Marion Jones finishes last

CALIFORNIA: Marion Jones faded badly down the stretch and finished a distant last in the 400 metres on Sunday at the Mount San Antonio College Relays, her first meet since her medal-less performance in the Athens Olympics. She finished in 55.03 seconds in the race, 3 1/2 seconds behind winner Novlene Williams of Jamaica. Jones and her boyfriend, sprinter Tim Montgomery, were quick leaving the stadium after her race, however. The athletics sensation of the 2000 Sydney Olympics with three gold medals and two bronzes, Jones had a disappointing — and trying — year in 2004. — AP

Three Star hire Thapa

LALITPUR: Three Star Club has hired chief football coach Shyam Thapa as the ‘special coach’ for the upcoming AFC President’s Cup Football Tournament to be held in Kathmandu from May 4-14, officials said today. “We reached the decision after the club meeting today,” said Three Star Club president Lalit Krishna Shrestha. He also informed that the club was scheduled to play a practice match against Armed Police Force (APF) team on Tuesday. “We are also in talks with Mahendra Police Club for a practice match,” he added. — HNS