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Sports Shorts: Coleman breaks world record in 60 metres

Last updated on: February 19, 2018 20:35 IST

A summary of sports events and persons who made news on Monday

USA's Christian Coleman broke a 20-year-old record that was set by Maurice Greene

IMAGE: USA's Christian Coleman broke a 20-year-old record that was set by Maurice Greene. Photograph: Lucy Nicholson/Reuters

World silver medallist Christian Coleman broke the world record in the 60 metres when he ran 6.34 seconds at the US indoor national championships in Albuquerque, New Mexico on Sunday.

Fellow American Maurice Greene had held the record of 6.39 seconds for 20 years.

"It feels like a blur," said the 21-year-old Coleman, who won the 100-metres silver medal at last year's world championships in London.

 

Now he will lead the American team to next month's IAAF world indoor championships in Birmingham, England.

The performance at high altitude in Albuquerque was particularly pleasing for Coleman after he had bettered Greene's world record time with a run of 6.37 seconds last month in South Carolina, but was not ratified for technical reasons.

"I wanted to go get it," Coleman said after the race.

"I put a lot of work in my start and transition. It's all paying off."

Patrick crashes out as her NASCAR career ends

NASCAR driver Chase Elliott (9), Kasey Kahne (95) and Danica Patrick (7) crash during the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway at Daytona Beach in Florida on Sunday

IMAGE: NASCAR driver Chase Elliott (9), Kasey Kahne (95) and Danica Patrick (7) crash during the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway at Daytona Beach in Florida on Sunday. Photograph: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports via Reuters

For Danica Patrick, it was a proud but sad ending to her NASCAR career.

Stock car racing's most successful female driver fell victim to a multi-car crash at the Daytona 500 on Sunday in what she had already announced would be her final race on the popular American circuit.

"That's the gamble with Daytona," Patrick said of the mid-race crash.

"It can go so well and it can go so awful. I’m just sad that it ended that way."

Until then, the 35-year-old had been competitive in what was not the fastest car on the track.

"I said earlier today that I feel like the whole thing was picture perfect... but it just wasn’t meant to be I guess today,” she added.

One of the most marketable athletes in North America, Patrick will run one more race before calling it a career, competing in IndyCar's Indianapolis 500 in May.

In 2005, Patrick started and finished fourth as an Indy 500 rookie -- at the time a record for a woman driver.

She finished third in 2009, the best result ever at the Brickyard for a woman driver, but has not competed in the event since 2011. Patrick is the only woman to win an IndyCar race and to start from pole at the Daytona 500.

Her popularity has waned in recent years, with Patrick unable to produce the results many expected when she made her much publicised jump from IndyCar to NASCAR in 2012.

However, Patrick said of her journey on the NASCAR circuit: "I am grateful for everything."

Bubba joins Palmer, Hogan as three-times Los Angeles winner

USA's Bubba Watson poses with the championship trophy following the final round of the Genesis Open golf tournament at Riviera Country Club at Pacific Palisades in California on Sunday

IMAGE: USA's Bubba Watson poses with the championship trophy following the final round of the Genesis Open golf tournament at Riviera Country Club at Pacific Palisades in California on Sunday. Photograph: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports via Reuters

Bubba Watson acknowledged he had thoughts of retirement last year after a form slump but they were put on hold after his two-stroke victory at the Genesis Open in Los Angeles on Sunday.

Watson holed a bunker shot at the 14th hole to set the stage for achieving his career goal of a 10th PGA Tour title.

The long-hitting left-hander carded a closing 69 to finish at 12-under 272 for his third victory at Riviera, after previous successes in 2014 and 2016.

Fellow Americans Tony Finau (69) and Kevin Na (69) tied for second on 10-under.

Ben Hogan and Arnold Palmer also won the event, previously known as the Los Angeles Open, three times each.

An emotional Watson revealed that he had considered retiring after a dismal 2017 campaign during which he struggled with a new ball, which he has since discarded, among other issues.

The two-times Masters champion dropped outside the top 100 in the world -- 117th when he arrived at Riviera -- but will move into the top-50 with his latest victory.

"My goal has always been to get to 10 (wins)," a misty-eyed Watson said in a greenside interview.

"There so many emotions going through my head right now. You never know if you're going to play good again, never know if you're going to lift a trophy again.

"I thought about retirement ... I mentioned it about 10-12 times to my wife. We sat down and had many talks about it because physically I wasn't ready to play."

Boxing: 1 medal assured, Sarita enters quarters on Day 1 of Strandja Memorial

Seema Punia was assured of a medal without a fight, while the seasoned L Sarita Devi entered the quarters with a hard-fought win on a reasonably good opening day for India in the 69th Strandja Memorial Boxing Tournament for men and women.

Punia (+81kg) was guaranteed a medal due to the presence of just three boxers in her draw. The Indian will face local favourite Mihaela Nikolova for a place in the final where Russia's Anna Ivanova has got
a direct entry.

On the other hand, Sarita (60kg), a former world and Asian champion who fetched a silver at last month's India Open, defeated Italian Manchese Conceha in a split 3-2 verdict to enter the quarterfinals.

There was some disappointment as well when Commonwealth Games bronze-medallist Pinki Jangra (51kg), who won a gold at the India Open, went out with a first-round loss. Pinki was beaten by Romanian
Maria Claudia Nechita in a split 2-3 verdict.

Shillong Lajong beat holders Aizawl FC 2-1

Shillong Lajong pulled off a fine 2-1 victory over defending champions Aizawl FC here today, firming up their mid-table position in the I-League standings.

While Shillong Lajong could breathe easy after the encounter at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Aizawl FC inched closer to relegation.

Abdoulaye Koffi powered the hosts into lead with his strike in the 58th minute and Saihou Jagne made it 2-0 in the 73rd minute.

Leonce Dodoz Zikahi pulled one back late into the game (90+6) for Aizawl who, like the home side, also entered the game hoping to avoid the drop zone.

After a goal-less first half, Koffi broke the deadlock when he headed in expertly a off a Jagne assist.

Shillong Lajong consolidated their position when Jagne, after a one-on-one opportunity, put Albert's through ball into the back of the Aizawl net.

The visiting side earned a consolation goal when Zikahi struck in the last injury time.

In the dying moments of the match, Lalthathanga came close to spoiling the home team's party when he released a shot from inside the box, following a layoff from Leonce Dodoz, but Nidhin Lal did well to parry it away.

Aizawl were beaten 0-1 in the first fixture at home, courtesy a Redeem Tlang strike.

The victory took Shillong Lajong's total to 21 points from 17 matches.

Source: REUTERS
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