Thorpe places 7th in return

Swimming: Former Olympic swimming champion Ian Thorpe (pictured above) placed seventh in the 100-meter individual medley final at a World Cup event in Singapore on Friday in his first competitive race in five years.

The Australian finished in a time of 56.33 seconds, better than his heat time but well behind winner Chad Le Clos of South Africa, who swam the race in 53.06 seconds.

The 29-year-old Thorpe retired in 2006 after winning five Olympic gold medals and 11 world titles and setting 13 individual world records. He announced his comeback in February.

Thorpe is also set to race in the 100-meter butterfly today.

Associated Press

Plantes Ferry hosts regional

Cross country: With the NCAA Division II championships headed for Spokane in two weeks, the stakes are high for runners at the West Regional qualifier today at Plantes Ferry Sports Complex.

Alaska-Anchorage is the defending regional champ in both the men’s and women’s competition, but longtime power Chico State brings slightly higher national rankings into the event, which begins at 10:30 a.m. with the women’s 6-kilometer race. The men, who run 10 kilometers, go off at 11:30.

The top four men’s and women’s teams advance to nationals on Nov. 19, along with the top two individuals not on one of the qualifying teams.

John Blanchette