Lochte’s day in Barcelona one for ages
SWIMMING: Wearing fluorescent orange sneakers, Ryan Lochte eased out of his seat and moved gingerly toward the exit of the Palau Sant Jordi.
It was the first time he was slow all night.
“My whole entire body is hurting,” Lochte moaned. “There’s no other way to put it – I’m sore.”
No kidding.
On a night when Missy Franklin finally lost, Lochte turned in an epic performance at the world championships Friday in Barcelona, Spain. He swam three races in less than two hours, coming away with two gold medals and the top time in an event he’s competing in for the first time at a major international meet.
No one could find any record of someone competing in three races in the same session at either the worlds or the Olympics.
Lochte won the 200-meter backstroke, posted the fastest time in the semifinals of the 100 butterfly, and put the Americans ahead to stay with a strong leg in the 800 freestyle relay.
Lochte finished his big night in the relay, taking over with the Americans trailing both Russia and France after Conor Dwyer’s opening leg. Lochte took care of that, turning in the second-fastest 200 (1:44.98) of anyone in the field.
Franklin also had a busy night, but the first race didn’t go as she hoped. The 18-year-old American finished fourth in the 100 free behind gold medalist Cate Campbell of Australia, ending a run of four straight victories in Barcelona.
Park loses ground with 2nd-round 73
Golf: Playing in the strongest wind this week, Inbee Park had a pair of three-putt bogeys in a round of 1-over 73 at the Women’s British Open in St. Andrews, Scotland. The disappointing round left her closer to the cut line than the lead as she tries to become the first golfer to win four professional majors in one year.
Na Yeon Choi had a 5-under 67 and a one-shot lead over Miki Saiki of Japan. Saiki set the Old Course record for the Women’s British Open at 6-under 66.
• Birdie run boosts Romero: Andres Romero birdied his last four holes to take the second-round lead in the Reno-Tahoe Open in Reno, Nev., with 22 points in the modified Stableford scoring format.
The Argentine player who finished third last year had nine birdies, a bogey and a double bogey for a one-point lead over Gary Woodland.
Chris Williams of Moscow, Idaho, scored 6 points for a two-day total of 15.
Oden, Williamson returning to NBA
Basketball: Greg Oden is coming back to the NBA with the Miami Heat.
Mike Conley Sr., one of Oden’s agents, said Oden has informed the Heat that he will accept their contract offer of $1 million for this coming season with a player option for 2014-15.
• Corliss Williamson to help coach Kings: Corliss Williamson is returning to the NBA, this time as an assistant coach for the Sacramento Kings.
Williamson, who was drafted by the Kings with the 13th overall pick in 1995, spent the last three seasons as head coach at Central Arkansas.
Williamson played for 12 seasons in the NBA, retiring in 2007. He played for the Kings from 1995-2000 and 2005-07.
• Magic cut Harrington loose: In a move designed to save money and free up playing time for their young players, the Orlando Magic waived veteran forward Al Harrington.
Courts: New court records in Attleboro, Mass., say that an associate of Aaron Hernandez told police the former New England Patriot put guns in a box in his basement after returning from the industrial park where his friend was fatally shot.
An affidavit released by Attleboro District Court says Carlos Ortiz told investigators Hernandez put firearms in the black box after Odin Lloyd’s killing. The document indicates one was a small gun Ortiz handed Hernandez after they returned home. Ortiz said he earlier saw Hernandez with an additional “large handgun.”