ROAD RUNNING

Freed Chilean miner accepts invitation to run in New York City Marathon on Sunday

One of the freed Chilean miners accepted an invitation to run in Sunday’s New York City Marathon.

New York Road Runners President Mary Wittenberg says Edison Pena has sent word through the Chilean consulate that he wants to run in the race.

Pena is one of 33 miners who were trapped for 69 days after an Aug. 5 collapse stranded them nearly a half-mile underground. Pena jogged regularly in the unblocked tunnels, and marathon officials invited him to participate in the race after hearing his story.

HOCKEY

AHL: Portland Pirates center Luke Adam was named the American Hockey League’s Rookie of the Month for October. Adam posted six goals and seven assists in nine games to help the Pirates get out to an Atlantic Division-leading 8-2 start. Adam was also recalled twice by the Buffalo Sabres in October.

TENNIS

SWISS INDOORS: Roger Federer easily won his opening match in his hometown tournament, beating Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-4, 5-2 in Basel, Switzerland.

John Isner beat Michael Llodra 4-6, 7-5, 6-3.

VALENCIA OPEN: Fernando Verdasco delighted the home crowd in Valencia, Spain, with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Michael Russell in the first round.

SAILING

AMERICA’S CUP: Defending champion BMW Oracle Racing of San Francisco is one of three groups filing applications on the first day of the entry period for the 34th America’s Cup.

Organizers also received applications from two challenger syndicates. Their identities will be kept confidential while their applications are verified.

The next America’s Cup will be sailed in 72-foot catamarans in 2013 in a port to be determined.

CYCLING

FOUR-YEAR BANS PREFERRED: International cycling federation president Pat McQuaid says he favors four-year bans for serious doping offenses to help clean up a sport battered by drug scandals.

McQuaid tells The Associated Press that standard two-year doping suspensions are “unfair” on clean athletes because cheaters are able to come back to the sport “so quickly.” McQuaid says he is urging the UCI’s anti-doping department to push for the longer bans in all premeditated doping cases.

He also says the UCI is “not dragging its heels” in the investigation of three-time Tour de France champion Alberto Contador, who tested positive for clenbuterol while winning this year’s race.