TOKYO — The U.S. kids were more than all right, responding to the loss of Beijing Olympic captain Alicia Sacramone, who torn her Achilles’ tendon during training, with a commanding performance that gave them first place in qualifying Saturday at the world gymnastics championships.
The Americans finished with 234.253 points, more than three points ahead of defending champion Russia (231.062) and almost four in front of Beijing Olympic champion China (230.370). The U.S. didn’t have a single fall, and finished with the highest scores on floor exercise and vault, and second-highest on uneven bars and balance beam.
The top eight squads secure spots in next summer’s London Olympics, and also will compete in Tuesday’s team finals.
Keselowski wins Nationwide race
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Brad Keselowski dominated the Nationwide Series race at Kansas Speedway, leading 173 of 200 laps on the 1 1/2-mile tri-oval.
Keselowski, the Sprint Cup winner at the track in June, fell behind Carl Edwards after a late caution, but pulled ahead with 11 laps to go and beat Edwards by 2.795 seconds.
• Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel earned the pole position for the Japanese Grand Prix, putting himself in the perfect place to claim the Formula One championship in today’s race in Suzuka.
Nadal, Murray gain berths in final
TOKYO — Top-seeded Rafael Nadal, who defeated Mardy Fish 7-5, 6-1, will meet Andy Murray, a 6-2, 6-3 winner over David Ferrer, in the final of the Japan Open after both recorded straight-sets victories in the semifinals.
• Tomas Berdych upset top-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 to set up a China Open final in Beijing against Marin Cilic, who beat Ivan Ljubicic 6-4, 6-3. In the women’s draw, Agnieszka Radwanska will be seeking her second title in two weeks when she takes on Andrea Petkovic in today’s final.
Footnotes.
The Philadelphia Phillies said first baseman Ryan Howard, who was injured on the final play of the Phillies’ season-ending loss to St. Louis on Friday night, has a torn Achilles’ tendon and it’s uncertain if he will be ready for spring training next year.
• Clint Dempsey scored in the 36th minute and Tim Howard made several nice saves to help lift the U.S. soccer team to a 1-0 victory over Honduras in Miami and give the team its first victory in four games under coach Jurgen Klinsmann.
• Craig Alexander ran away with the Ironman Triathlon in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, setting a course record (8 hours, 3 minutes, 56 seconds) to win the event for the third time.
• France defeated England 19-12 and Wales beat Ireland 22-10 in the quarterfinals of the Rugby World Cup in Auckland, New Zealand. In today’s quarterfinals, it’s defending champion South Africa against Australia and New Zealand against Argentina.
• Gio Ponti won the $600,000 Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky., for the second straight year, edging Get Stormy by a half-length to earn a spot in next month’s Breeders’ Cup Mile.
