- Sunday, July 1, 2012

The Washington area will be well-represented in the women’s 800-meter freestyle at the London Olympics, as Katie Ledecky and Kate Ziegler qualified for the Games on Sunday night in Omaha, Neb., with the second- and third-fastest times in the world this year.

Ledecky, a 15-year-old from Bethesda, knocked more than six seconds off her previous personal best, leading wire-to-wire and finishing 16 laps of the pool in 8:19.78. She beat Ziegler, of Great Falls, by just over two seconds (8:21.87). Their times trail only an 8:18.54 swum by world-record holder Rebecca Adlington of Great Britain in 2012.

Ledecky’s time set a U.S. Olympic trials record, beating Katie Hoff’s 8:20.81 from 2008.

“I was really surprised with how fast I went out,” Ledecky told NBC Sports after the race. “I wasn’t really expecting it but I just went with it and kept going.”

BASEBALL

Orioles add Thome, promote Gonzalez from Triple-A

BALTIMORE — The Baltimore Orioles have added designated hitter Jim Thome to the 25-man roster and recalled right-handed reliever Miguel Gonzalez from Triple-A Norfolk.

To make room for the newcomers, the Orioles optioned right-hander Tommy Hunter (3-4, 6.11 ERA) and outfielder Xavier Avery to Norfolk.

The moves were made before Sunday’s game against Cleveland.

Thome, 41, was acquired Saturday in a trade with Philadelphia. He was inserted in the starting lineup Sunday, batting fifth.

Gonzalez made his major league debut with Baltimore on May 29. He appeared in two games, allowing two earned runs in 7⅓ innings before being optioned to Norfolk on June 9.

SOCCER

United extend unbeaten streak at RFK to nine

Chris Pontius scored at the 45-minute mark of the first half, and Robbie Russell and Hamdi Salihi added second-half goals as DC United blanked the Montreal Impact 3-0 Saturday night. United (10-5-3) have won six of eight overall and are unbeaten in their past nine home games.

CYCLING

Sagan wins first stage of Tour de France

SERAING, Belgium — Peter Sagan brushed off comparisons to Lance Armstrong on Sunday after becoming the youngest rider to win a Tour de France stage since the Texan nearly a generation ago. The 22-year-old Slovak gave a command performance in his debut in a full Tour stage by outsprinting Fabian Cancellara, who mounted a spirited and successful defense of his yellow jersey over a hilly ride in eastern Belgium in Stage 1.

• From wire dispatches and staff reports

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