Sports Letters

American swims to world record

Chalk up another world record for the Speedo LZR Racer swimsuit.

Jessica Hardy of the United States set a record in the women's 50-meter breaststroke at the short-course world championships Thursday in Manchester, England, finishing in 29.58 seconds to shave 0.32 off the record.

Since the LZR suit was unveiled in February, 19 long-course and four short-course world records have been set. The new Speedo suit has been worn in all but one of those swims.

Swimming's world governing body decided last weekend not to ban the high-tech Speedo suit, despite claims of buoyancy and "technological doping" by some critics.

"I love wearing the new suit," Hardy said. "I don't know the politics behind it, but I feel comfortable and more confident in it. It's fabulous for our sport. I just wear what I'm allowed to wear."

Jade Edmistone of Australia had set the previous record of 29.90 in 2004.

Kate Haywood of Britain and Sarah Katsoulis of Australia shared silver at 30.35. Yuliya Efimova, a 16-year-old Russian, touched second but was disqualified for a false start.

Each world record in Manchester comes with a $15,000 prize, and Hardy said she might do some shopping.

Ryan Lochte -- who also wears the LZR -- defended his title in the 400 individual medley with a winning time of 4:03.21, slightly off his championship record of 4:02.49 set two years ago in Shanghai.

U.S. women top Canada in hockey

Captain Natalie Darwitz had two goals and an assist to lead the United States to a 4-2 win over rival Canada on Thursday to advance to the title game in the women's world hockey championship at Harbin, China.

The United States will face Canada again in a rematch for the gold on Saturday, and Finland will face Switzerland for the bronze.

Ochoa shares lead in Mexico

Lorena Ochoa shrugged off any home-turf jitters Thursday in the Corona Championship, eagling two par 5s in a 7-under 66 and tying for the lead with South Korea's Song-Hee Kim at the rugged Tres Marias course in Morelia in western Mexico.

The top-ranked Mexican star eagled the fifth and eighth holes, with her fans filling the steep, rocky valleys with cheers of "Bravo!" and "Vamos, Lorena!"

Carin Koch, the 2005 winner, was three strokes back, along with Kim Williams, Audra Burks, Inbee Park, Na Yeon Choi and Hee Young Park.

Sharapova wins at Bausch & Lomb

Maria Sharapova got the clay-court test she was looking for, but she almost got more than she bargained for.

She outlasted clay-court veteran Anabel Medina Garrigues in three sets over 3 1/2 hours at the Bausch & Lomb Championships tennis tournament on Thursday at Amelia Island, Fla.

The top seed rallied from 3-0 down in the third set and survived 7-6 (3), 5-7, 7-6 (1) to move into the quarterfinals.

"There were a lot of ups and downs in the match," said Sharapova. "I think I should have won the match in two sets, to be honest. But I stopped hitting the ball, and I kind of let her back in the match."

Three-time Bausch & Lomb champion Lindsay Davenport beat Karolina Sprem 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 in the first night match.

Amelie Mauresmo had to work hard to earn her 500th career win. The 2001 Bausch & Lomb winner came back to beat seventh-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (6).

FAMILY CIRCLE CUP: Top-ranked Justine Henin pulled out of next week's WTA event at Charleston, S.C., because of a knee problem. Henin said her right knee still feels too sore.

LAS VEGAS TOURNAMENT BEING SOLD: The Tennis Channel is selling the rights to its Las Vegas tournament to the ATP, which could take the event out of the city.