Seattle’s Laura Wins Thistle Regatta Title on Mission Bay

Mark Laura finished first and third in two races Sunday to win the Midwinters West Regatta Thistle racing championship on Mission Bay.

Laura, of Seattle, extended his lead by winning the first race and Mike Gillum of Sacramento, who was second overall, finished 10th.

Laura finished the seven-race, three-day event with 16 1/2 points and Gillum had 30 1/2. Matt Burcar of Tacoma was third with 37 points.

BADMINTON

Tariq Wadood of Reseda and Ximing Yao of Manhattan Beach each won two events at the Sportcraft San Diego Open championships at the Federal Building in Balboa Park Sunday.

Wadood won the men’s singles title with an 18-13, 15-7 victory over Brian Blanshard of Calgary, Canada and teamed with Yao to win the men’s doubles event with 15-5, 15-5 victory over Ian Johnston of Manhattan Beach and Blanshard.

Yao also teamed with Traci Britton of Manhattan Beach to win the mixed doubles title with a 15-9, 15-4 victory over John Britton of Manhattan Beach and Gillian Calder of Calgary.

Joy Kitzmiller of Manhattan Beach won the women’s singles title with a 10-12, 11-7, 11-7 victory over Linda Safarik-Tong of Manhattan Beach. Judianne Kelly of Costa Mesa and Nina Lolk of Phoenix defeated Ann French of San Diego and Pam Owens of Hawthorne, 17-14, 15-5 in the women’s doubles final.

YOUTH BASKETBALL

Six athletes from San Diego County qualified for the regional finals of the Pepsi Hot Shot basketball competition at the South Gate Athletic Complex in South Gate Sunday.

Two players meet in the finals to represent the Los Angeles Lakers or the Los Angeles Clippers. The Lakers’ representative will be decided at the Feb. 2 game against the Chicago Bulls. The Clippers representative will be decided at the Feb. 10 game against the Phoenix Suns.

The county qualifiers are the brother and sister duo of Shondell and Archie Robinson, Cassandra Barnes, Nicole Cunningham, Jamie Hooper and Jamie Shadian.