CYCLING
Tour of Anchorage begins
Around 100 cyclists are preparing to tackle this week's Tour of Anchorage, the Arctic Bicycle Club's annual five-stage event that challenges racers of various levels.
Thursday's first stage is the Point Woronzof Prologue time trial, a 3.5-mile race along Northern Lights Boulevard, followed by Friday's Upper Potter Valley Hill Climb for Stage 2.
The next two stages take place Saturday, starting with the Downtown Park Strip Criterium for Stage 3. Stage 4 is the Point MacKenzie Time Trial, a 30-kilometer journey. The Tour wraps with the Kincaid Loop Road Race for Sunday's Stage 5.
Anchorage's Sheryl Loan won her eighth Tour last summer and will defend her title in the women's expert division. Troy Henry of Whitehorse, Yukon, won the men's expert division last year.
Fishing
Darling leads Valdez Derby
The big fish were biting last week in the Valdez Halibut Derby -- three days produced three new overall leaders in pursuit of a $15,000 first prize.
North Pole's Norman Darling ended the weekend with the lead after catching a 202.3-pound halibut Saturday, a day after Bonnie Woods took the lead with a 196.4-pounder and two days after Valdez' Pat Wing jumped into first with a 187.7-pounder.
Anglers have until September to outdo Darling.
Valdez Halibut Derby
Overall Leaders -- 1) Norman Darling, North Pole, 202.3 pounds, July 21; 2) Bonnie Woods, Valdez, 196.4 pounds, July 20; 3) Pat Wing, Valdez, 187.7 pounds, July 19.
Weekly Winners -- 1) Norman Darling, North Pole, 202.3 pounds, July 21; 2) Bonnie Woods, Valdez, 196.4 pounds, July 20.
SOFTBALL
City View falls
The City View fast-pitch softball team of 10-12 year-olds from Anchorage lost their final pool-play game Wednesday at the Little League Western Regional and were eliminated from the tournament in San Bernardino, Calif.
City View's 5-1 loss to Chico, the team representing Northern California, gave it a 1-3 record in the tournament.
Julia Tosi singled to drive in Daisy Page for the Alaskans' only run. Page pitched five innings, giving up five hits and five runs. She walked six and struck out seven. Tosi and Jaya Samuel accounted for City View's two hits Wednesday.
Tosi led City View hitters in the tournament with a .545 average, Page hit .455 and Samuel checked in at .333. All three players stole two bases in the tournament.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Shootout field complete
UAA has cemented its four-team women's field for the 2012 Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout by adding North Dakota State, which will play the host Seawolves in the first round Nov. 20 at Sullivan Arena.
The Bison last season went 11-20 overall and 8-10 in the Summit League, where they finished fifth.
The field also includes Prarie View and Utah State, which play an opening-round game Nov. 20.
GIRLS SOCCER
Full Force is fierce
The Full Force soccer club's 12-U girls team earlier this month won one event at a massively large tournament in Minnesota and finished second in another, prospering despite heat in the 90s.
Full Force won its division at the Schawan's Cup Weekend World Cup event, beating Mundelein, Ill., 4-1 in the championship match.
Full Force finished runner-up in the Cup event, falling 5-1 to Spartan FC Select of Northbrook, Ill., in the title match.
The Schwan's Cup draws more than 14,000 players to Blaine, Minn., and includes international teams.