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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

China’s Liu sets world 110 hurdles record

The Spokesman-Review

Liu Xiang of China set a world record in the 110-meter hurdles on Tuesday, breaking the record he shared with Britain’s Colin Jackson.

Liu’s time of 12.88 seconds at the Athletissima Grand Prix meeting was .03 better than the record he matched in winning gold at the 2004 Athens Olympics. Jackson ran 12.91 in Stuttgart, Germany, in August 1993.

Marion Jones won again in the women’s 100, her sixth victory in eight meets this season, leading a U.S. sweep of the top four places in that event. In the men’s 200, American Xavier Carter ran the second-fastest race in history.

“A U.S. relay team was denied a world indoor record because the runners weren’t tested after the race for the banned substance EPO.

The U.S. squad – Kerron Clement, Wallace Spearmon, Darold Williamson and Jeremy Wariner – had a time of 3 minutes, 1.96 seconds in the 1,600 relay at the Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark., on Feb. 11.

Soccer

Materazzi admits making insult

Marco Materazzi acknowledged he insulted Zinedine Zidane before the French captain head-butted him in the World Cup final, but repeated his denial that he called Zidane a “terrorist.” He would not say what the insult was.

Zidane and Materazzi exchanged words in extra-time of Sunday’s final in Berlin. Seconds later, Zidane lowered his head and rammed Materazzi in the chest, knocking him to the ground. Zidane was ejected from the match.

“Juergen Klinsmann, who coached Germany to a third-place finish at the World Cup last week, is stepping down, the co-president of the German soccer federation said.

Klinsmann’s rejuvenated team went beyond expectations by finishing third, after losing to eventual champion Italy 2-0 in the semifinals.

Miscellany

OSU’s Casey interviewed by Irish

Oregon State baseball coach Pat Casey, fresh off leading the Beavers to the College World Series title, has interviewed for the head coaching job at Notre Dame, two newspapers reported on their Web sites.

Casey won several coach of the year honors after leading OSU to the title.

“Peter Forsberg doesn’t need surgery on his left ankle and could be ready for the start of the NHL season, more than four months earlier than the Philadelphia Flyers forward was expected to return.

“Two-time Olympic skier and Eagles fifth-round draft pick Jeremy Bloom agreed to a four-year NFL contract with Philadelphia.

“Indy Racing League driver Danica Patrick might one day drive in NASCAR, but she doesn’t expect it will be next year.

“I wouldn’t say it was that big of a chance (of going) next year, but I’d say it’s a fairly larger chance in the future,” she told reporters in Los Angeles.