In brief: Lenton makes waves with world record

Australian swimmer Libby Lenton broke the world record in the women’s 100-meter freestyle Tuesday in the Duel in the Pool meet against the United States at the Sydney International Aquatic Centre in Sydney, Australia.

Lenton finished in 52.99 seconds. Germany’s Britta Steffen had a time of 53.30 at the European championships last August.

Lenton was in the leadoff leg against American Michael Phelps in a mixed relay, when she went 0.31 seconds under Steffen’s mark.

Soccer

Blanco joins fire

Mexican star Cuauhtemoc Blanco joined the Chicago Fire, signing a contract to become the third player to join a MLS club under the designated player rule.

“Diego Maradona’s health continued to improve while undergoing treatment for acute hepatitis related to alcohol abuse in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Tennis

Roddick practices

Andy Roddick practiced despite a strained left hamstring and plans to play for the United States in the Davis Cup quarterfinal against Spain this week.

Roddick was injured while lunging for a shot in the fifth game of a quarterfinal match against Andy Murray last week in the Sony Ericsson Open and was forced to retire.

Football

Robinson hospitalized

Former Grambling State University coach Eddie Robinson was hospitalized in Grambling, La.

Robinson, 88, who coached football at Grambling for 56 years, has had Alzheimer’s disease for years.

Miscellany

IRL driver fined

The Indy Racing League fined driver Kosuke Matsuura an undisclosed amount of money for using profanity during a television interview after a crash in Sunday’s St. Petersburg Grand Prix.

“A DNA sample taken from former Tour de France champion Jan Ullrich has been matched to blood bags seized in the Spanish doping scandal, German prosecutors said.

“A fund aimed at helping permanently disabled jockeys is nearly broke, meaning nearly five dozen jockeys will not receive payments they expect this month, the head of the Jockeys’ Guild announced.

“Ted Ligety won the giant slalom at the U.S. Alpine Championships in Girdwood, Alaska, for his fifth national title and second this week.

Bode Miller was in second place after the first run but did not ski the second.

“Four Scotland Yard detectives and two Interpol forensic experts have arrived in Kingston, Jamaica, to help investigate the killing of Pakistan’s cricket coach.