BRIEFLY.

Byline: Staff and Wire Services

Kastor sets mark in ondon again

Agoura High product Deena Kastor worried her London Marathon was going too well.

The 33-year-old American was alone in the lead after 15 1/2 miles, hadn't slipped on the slick, rainy roads and was on target to break her U.S. record with a sub 2-hour, 20-minute marathon.

``I had the fear of Chicago creeping back as the miles ticked on,'' Kastor said, referring to her first marathon win last year. ``My last three miles being horrendously slow.''

There was no need for Kastor to worry. She finished in 2:19:35 to beat Lyudmila Petrova of Russia and Susan Chepkemei of Kenya in cool, drizzly conditions Sunday.

Felix Limo out-sprinted defending champion Martin Lel to take the men's race in 2:06:39.

Kastor set the old American mark of 2:21:16 in her only other London Marathon in 2003, when she finished third. She also became the eighth woman to run under 2:20.

At the 20-mile mark, where Kastor says she gauges ``if it's a good or bad day, I just felt really great.''

Kastor needed 1:09:48 to complete each half of the 26.2-mile marathon. Her quick pace helped the five women who finished after her run personal bests.

``I knew the last 10K would be successful,'' she said. ``I kept doing the math, I kept looking at my watch at every mark and making sure I was going to get under it.''

Kastor, who won Olympic bronze in the marathon in Athens, is the fourth woman to hold the Chicago and London titles at the same time - along with Ingrid Kristiansen, Paula Radcliffe and Joyce Chepchumba.

In the men's race, Limo and Lel ran side by side for the final 1.2 miles before Limo made a break with the finish line in sight.

BASKETBALL: UCLA got its first member of the 2007 recruiting class when junior Chace Stanback gave a non-binding oral commitment to Bruins coach Ben Howland.

Stanback, a 6-foot-6 wing, attends Fairfax High of LosAngeles, the same school that produced current Bruin Josh Shipp.

In getting Stanback, it is clear the Bruins believe sophomore guards Arron Afflalo or Jordan Farmar, who both put their names into the NBA draft but did not hire agents, will not remain for four seasons, even if both opt to return to UCLA for their junior seasons.

The NCAA allows 13 scholarship players in men's basketball. If Farmar and Afflalo return for their junior seasons, UCLA would have 12 scholarships filled with no seniors on the roster.

Yet, the Bruins remain heavily involved in a pair of juniors from Oregon in power forward Kevin Love, who sources believe is leaning toward the Bruins, and wing Kyle Singler.

- Brian Dohn

MOTOR SPORTS: Michael Schumacher helped Ferrari snap its winless streak, as he held off Fernando Alonso in a tight duel Sunday to win the San Marino Grand Prix in Imola, Italy for his first victory in 13 races.

Schumacher covered 62laps around the Enzo and Dino Ferrari circuit in 1 hour, 31 minutes, 6.486 seconds, with Alonso 2.0 seconds behind. McLaren's Juan Pablo Montoya was 15.8 back for third.

--German driver Mike Rockenfeller went from third to first on the final lap Sunday to win the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series VIR 400 in Alton, Va.

CYCLING: Floyd Landis overcame a late flat tire to win the Tour de Georgia in Alpharetta, Ga., his third victory of the year.

Phonak teammate Ignacio Gutierrez gave up one of his tires to Landis when Landis had a flat rear tire with less than three 3.65-mile laps to go on the final course north of Atlanta. While Gutierrez was left alone behind the lead pack, Landis was able to quickly catch up with the peloton.