In brief: Russian sets women’s pole vault record

Track and Field: Maybe failing to clear height at the world championships was the best training for Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva.

She bounced back from losing her world title by setting a world record of 16 feet, 7 1/4 inches in the Weltklasse meet on Friday in Zurich.

Usain Bolt, in his first race since smashing world records in the 100 and 200 meters, shook off Jamaican teammate Asafa Powell to win the 100 in 9.81 seconds. He was well off his world record of 9.58 set less than two weeks ago at the world championships in Berlin.

Isinbayeva has broken the world outdoor and indoor marks 27 times. The latest one came on her first attempt at this Golden League meet, improving on her leap of 16-6 3/4 at Beijing a year ago in winning her second Olympic gold medal. Isinbayeva lost her title at the world championships when she failed to clear a height.

World champion Sanya Richards of the United States powered home for an easy victory in the women’s 400 meters. Richards won in 48.94 seconds, the fastest time in the world this year.

LaShawn Merritt beat American teammate and rival Jeremy Wariner in the men’s 400, clocking 44.21 seconds.

Simpson leads at The Barclays

Golf: Webb Simpson took advantage on some of the shorter holes to give him a cushion for the inevitable mistakes at Liberty National. It led to a 3-under 68 on a long, tough and wet afternoon that put the 24-year-old rookie atop the leaderboard for the first time all year at The Barclays in Jersey City, N.J.

He was at 8-under 134, two shots clear of Paul Goydos and Steve Marino, who started the second round tied for the lead and did well to get around in even-par 71.

Tiger Woods had a 72, yet still moved up 10 spots on the leaderboard into a tie for 17th at even-par 142.

•Bader on top at Safeway Classic: Beth Bader shot an 8-under 64 at the Safeway Classic to take a 1-stroke lead into the second round at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club in North Plains, Ore.

Anna Nordqvist and Seon Hwa Lee each had 65s, a stroke in front of a group that were two shots back.

•O’Meara leads in Snoqualmie: Still winless on the Champions Tour, Mark O’Meara eagled the 18th hole to take a two-shot lead over a jumbled field after the first round of the Boeing Classic in Snoqualmie, Wash.

O’Meara finished with a round of 6-under 66.

Mark McNulty was at 4-under 68. Also at 4-under were Allen Doyle, Loren Roberts and John Jacobs.

•Semifinalist could become youngest to win U.S. Amateur: Byeong-Hun An has advanced to the semifinals of the U.S. Amateur with his second straight playoff win.

After a 21-hole victory against Stanford junior Steve Ziegler in the quarterfinals in Tulsa, Okla., An stands two wins away from making history. He won’t turn 18 until Sept. 17.

An’s opponent today will be Fresno State sophomore Bhavik Patel. Other semifinalists include Texas senior Charlie Holland and former Clemson golfer Ben Martin.

Iddins to start at QB for Montana State

Football: Montana State football coach Rob Ash has named senior Mark Iddins the team’s starting quarterback over last year’s starter, Cody Kempt.

•Judge rules against NCAA in Florida State case: The NCAA must release documents on Florida State’s appeal of an academic cheating penalty, a Florida judge ruled, noting that the NCAA’s rationale for keeping the documents secret would “emasculate” the state’s broad public access laws.

Circuit Judge John C. Cooper ordered that the copies be turned over to the Associated Press and other media.

Briscoe wins pole, set for stretch run

Miscellany: Ryan Briscoe took a small step to boost his IndyCar championship bid, winning the pole for tonight’s race at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill.

The series points leader averaged 215.364 mph, earning the top starting spot and a bonus point in the championship standings.

•Busch wins Trucks race: Kyle Busch held off Todd Bodine on a restart with seven laps to go, then cruised to a victory in the NASCAR Camping World Truck series race at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill.

It was the second Trucks series victory in as many weeks for Busch.

•Wozniacki into Pilot Pen final: Caroline Wozniacki moved into the finals of the Pilot Pen tennis tournament, beat Flavia Pennetta of Italy 6-4, 6-1 at New Haven, Conn.

Wozniacki will play today against Elena Vesnina, who upset Amelie Mauresmo 5-7, 6-1, 6-2 in the other semifinal.

•Former shot-put medalist killed: David Laut, who earned a bronze medal in the shot-put at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, was killed outside of his home in Oxnard, Calif.

About midnight Thursday, Laut, 52, stepped outside of his home to confront prowlers and was gunned down, according to law enforcement officials and neighbors. No arrests have been made and police have no suspects, said Oxnard Police Sgt. Ron Whitney.

•Urango keeps boxing title: Juan Urango overcame a sixth-round knockdown to stop Randall Bailey in the 11th round in Hollywood, Fla., and retain his IBF junior welterweight title. Also, Tavoris Cloud won the vacant IBF light-heavyweight belt with a unanimous decision over former champion Clinton Woods.