In brief: Phelps sets third world record in three days

American Michael Phelps set his third world record in as many days at the world swimming championships at Melbourne, Australia, wiping out the field in the 200-meter individual medley at Rod Laver Arena.

Phelps came home in 1 minute, 54.98 seconds, easily bettering his mark of 1 minute, 55.84 seconds set last August at the Pan Pacific championships. Just as he did in the other record-breaking swims, he jumped out to a quick lead and snuffed out all hope for those who dove in the pool with him.

The 21-year-old phenomenon is still on course to go 8 for 8 at these championships, reaching the midway point of his grueling schedule with four golds to his name.

Tennis

Women’s final set

Justine Henin raised a fist, shook it and punched the balmy air, basking in her best showing at Key Biscayne.

She reached the final for the first time, beating Anna Chakvetadze 6-2, 6-3 at the Sony Ericsson Open at Key Biscayne, Fla.

The top-ranked Henin is a five-time Grand Slam champion, but until this year she had never advanced beyond the quarterfinals at Key Biscayne.

Henin’s opponent in the final will be three-time champion Serena Williams, who defeated No. 14-seeded Shahar Peer 7-6 (4), 6-1. Peer is a a 19-year-old corporal in the Israeli Army.

Qualifier Guillermo Canas and No. 7 Ivan Ljubicic will meet in the men’s semifinals tonight. Canas advanced by beating No. 6 Tommy Robredo 7-6 (5), 6-1.

Ljubicic, last year’s runner-up to Roger Federer, is the highest-seeded man in the final four. He defeated No. 23 Juan Ignacio Chela 6-3, 7-5.

The other semifinal will be between two 19-year-olds, No. 10 Novak Djokovic and No. 12 Andy Murray.

College basketball

Temple extends Staley

Temple women’s coach Dawn Staley agreed to a six-year contract extension, a deal that will keep the former Olympian with the Owls through the 2012-13 season.

“Kevin McKenna took over the Indiana State men’s program, giving the former NBA player and Creighton assistant his first Division I head coaching job.

“South Carolina State fired men’s coach Jamal Brown, saying he “violated the university’s obligations under Title IX.”

“Men’s coach Billy Gillispie will stick with Texas A&M, the school’s athletic director told Arkansas officials.

“Sophomores Courtney Paris of Oklahoma and Candace Parker of Tennessee are among the finalists for the John R. Wooden women’s award, given to college’s outstanding player.

Others invited to the April 7 presentation at the Los Angeles Athletic Club are North Carolina senior Ivory Latta, Duke senior Lindsey Harding and LSU junior Sylvia Fowles.

Golf

Trio atop leaderboard

Defending champion Stuart Appleby, Kevin Sutherland, and rookie Johnson Wagner, all shot 66s to share the first-round lead at the Houston Open at Humble, Texas.

Texans Justin Leonard, Jeff Maggert and Bob Estes were in a group of six players one shot back after 67s.

“At Rancho Mirage, Calif., Shi Hyun Ahn shot a 68 and leads after the first round of the Kraft Nabisco Championship, the first major of the season. Lorena Ochoa opened with a 69 and the 25-year-old Mexican star needs a victory this week to overtake Annika Sorenstam and become No. 1 in the world.

Tracy Hanson of Rathdrum shot a 76, two shots better than Wendy Ward of Edwall, Wash.

Soccer

Maradona sedated

Argentine soccer hero Diego Maradona remained sedated in a Buenos Aires clinic for treatment of alcoholism and excessive eating and smoking.