UPI NewsTrack Sports

Amputee misses South African Olympic team

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, July 18 (UPI) -- Double-amputee Oscar Pistorius, who runs on prosthetic blades, has come up short in his attempt to win a spot on the South African Olympic team.

South African Olympic officials Friday released their team roster for the 2008 Games in Beijing but Pistorius, a sprinter, wasn't included.

Pistorius was born without fibulas in both legs. His legs were amputated and he was fitted with carbon fiber artificial limbs. He set records in several events at Paralympics and sought to join the main Olympic track competition.

International track officials said in January that the special artificial legs constituted "technical aids" and couldn't be used. Pistorius appealed and the Court of Arbitration ruled in his favor, allowing him to compete for the spot on the South African team.

However, his best time in the 400-meter run was 46.25 seconds, short of the Olympic qualifying time of 45.55 seconds. He could have been selected as an alternate on the 1,600-meter relay team but South African officials went with runners who had turned in faster times.

Cavendish claims fourth 2008 Tour stage

NIMES, France, July 18 (UPI) -- Mark Cavendish used a perfectly timed burst of speed to win Friday's 13th Stage of the 2008 Tour de France, giving him four stage victories this year.

Cavendish, who also won the fifth and eighth stages, made it victories on consecutive days. On Thursday, he held off the mass of riders in winning the 12th stage and Friday he charged out of the pack to cross the line first at Nimes.

He appeared to be boxed in by the peloton with about 200 yards to go but took advantage of a small opening and charged through. Robbie McEwen tired to match the final kick and Cavendish pushed for a win by several bike lengths.

Cavendish finished the 109.2-mile run from Narbonne to Nimes in 4 hours, 25 minutes, 42 seconds. McEwen finished second and Roman Feillu was third. A total of 71 riders were credited with the same time.

Overall leader Cadel Evans was 37th and maintained his 1-second edge over Frank Schleck.

Saturday's Stage 14 takes the riders into the Alps with a 116.7-mile route from Nimes to Digne-les-Bains.

K.J. Choi leads the British Open

SOUTHPORT, England, July 18 (UPI) -- K.J. Choi birdied the last two holes Friday and owns the lead after two rounds of the British Open golf tournament in Southport, England.

Choi shot 3-under-par 67 in Friday's second round making his 36-hole total 1-under 139. He is the only player at the difficult Royal Birkdale golf course with a 36-hole total under par.

Choi's late flurry supplanted club house leader Greg Norman, whose second consecutive even-par 70 earlier in the day made his total 140.

"My expectations for this week were the same as they are now ... realistically low to tell you the truth," Norman said in an interview with ESPN. "I want to keep it that way. I haven't played a lot (and) obviously the last three holes might have shown a little bit of that."

Camilo Villegas (65) is alone in third place at 1-over 141.

First-round co-leader Rocco Mediate (73) is among seven players sharing fourth place at 2-over 142.

Among those missing the cut were Vijay Singh (151), Mark O'Meara (151) and John Daly (169).

Phillies get pitcher Joe Blanton from A's

PHILADELPHIA, July 18 (UPI) -- The Philadelphia Phillies have strengthened their starting rotation by acquiring right-hander Joe Blanton in a trade with the Oakland Athletics.

The Phillies sent infielder Adrian Cardenas, outfielder Matt Spencer and pitcher Josh Outman to Oakland in exchange for Blanton.

Blanton, who was Oakland's Opening Day starter in April, is 5-12 with a 4.96 earned run average in 20 starts (127 innings) this season but was a victim of poor run support.

"The thing about being with the Oakland A's, you tend to be in rumors a lot," Blanton said on the Phillies Web site when told of the trade Thursday night. "I just took the approach that I didn't pay a lot of attention. I was with the team until told otherwise (but) I'm really excited about the situation I'm coming into. They have a great team."

In five major league seasons, Blanton, Oakland's first-round pick in the 2002 amateur player draft, is 47-46 with a 4.25 ERA in 760 2/3 innings.

Darcis continues strong Dutch Open play

AMERSFOORT, Netherlands, July 18 (UPI) -- Defending champion Steve Darcis collected a straight-set win Friday and advanced to the semifinals of the Dutch Open in the Netherlands.

Darcis collected the first ATP title of his career at the 2007 Dutch Open and has played well this week in returning to the Netherlands. The No. 3-seeded player defeated Christophe Rochus 7-5, 6-3 in quarterfinal play Friday.

He goes against top-seeded Marc Gicquel in Saturday's semifinals. Gicquel routed Teimuraz Gabashvili, 6-4, 6-1, on Friday.

No. 5-seeded Albert Montanes upset second-seeded Jose Acasuso in a lop-sided 6-0, 6-2 win to earn a spot in the other semifinal. He will meet Oscar Hernandez, who also advanced in an upset, beating fourth-seeded Marcel Granollers, 7-5, 6-2.

Saturday's semifinals winners will meet Sunday for the tournament title and $86,000.