Sports Digest

Other sports news in brief

Lagat targets Coghlan's record

ATHLETICS:Two-time Olympic medallist Bernard Lagat will attempt to make history when he competes in the legendary Wanamaker Mile in New York on January 29th.

The Kenyan-born athlete, who became a US citizen four years ago, will chase an eighth title in the 103rd Millrose Games at Madison Square Garden.

The 2007 world outdoor champion over 1500metres and 5,000m tied Eamonn Coghlan’s record for the most wins ever with his seventh success at last January’s meeting.

Lagat will now bid to overtake the Irishman’s record on what is the first stop of USA Track Field’s Visa Championship Series Indoor Circuit, which will culminate with the national championships on February 27-28 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Hoops shock Killester

BASKETBALL:Hoops produced the shock of the weekend in the Nivea For Men's SuperLeague after recording an 80-76 win over Northern Conference leaders Killester.

Their win was all the more noteworthy given they had a 16-point deficit to make up after the half-time break.

Carlton Aaron netted 36 points to ensure a fantastic ending to the year for Ahmad Smith’s side.

“We have lost a few games and had a few injuries so to come out and beat a team like Killester is a big win for us,” said Smith.

“Phil Taylor and Carlton Aaron were amazing,” added Smith.

Taylor hit some key shots down the line and sealed the victory with free throws at the end.

UCD Marian edged out DCU Saints in a nine-point victory (78-69). Elsewhere, UL enjoyed two wins in the space of two days against Moycullen (77-66) and UCC Demons (81-73) respectively.

O'Connor finishes second in London

EQUESTRIAN:Cian O'Connor narrowly failed in his bid to land yesterday's FEI Rolex world cup qualifier at Olympia in London but picked up a nice early Christmas present of over €15,800 when second on Aileen Bryan's Rancorrado writes Margie McLoone.

Eleven combinations made it through to the jump-off round with 30-year-old O’Connor being the first to record a double clear when Bryan’s 11-year-old Gran Corrado gelding stopped the clock on 35.66 seconds.

But second last to go, Olympia regular Eric van der Vleuten on VDL Groep Tomboy came home clear in 35.08 to give The Netherlands its first success in this class since 1994.

“I was happy with my horse,” reported O’Connor, “and he did his job well today. This is a personal best for me and Rancorrado at this level. . . to come second at Olympia is a marvellous result.”

Australia clinch series win over gutsy West Indies

CRICKET: Australia triumphed over a never-say-die West Indies inside four overs on the final day to win the third and final Test by 35 runs at the WACA in Perth.

The West Indies came into the final day requiring 51 more runs for the unlikeliest of victories with numbers 10 and 11 at the crease, but were eventually dismissed for 323.

Kemar Roach began the day on 13 and Gavin Tonge 21 as the mid to lower order of the Windies put them in with a slim chance. Roach and Tonge had not given up and had taken 15 runs off Shane Watson and Doug Bollinger in the first 3.2 overs.

But Roach was given out caught behind by umpire Billy Bowden.

Roach did not think he hit it and went for the referral, but replays were inconclusive and showed no signs of a nick. The decision stood, though, and Australia won a memorable Test match by 35 runs, and the series 2-01.

Rome GP deal agreed

MOTOR SPORT:Rome has signed an agreement with Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone to stage a grand prix, organisers said yesterday without giving any date or details.

“The agreement with . . . Bernie Ecclestone to bring the Rome grand prix to life has already been done and signed,” organiser Maurizio Flammini was quoted as saying by Italian media.

Proposals to host a race through the streets of Rome are well advanced and officials have said they hoped it would be on the calendar by 2012, although Ecclestone has indicated 2013 is more likely.

Italy already has a grand prix in Monza.

There were fears when plans for a Rome grand prix were first mooted that it would replace the historic track .

Impressive Pavlik retains his titles

BOXING:Kelly Pavlik retained his WBC and WBO middleweight titles with a fifth-round stoppage of Miguel Espino at his hometown Beeghly Centre in Youngstown, Ohio on Saturday.

Pavlik, whose record is now 36 wins and one defeat from 37 fights, with 32 knockouts, forced Espino’s corner to throw in the towel. Pavlik put Espino down with an uppercut for a count of nine in round four and repeated the treatment later in the round.

Espino (20-3-1, 9 KOs) suffered another knockdown at the start of the fifth and though he beat the count for a third time, his corner opted to prevent him taking any further punishment after one minute and 45 seconds of the round.