Archiv » s, Earnhardt 38 and Kenseth 32. McMurray led only one

OTTAWA -- With a clean short program, capped off by an exuberant jump at the end, Kaetlyn Osmond put the past four frustrating months behind her. The 18-year-old from Marystown, N.L., is halfway to clinching her spot on Canadas figure skating team for the Sochi Olympics, winning the womens singles short program at the Canadian championships Friday. Osmond was sidelined for a good chunk of the last four months, with first an ankle injury and then a torn hamstring, and admitted to wondering at times if shed make it back in time for Sochi. "I have this little jump at the end of my program and I think I put more energy into that little half jump than I did into my entire program because I was so excited," Osmond said, laughing. "And when I went to do my curtsy, I couldnt help but be relieved." Osmond landed a triple flip-triple toe loop combination, then a triple Lutz to score 70.3 points for her 60s-inspired performance to "Big Spender" and "Rich Mans Frug." Amelie Lacoste of Delson, Que., scored 61.27 to leave her second heading into Saturdays free program. Gabrielle Daleman, a 15-year-old from Newmarket, Ont., is third with 58.38. Canada has two berths in womens singles for the Sochi Olympics. The Olympic figure skating team will be announced Sunday. Osmond, who was eighth in her world championship debut last year, suffered a stress reaction in August, and then tore her hamstring during the short program at Skate Canada in October, forcing her to withdraw before the free skate. Her treatment included a cortisone shot and platelet-rich plasma treatment -- the injection of platelet-rich blood into an injury (three-time world champion Patrick Chan had PRP for a calf injury prior to the Vancouver Olympics). She was off the ice for more than two weeks, and it was several weeks before she was back to doing jumps and spins. "When I got back on the ice I could barely do my crosscuts still, so I had to work so many edges and so many stroking exercises before I could even think about jumping," Osmond said. "It was really hard during those times to even think that Nationals was coming up, time was going so fast, and I was still not even on the ice." Osmond has only one full competition under her belt this season -- Skate Canada Challenge, a qualifying for nationals last month in Regina that she won. "The only thing thats missing is the competition experience and the momentum, and this is going to help her so much," said her Edmonton-based coach Ravi Walia. Osmond has come to look at the last few frustrating months as a blessing in disguise. "I learned so much from it," she said. "It actually helped my training because it hurt to fall (after the hamstring injury), so I had to learn perfect technique. It hurt when I did the wrong technique because my leg would swing out to the side too much. 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DJ Moore Jersey . -- Los Angeles Angels outfielder Josh Hamilton will be sidelined for at least two weeks because of a strained calf muscle, and pitcher C. TALLADEGA, Ala. -- Everyone expects the big one to happen at Talladega Superspeedway. For some reason, it never occurred Sunday. Oh sure, there was a wreck on the final lap, which allowed Jamie McMurray to coast to the victory under caution. But by the standards of this place, it was about as clean as can be. "Once you get toward the end, it usually gets more intense and everybody starts taking bigger risks," McMurray said. "I was listening to my spotter and he would say, A line is forming, but its not very organized and theyre not making up any ground. Im really surprised they couldnt put something together to make more of a run. Im shocked by that, actually. I thought guys would take bigger chances at the end." McMurray won for the first time in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series since 2010, snapping a 108-race winless streak, and didnt even have to worry about a planned last-lap charge from Dale Earnhardt Jr. after Dillon spun coming out of the second turn. The only other driver collected in the crash was Casey Mears, who slammed into Dillons car and sent it flying into the air before it came back down upright. Everyone was OK. "I was trying to go for the win there," said Dillon, who was filling in for injured Tony Stewart in the No. 14 car and competing in just his 12th Sprint Cup race. "A wild ride. I just have to thank NASCAR for everything they have done for safety. That hit was fine. I got to drive the car back" to the garage, though he settled for 26th after going to the final lap in third. A race known for massive crashes was essentially trouble free. There was a minor wreck early on when Marcos Ambrose got loose in front of the main grandstand and took out Juan Pablo Montoya, and 103 consecutive laps under green until the yellow and checkered flags waved together at the end. Earnhardt settled for second, followed by Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Paul Menard and Kyle Busch. "For some reason," Earnhardt said, "it was a lot calmer the last few laps." Jimmie Johnson steered around trouble and finished 13th, emerging from the race with the lead in the Sprint Cup standings. The five-time Cup champion passed Matt Kenseth for the top spot and has a four-point edge with four races remaining. Kenseth finished 20th. Busch and Kevin Harvick are tied for third, 26 points behind Johnson, with Jeff Gordon --- who had hoped Talladegas unpredictable nature might help him make a big push -- made up only two points and is 34 off the lead.dddddddddddd "Thirteenth isnt the best finish," Johnson said, "but with what we are trying to do and win a championship, we beat the competition today. That is good." After running strong early in the 188-lap race, Kenseth dealt with an ill-handling car and lost several spots when he attempted to make a move late in the race. "It was really bizarre. Typically handling is a non-issue here," Kenseth said. "We finally got it fixed that last run, but we only had 20 laps to get back up there. I really needed to be up there like we were early and feeling I was controlling the race more." McMurray, who isnt part of the Chase, won for Earnhardt Ganassi Racing and took a phone call in victory lane from car owner Chip Ganassi, still in California celebrating Scott Dixons championship in the IndyCar series the previous night. Earnhardt, a huge fan favourite at Talladega, had hoped to make his move going down the back straightaway on the final lap. He never got the chance. "I guess if were in that situation next time," Earnhardt said with a shrug, "well try to go a lap sooner." Johnson wound up leading 47 laps, Earnhardt 38 and Kenseth 32. McMurray led only one lap until he got to the front with 15 to go. He held that spot the rest of the way, showing again his knack for restrictor-plate racing. He has won twice each at Daytona and Talladega, accounting for more than half of his seven career victories. Three drivers -- Johnson, Earnhardt and Kenseth -- dominated the race until McMurray claimed the top spot after the final round of pit stops began with 25 laps to go. The typical Talladega pack -- 25 cars running within 3 seconds of each other -- formed at the front and began plotting ways to make a move without causing the massive wreck that always seems to occur at the 2.66-mile trioval. There was a bit of two- and three-wide jockeying before the leaders lined up single file, settling in for what turned out to be a relatively comfortable ride to the finish for McMurray. Even if the caution had not come out, Earnhardt wasnt sure if he had enough momentum to pass the leader. "I didnt have the greatest run," he said. "I wish I was in front." ' ' '