Mercer Raceway

Mercer Raceway

Mercer, PA.

At Mercer Raceway Park the FASTRAK Northeast Regional Touring Series for Pro Late Models makes a stop on Saturday.

Also on the racing card will be the six divisions that make up the normal race program.

Track officials

columbiana

The Greater Youngstown Track Officials will put on a hands on officiating clinic at the Crestview High School stadium on Sept. 8, beginning at 2 p.m.

The event is free and open to OHSAA track officials.

For details, call 330-507-1667 or 330-718-2435.

Athletic groups

The Girard Golden Eagles will meet at the Girard Free Library on Prospect Street on Aug. 11 at 2 p.m.

The McDonald Midget Football Association will meet in the community room at the post office on Aug. 11 at 6 p.m.

The McDonald Sideliners will meet at the high school on Aug. 13 at 7 p.m.

Van Avermaet takes cycling opening stage

CEDAR CITY, Utah

As he stayed with the peloton in Tuesday’s opening stage of the Tour of Utah, Greg Van Avermaet of Belgium was waiting for a place to kick his bike into another gear.

Once the final three-lap sprint came around, it was all the BMC team racer needed.

With crowds cheering along the final stretch, Van Avermaet beat Australian Michael Matthews to the finish line over the final half mile on Main Street and earned the Stage 1 victory in 4 hours, 11 minutes.

American Tyler Magner, who drives for a team owned by George Hincapie, finished third.

Once the peloton caught up to breakaway leaders Michael Torckler of New Zealand and American Chris Jones, Van Avermaet knew the challenge would be there after seeing the finish for the first time a day earlier.

Italy beats Sweden in opener of semis

Italy’s Luna Rossa rebounded from damage to its wing sail and a shaky start to overhaul Artemis Racing of Sweden and win the opening race of the America’s Cup challenger semifinals by 2 minutes Tuesday on San Francisco Bay.

Artemis Racing made its debut in the Louis Vuitton Cup nearly three months after Andrew “Bart” Simpson was killed and the syndicate’s first boat destroyed in a capsize during a training run May 9.

The Swedish-based syndicate launched its second 72-foot catamaran on July 22 and missed the round robins.

Artemis led Luna Rossa across the starting line and around the first mark onto the first downwind leg.

Olympic champion breaks collarbone

LONDON

Track cycling Olympic champion Joanna Rowsell has confirmed she broke her left collarbone after crashing during a criterium race in London over the weekend.

The 24-year-old Rowsell, who won gold in the team pursuit for Britain at the London Olympics last year, fell heavily on her head and left shoulder towards the end of the Prudential RideLondon.

Rowsell, who will undergo surgery later this week, said she was kept overnight in observation in a London hospital before returning home on Sunday.

Rowsell focused on the road races after her Olympic title but is set to return to track this season.

Paul Gascoigne pleads guilty, is fined $1,500

STEVENAGE, England

Former England soccer player Paul Gascoigne has pleaded guilty to common assault and drunk and disorderly charges and was fined $1,500 following an arrest at a train station on July 4.

The 46-year-old Gascoigne, who has battled alcoholism, was arrested by British Transport Police at Stevenage rail station following an incident involving security guard Jack Sherrington.

“I am grateful for and welcome Mr. Gascoigne’s decision to plead guilty today,” Sherrington said in a statement.

Vindicator staff/wire reports