honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, April 18, 2010

Clay struggles in discus, hurdles


Advertiser News Services

Olympic decathlon champion Bryan Clay finished last in the discus and false-started out of the 110 meter hurdles yesterday in the Mount San Antonio College Relays at Walnut, Calif.

On Friday, Clay, a Castle High alum, finished fourth in the 200 in 21.48 seconds at the Bryan Clay Invitational at nearby Azusa Pacific, his alma mater.

"It was a rough day today," he said. "Actually, it's been a rough weekend."

Clay made just one fair throw in six tries, throwing the discus 153 feet, 2 inches, which was 33 feet less than the next highest finisher and 47-1 behind winner Jared Rome.

In the hurdles, he was the first of two participants to false start. Then he watched training partner Dominique DeGrammont of Haiti win in 13.58.

"Decathletes aren't used to the one false-start rule," he said with a smile. "Looks like I've got to wait until a decathlon to get a good time."

TENNIS

NADAL REACHES FINAL

Rafael Nadal is one victory from a sixth straight Monte Carlo Masters title after beating Spanish compatriot David Ferrer, 6-2, 6-3, yesterday in Monaco.

Nadal, seeded second, will play sixth-seeded Fernando Verdasco in an all-Spanish final today. Verdasco upset top-seeded Novak Djokovic, 6-2, 6-2, in the other semifinal, depriving the Serb of a chance to avenge his defeat to Nadal in last year's final.

"Tactically, I played really good all match," Verdasco said. "I am so happy to be in (a Masters) final for the first time, and to beat a player like Djokovic with a score like it was today."

CIRCLE CUP UPSET

Top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki retired from her semifinal match against Vera Zvonareva at the Family Circle Cup in Charleston, S.C., yesterday after injuring her right ankle.

The Danish player was trailing 2-4 in the first set when she slid for a drop shot and her foot caught on the clay surface. She was assisted to her chair and got her ankle taped.

To cheers from the crowd, Wozniacki returned to the court at Daniel Island. But after Zvonareva held to go up 5-2, Wozniacki double-faulted at 15-15 and retired.

In today's final, Zvonareva meets Samantha Stosur of Australia, who defeated Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia, 6-3, 7-6 (2).

BOXING

MARTINEZ WINS TITLE

Sergio Martinez dominated the final five rounds, winning a bloody and impressive unanimous decision over Kelly Pavlik to claim the WBO and WBC middleweight championships last night at Atlantic City, N.J.

Martinez (45-2-2) moved up to 160 pounds to challenge Pavlik (36-1, 23 KOs), who had never been defeated at his natural weight.