Breedlove Slows the Pace for Speed-Record Attempt

Craig Breedlove has eased the pace of his attempt to regain the title of the fastest man on land to give himself more shakedown time in his jet-powered car, publicist Marc Samson said.

Breedlove was expected to begin making runs as fast as 400-500 mph at Black Rock Desert on Monday with the assault on the record coming as early as today. But the car had not arrived at the remote site near Gerlach, Nev., 100 miles north of Reno, by midday Monday and with forecasters calling for sunny skies and gradually warming temperatures the rest of the week, Breedlove decided not to rush things.

“He’ll make incremental runs increasing the speed,� Samson said. “He’s doing it now the way it should have been done.�

He added that Breedlove may not attempt to set the record for a sixth time before next weekend. Breedlove, the first to drive faster than 400, 500 and 600 mph, notched his previous records on Utah’s Bonneville Salt Flats.

Depletion of the salt flats left far less than the minimum 11-mile course he needs for the run and sent him to the Black Rock Desert, where Britain’s Richard Noble entered the record books with a speed of 633.468 mph 13 years ago.

Tennis

Australian Patrick Rafter defeated American Vincent Spadea, 6-2, 3-6, 6-2, 7-5, in a rain-postponed final to win the $722,000 Marlboro Championships in Hong Kong. The 23-year-old Rafter, ranked 56th in the world, collected $220,000 for his 2-hour 35-minute victory at the Victoria Park court.

Spadea took home $65,000. He was not eligible for the normal $100,000 second prize because he was a lucky loser entry into the semifinals after American Richey Reneberg, pulled out because of a stomach virus.

As the world’s top players sat out the first round, Frenchman Arnaud Boetsch opened the $2.2 million Stuttgart ATP tournament with a hard-fought victory over German Alexander Radulescu, 6-7 (1-7), 7-6 (7-3), 6-4. Boetsch, ranked 22nd in the world, advanced to a second-round meeting with eighth-seeded Richard Krajicek of the Netherlands.

In another first-round match, Dutchman Jan Siemerink ousted Hendrik Dreekmann of Germany, 6-1, 7-5.

Miscellany

Mexico’s Perla Ramirez has become the first synchronized swimmer to be suspended for doping after testing positive at the French Open championship in March for a stimulant called chlortalidone, which she says she took to help her with menstrual problems.

Gunnar Werner, secretary of the world swimming organization FINA, said she was suspended for two years by the Mexican Swimming Federation, the ban being back-dated to March 15.

“I have never heard of a drug case in synchronized swimming before,� Werner said. “But maybe the explanation she gave is correct.

“The drug is very clearly on the list of banned substances. Obviously the Mexican doctor who prescribed it didn’t know that, although he should have.�

An autopsy is planned to determine the cause of death of a high school football player in Pomeroy, Ohio, who collapsed as his team was celebrating a victory. Matthew Ault, a senior defensive back for Meigs Local High School, collapsed Friday night after his team’s 21-20 victory at Waverly High School in Waverly. He was taken to Ohio State University Medical Center, where he died Saturday.

Ault suffered a hemorrhage, a hospital spokesman said.

An autopsy showed that Kevin Zimmerman, who collapsed and died after taking himself out of a high school football game Friday in Oakley, Kan., suffered from multiple blood clots in his lungs, said Don Marchant, the school superintendent. Zimmerman, a senior who played quarterback and defensive back for Oakley High School, had left the game against Hoisington late in the fourth quarter, complaining of breathing problems.

Norm Stewart will be coaching Missouri’s basketball team into the next century under a contract extension with the university. Stewart, 61, is in the fourth year of a five-year contract and in his 30th season at Missouri. The new agreement secures his position until 2001.

Swimmer Amy Van Dyken and basketball player Teresa Edwards, both of whom won gold medals at the 1996 Olympics, were selected sportswomen of the year by the Woman’s Sports Foundation.

Brian Heinle, a 6-foot-9, 205-pound forward from Sheldon High in Eugene, Ore., said he has accepted a scholarship to play basketball at Cal State Northridge. Heinle becomes the first out-of-state recruit for Northridge’s new coach, Bobby Braswell.

University of Minnesota officials suspended hockey coach Doug Woog without pay for one week for giving a senior player $500 after the 1993-94 season to help finish his education. “Doug knowingly violated an NCAA rule,� Athletic Director Mark Dienhart said.