Briefly

Two world records set at Belgian meet

At the Van Damme Memorial meet Friday at Brussels, Belgium, Yelena Isinbayeva set a world record in the pole vault for the second time in two weeks and improved on the mark she set to win the Olympic title. She leaped 16 feet, 1 3/4 inches, bettering by a half inch her winning vault at the Athens Games. It was her fifth record in two months.

Saif Saaeed Shaheen, kept from the Olympics because of a nationality switch from his native Kenya, set a world record in the 3,000-meter steeplechase of 7 minutes, 53.63 seconds, smashing the mark of 7:55.28 set by Moroccan Brahim Boulami three years ago in Brussels.

Auto racing

Vickers gets pole

Twenty-year-old Brian Vickers captured his second career pole by turning a lap of 187.417 mph at the California Speedway in Fontana, Calif. Jeremy Mayfield will be in the second spot of the 43-car field for Sunday’s Pop Secret 500.

“Casey Mears claimed his second NASCAR Busch Series pole, taking the top qualifying spot for today’s Target House 300 at California Speedway.

Golf

Woods, Palmer tied

Tiger Woods shot a 6-under 65 to tie for the lead with Ryan Palmer in the opening round of the Deutsche Bank Championship at Norton, Mass.

“Christina Kim followed a record-tying opening round with a 6-under 66 to take a four-stroke lead at the LPGA State Farm Classic at Springfield, Ill.

College athletics

Tech admits faults

Georgia Tech acknowledged that it certified 17 athletes from four different sports as eligible when they had not met the NCAA’s academic requirements.

Athletic director Dave Braine said the violations – which Georgia Tech considers secondary – were reported to the NCAA. The school offered to penalize itself, but did not reveal the nature of its proposed sanctions.

“Tab Perry was cleared by the NCAA to play football for UCLA this season. Perry was academically ineligible last season and dismissed from school in January. he was readmitted Aug. 18.

“Commodores football coach Bobby Johnson signed a new contract with Vanderbilt.

Hockey

U.S. wins first game

Team USA beat Slovakia 3-1 at the World Cup of Hockey in St. Paul, Minn., for its first win in the tournament. The win put the U.S. into third place in the North American Division.

“The Czech Republic routed Germany 7-2 in the World Cup of Hockey in Prague, Czech Republic. The win gave the Czechs third place in the European pool.

“Forward Thomas Vanek agreed to a three-year deal with the Buffalo Sabres.

Amateur athletics

Wrestler killed

The boyfriend of Olympic wrestling silver medalist Sara McMann was killed when their Jeep rolled off the shoulder of an interstate highway in northeastern Colorado (90 miles northeast of Denver), the United States Olympic Committee said.

Twenty-eight-year old Steven Blackford was a three-time NCAA All-American wrestler at Arizona State.

McMann was hospitalized in Fort Morgan and has asked that her condition not be released.

Sports people

Champions team up

Ice dancers Shae-Lynn Bourne, 10-time Canadian champion, and Peter Tcherynshev, who won five consecutive U.S. championships, are teaming up after their partners retired. … Forward Popeye Jones was released by the NBA’s Golden State Warriors. … Former world champion boxer Ricardo Mayorga was arrested in Managua, Nicaragua on suspicion of rape.