Sports Briefs

TRACK AND FIELD

Kim sets new Korean record, qualifies again for Olympics

Jumper Kim Deok-hyeon set a new Korean record in men’s long jump on Saturday.

During the long jump finals at the 2016 Messe Ried LA-Meeting in Ried im Innkreis, Austria on Saturday, Kim jumped 8.22 meters, outperforming the previous Korean record of 8.2 meters set by Kim himself in 2009.

With the new record, Kim surpassed the 2016 Rio Olympics qualification standards, which is 8.15 meters, securing his spot in the upcoming Summer Games. He also topped the event in Austria over Marko Pestic of Croatia, who finished second after jumping 7.39 meters.

Kim had already guaranteed a spot in the Summer Games at Rio in the triple jump. During a friendly meet among Korea, China and Japan last year, he jumped 17 meters, topping the Olympic-standard 16.85 meters to earn his ticket to Brazil. Kim’s long jump record on Saturday is the 10th longest jump this year worldwide. It also matches the distance that won silver during the 2012 London Olympics.

“I will do my best to set another new record and earn a medal at the Rio Olympics,” said Kim.

BASEBALL

Pirates’ Kang unimpressive in loss to St. Louis Cardinals

Sunday was a lackluster day for Kang Jung-ho of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

In the MLB game against the Saint Louis Cardinals, Kang went 1-for-4, grabbing a single with no run batted in or scored.

Playing third base and batting fourth, Kang went up against the Cardinals’ Carlos Martinez four times on Sunday and recorded a hit off Martinez’s pitch only once during his last at-bat.

Kang grounded out during his first at-bat in the bottom of the first inning, only to ground into a double play during his second at-bat in the bottom of the fourth. Kang again grounded out during his third at-bat in the bottom of the seventh. Finally, during his fourth at-bat, Kang was able to hit a single off a 97-mile-per-hour two-seam fastball by Martinez, who played almost the entire game before being substituted out after conceding a hit to Kang. Martinez was replaced with Cardinals closer Trevor Rosenthal who forced out Kang during the next play and struck out Josh Harrison of the Pirates swinging to finish the game.

The Cardinals defeated the Pirates 5-1.

By Choi Hyung-jo