attempting to become an inside linebacker with Houston.

Ozougwu, as part of Irrelevant Week, was celebrated in Newport Beach in June.

David Vobora (2008) and Ryan Succop (2009), also Mr. Irrelevant subjects after being the last player chose in the draft, made their respective teams.

Vobora, a linebacker initially drafted by the St. Louis Rams, is playing for the Seattle Seahawks.

Succop is the placekicker for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Tim Toone, Mr. Irrelevant 2010, was among the final cuts today by the Detroit Lions.

— From staff reports