Vonn approaches Street’s U.S. record

Lindsey Vonn soared to victory Saturday in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, pulling within one World Cup win of matching childhood idol Picabo Street as the top American downhiller.

She crushed her rivals in capturing the season’s most prestigious race. The Minnesota skier finished in 1 minute, 36.70 seconds – 0.83 seconds ahead of triple world champion Anja Paerson.

This was Vonn’s fourth victory of the season and 11th of her career.

The 23-year-old Vonn changed her name from Lindsey Kildow after marrying former U.S. skier Thomas Vonn in the off-season.

•American Bode Miller finished second in a World Cup downhill race in Kitzbuehel, Austria.

Didier Cuche of Sweden won in 1 minute, 52.75 seconds and moved atop the overall World Cup standings. Miller shared second with Mario Scheiber of Austria.

Ultimate fighting

Penn captures belt

BJ Penn won the vacant UFC lightweight belt in his third attempt, breezing past a bloody Joe Stevenson in the second round in Newcastle, England.

The Hawaiian mixed martial arts star, who picked up the welterweight title in 2004, joins Randy Couture as the only two-division champions in UFC history after dominating and finally choking Stevenson (33-8) to take the 155-pound crown.

College football

West whips East

Utah State’s Kevin Robinson caught a touchdown pass and returned a punt for a score to lead the West to a 31-13 win over the East in the 83rd East-West Shrine Game in Houston.

•Four All-Americans, including running backs Darren McFadden of Arkansas and Kevin Smith of Central Florida, were among 53 players granted special eligibility for the 2008 NFL draft.

McFadden and Smith were joined by fellow All-Americans Aqib Talib, a cornerback, and tackle Anthony Collins both from Kansas.

Also leaving after their junior years are Oregon running back Jonathan Stewart, Cal wide receiver DeSean Jackson and Boise State tackle Ryan Clady.

Swimming

Phelps wins twice

Michael Phelps opened the Olympic year with two wins at the Southern California Grand Prix in Long Beach, Calif., swimming his best times in the 100- and 500-yard freestyles.

The six-time Olympic gold medalist won the 100 in 41.93 seconds, lowering his meet record set last year. Phelps beat a field that included Olympic sprinter Jason Lezak.

Later, Phelps stretched out in the 500 free, winning in 4:10.43, again faster than he swam a year ago at this meet.

Miscellany

Joyon sets record

Frenchman Francis Joyon, 51, broke the around-the-world solo sailing record, finishing in 57 days, 13 hours, 34 minutes, 6 seconds – more than 14 days faster than British sailor Ellen MacArthur’s 2005 journey.

•Landon Donovan and Eddie Robinson scored to give the U.S. men a 2-0 victory over Sweden in an exhibition soccer match in Carson, Calif.

•Don Wittman, the CBC announcer who called some of Canada’s biggest sporting events, died of cancer in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He was 71.