Nims to follow family tradition to Syracuse

Watertown High School senior Taylor Nims will sign a national letter of intent today to play Division I women's lacrosse at Syracuse University.

The signing is scheduled for 12:15 p.m. in the library at Watertown High School.

Taylor's decision to play for the Orange will uphold what's becoming a tradition for her family. Her brother, Kenny, will be a senior captain for the Syracuse men's lacrosse team this spring. Their late father, Thomas, played lacrosse at SU from 1981-85.

Taylor Nims, who recorded 82 goals and 55 assists in her career, was a Frontier League all-star and New York State Public High School Athletic Association scholar athlete in lacrosse last season. She was selected to the Times All-North first team and played on last summer's Empire State Games Central Region lacrosse team.

Chateaugay's comeback falls short in state final

GLENS FALLS — After falling behind by two games the Chateaugay volleyball team tried to make a dramatic comeback but fell short in the state Class D championship match Sunday morning.

Section 6's Portville (23-4) took the first two games 25-22, 25-21 and held a 12-7 lead early in the third match against the Bulldogs. But Chateaugay (24-5) went on an 18-2 run in the third game and picked up a 25-14 win to force a fourth match in the best-of-five contest.

Despite three kills from Chateaugay's Danielle Swanston, Portville managed to hang on and claim the title in the fourth game with a 29-27 victory.

Report: Armstrong to meet Tour officials

MILAN, Italy — Seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong plans to meet with Tour officials before deciding to compete in the 2009 race.

The Gazzetta dello Sport reported Sunday that Johan Bruyneel, Armstrong's team director at Astana, said the pair had asked for a meeting.

Armstrong announced his comeback from a three-year retirement in September and joined the Astana team. Bruyneel teamed with Armstrong for all seven Tour de France wins from 1999-2005.

Armstrong has feuded for years with Tour officials over drug-testing issues, but Tour director Christian Prudhomme has said the Astana team will be allowed to race next year.

Miller gets first podium finish in slalom since '04

LEVI, Finland — Bode Miller hadn't stepped on the podium after a World Cup slalom event since winning in 2004.

On Sunday, Miller was edged by Jean-Baptiste Grange of France in the slalom opener by 0.79 seconds, finishing second in 1 minute, 45.28 seconds on Levi's Black Course north of the Arctic Circle.

The Frenchman, who led Ted Ligety of the United States by 0.25 and Miller by 0.26 after the first run, had a two-run total of 1:44.49.

Olympic swimmer Hoff makes coaching change

NEW YORK — Swimmer Katie Hoff has changed coaches after a disappointing Olympics in which the six-time world champion failed to win a gold medal in a half dozen events.

Hoff is working with Michael Phelps's coach, Bob Bowman, who has returned to her North Baltimore Aquatic Club after four years at the University of Michigan.

Stanford barely holds off Sorenstam in Mexico

GUADALAJARA, Mexico — Annika Sorenstam nearly holed her third shot on the par-5 18th, then lipped out an 8-foot birdie try to give Angela Stanford a one-stroke victory Sunday in the Lorena Ochoa Invitational.

Sorenstam, making her second-to-last start before she leaves the LPGA Tour, holed out from a bunker for birdie on the par-3 16th to get to 12 under — a stroke behind Stanford — but settled for pars on the final two holes. On the 18th, her wedge shot rolled just by the side of the cup as it spun back down the green.

Stanford, the Bell Micro LPGA Classic winner in September, closed with a 3-under 69. She had a 13-under 275 total on the Guadalajara Country Club course and earned $200,000 for her third LPGA Tour title.

Sorenstam also finished with a 69. She tied for second with Brittany Lang, the former Duke star who shot a course-record 65.

Djokovic rejoices after taking Masters Cup title

SHANGHAI, China — Novak Djokovic's victory celebration turned out to be more dangerous than his opponent.

Jubilant after overwhelming Russia's Nikolay Davydenko 6-1, 7-5 in the Masters Cup final Sunday, Djokovic tossed just about everything in reach — two rackets, wristbands and his sweat-soaked shirt — into the cheering crowd at Qi Zhong stadium.

Then he headed to the players box, where his coach, family and a former Miss Universe were standing and cheering. A joyous group hug ensued, and they all bounced up and down together, reveling in the Serb's first title in six months.

But when Djokovic walked away, he realized he had cut his left hand somewhere in the joyous melee.

Hall Jr. decides to retire with 10 Olympic medals

Gary Hall Jr. went out early Sunday morning to catch a few waves.

Time to get on with the rest of his life.

The 10-time Olympic medalist has officially retired from swimming and turned his attention to a new challenge: helping those with diabetes lead long, productive lives.

Hall, who suffers from the disease, was expected to leave the sport after just missing out on making his fourth Olympic team this summer. He made it official in conjunction with World Diabetes Day, which was recognized on Friday.

The 34-year-old Hall decided that his family — a wife and two small children — came before another attempt at the Olympics.

'07 Horse of Year Curlin to be retired next year

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Reigning Horse of the Year Curlin will be retired next year, and may already have run his last race.

Majority owner Jess Jackson, who has an 80 percent stake in the horse, said in a statement issued Sunday that he'll consider offers from farms in Kentucky before deciding where Curlin will stand at stud.

Until his future home is selected, Jackson said Curlin will remain in training for a possible race later this year, although there are not many options currently available.

FROM TIMES WIRE SERVICES