ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. - The Olympic figure skating season is off to a fine start for Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto.
The only problem: They're not eligible for the Turin Games.
Belbin and Agosto, the first U.S. dance team with a legitimate shot at an Olympic medal in more than two decades, won Skate America on Saturday with a flashy flamenco free dance.
"For the first Grand Prix and all the circumstances surrounding this week, we're really proud of ourselves," said Belbin, who was plagued by bronchitis earlier this week.
Notice she did not mention the Olympics.
Belbin is a Canadian native in the process of applying for U.S. citizenship; both skaters must be citizens of this nation to represent it at the games. The couple has hired a law firm to help speed up that quest and is getting help from a congressional representative.
Russia's Elena Sokolova, skating a clean but somewhat lackluster free skate, had little trouble beating a second-level field in the women's event. American Alissa Czisny, who won the long program, placed second.
COLLEGES: Saint Leo men stun No. 1
Freshman forward Eusebio Montoya scored from eight feet out with six minutes, 52 seconds remaining in the second overtime as host Saint Leo upset undefeated and No. 1-ranked Lynn 2-1 in soccer. Montoya took a feed from Asmir Pervan and scored his eighth goal of the season for the Lions (13-1-0, 5-1-0 Sunshine State Conference), who won their eighth straight.
SWIMMING: The Florida men (2-2) lost to Texas and California during the final day of a tri-meet in Austin, Texas. ... The Florida State men's and women's teams picked up six wins in an ACC quad meet at College Park, Md., defeating Georgia Tech, Maryland and Virginia Tech. Senior Carrie Ellis of Valrico won the 100 free in 51.01.
VOLLEYBALL: Danielle Durham had 16 kills as host Florida Southern won its 14th straight, 30-16, 30-19, 30-17 over Lynn. ... Jane Collymore had 12 kills and 16 points as host Florida (19-1, 9-0 SEC) swept Arkansas 30-10, 33-31, 30-23 for its 14th straight.
SPEEDSKATING: Records set at meet
Jennifer Rodriguez of Miami won the 500 meters in 39.01 seconds and the 1,500 in 1:59.97 at the U.S. Long Track competition in West Allis, Wis.
Casey FitzRandolph skated through in 35.56 to take the men's 500, the same distance at which he won a gold medal in the Salt Lake City Olympics. He broke the Pettit National Ice Center mark of 35.59, set last December by Tucker Fredricks.
Shani Davis won the 1,500 in 1:46.44 to smash the record of 1:47.73 he set last December.
TENNIS: Davenport in Zurich final
Top-seeded Lindsay Davenport routed Anastasia Myskina 6-0, 6-4 to reach the Zurich (Switzerland) Open final, where she will face Swiss star Patty Schnyder and try to win this tournament a fourth time.
Schnyder won her semifinal by beating 17-year-old Ana Ivanovic 6-2, 6-1. Schnyder defeated Davenport in the 2002 Zurich final.
MADRID MASTERS: Top-seeded Rafael Nadal reached today's final, edging Robby Ginepri 7-5, 7-6 (7-1) in Spain. Nadal will face eighth-seeded Ivan Ljubicic, a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 winner over David Nalbandian.
ET CETERA
ARENA FOOTBALL: The Tampa Bay Storm signed defensive specialist Lionell Green and offensive/defensive lineman Ben Lynch. Green, 5-feet-11, 186 pounds, was North Carolina's top cornerback in 2004, his senior season. Lynch, 6-4, 300, played defensive end and nose guard at West Virginia.
HORSE RACING: English Derby winner Motivator was ruled out of the Breeders' Cup Turf and retired to stud after pulling up lame during a workout in Ascot, England.
SKIING: Tina Maze of Slovenia won the World Cup giant slalom in Soelden, Austria. ... Sweden's Peter Larsson captured the World Cup cross-country season opener in the rain in Dusseldorf, Germany. Norway's Marit Bjoergenwon the women's 800-meter freestyle sprint.
