SKIING

Cota, DiGravio among top five in World Cup event

Defending Olympic champion Hannah Kearney of the United States and Guilbaut Colas of France skied to freestyle World Cup victories Saturday, winning moguls events at Whiteface Mountain in Wilmington, N.Y.

Jeremy Cota of Carrabassett Valley placed third in the men’s competition, and David DiGravio of Farmington was fifth.

MEN’S DOWNHILL: Didier Cuche of Switzerland became the oldest man at 36 to win a World Cup race, claiming the downhill on the Streif course in Kitzbuehel, Austria. Bode Miller was second.

The downhill champion was nearly flawless on the lower portion to finish the run in 1 minute, 57.72 seconds. Miller was 0.98 seconds back and Adrien Theaux of France was third.

WOMEN’S DOWNHILL: For the fourth time this season, Lindsey Vonn made a big mistake in a World Cup race. Twice this season Vonn has managed to salvage victories, but her error in D’Ampezzo, Italy, relegated the American to third and handed a precious downhill victory to overall World Cup rival Maria Riesch.

GOLF

PGA: Jhonattan Vegas birdied the final five holes to join Gary Woodland atop the Bob Hope Classic leaderboard for the second straight day. Vegas shot a 6-under 66 on the La Quinta, Calif., course to match Woodland at 24 under. Scotland’s Martin Laird (66) was two strokes back.

EUROPEAN TOUR: Defending champion Martin Kaymer extended his lead at the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship to five strokes over Rory McIlroy after shooting a 6-under 66 in the third round in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Kaymer, the 2010 PGA Championship winner, birdied three of his last four holes to total 18-under 198 at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club.

COLLEGES

SANCTIONS: Southern California President Max Nikias, Athletic Director Pat Haden and four other university representatives spent more than four hours talking with the NCAA infractions appeals committee in hopes of reducing some sanctions imposed against the Trojans’ football program. A decision is expected in four to eight weeks.

The Trojans want the NCAA to reduce a two-year bowl ban to one year. They’re also hoping the NCAA will limit football scholarship reductions to five in each of the next three years instead of 10.

SNOWBOARDING

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: Benjamin Karl of Austria and Hilde-Katrine Engeli of Norway won gold medals in the parallel slalom events at the world championships in La Molina, Spain. Karl won his second title of the championships after overtaking Simon Schoch of Switzerland in the second run.

BOXING

GOLDEN GLOVES: The Portland Boxing Club had three winners in the first round of the Northern New England Golden Gloves championship in Burlington, Vt. John Lopez, featherweight, defeated Richard Wetherall by second-round TKO in the Novice Division.

Jayson Richter, welterweight, defeated Ryan Cusak by third-round TKO. Sasha Lamour, middleweight, beat Matthew Cedargreen by unanimous decision.

PREP SCHOOLS

BOYS’ HOCKEY: Matt Michaud had a hat trick and an assist to pace North Yarmouth Academy (5-5-1) to an 8-0 win over Worcester Academy at Travis Roy Arena.

Niklas Narvanmaa helped with a goal and two assists, and Jordan Haskell and Timmy Millett each added a goal and an assist.

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL: Stephanie Breen scored 15 points to lead Newton Country Day School (8-3) to a 56-41 victory over Berwick Academy at South Berwick. Juliana Blais led Berwick with 15 points.

HOCKEY

QMJHL: David Gilbert scored two goals as the Acadie-Bathurst Titan (31-14-0-1) scored five unanswered goals, including four in the third, to earn a 6-3 win over the Lewiston Maineiacs (30-15-0-2) at Bathurst, New Brunswick.