Olympic marathon champ dead at 24 A police chief in Kenya said Olympic marathon champion Sammy Wanjiru died after a fall from a balcony. He was 24. Initial information indicated Wanjiru died after jumping from his balcony, but the death is subject to further investigation. In the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Wanjiru became the first Kenyan to win a gold medal in the marathon, finishing in an Olympic-record 2 hours 6 minutes 32 seconds . . . Americans Tyson Gay and Allyson Felix won sprint street races in Manchester, England. Gay won a 150-meter race in steady rain in 14.51 seconds — 0.16 slower than Usain Bolt’s world record at the same event in 2009. Felix, a three-time world 200 champion, won a straight 200-meter race on the rain-lashed track in 22.12 seconds . . . China’s Liu Xiang broke American David Oliver’s 18-race win streak, winning the 110-meter hurdles at the Shanghai Diamond League event. Liu, the 2004 Olympic champion, finished in 13.07 seconds. Oliver was second in 13.18, and American Aries Merritt was third in 13.24.

Family donates Boogaard’s brain to BU Derek Boogaard’s family donated his brain to researchers at the Boston University School of Medicine who will check for damage that might have resulted from his career as an NHL enforcer. Researchers at the school have set up a brain bank to check athletes for degenerative brain disease caused by repeated concussions. Boogaard, 28, missed the last half of the season with the Rangers while recovering from a concussion. He was found dead in his Minneapolis apartment Friday. Police said there were no outward signs of trauma, but results of an autopsy are expected to take several weeks. Boogaard’s family joined fans, players, and league executives at a memorial service last night at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul . . . Finland scored five late goals to beat Sweden, 6-1, and claim the title at the world championship in Bratislava, Slovakia. Petteri Nokelainen beat goalie Viktor Fasth 2:35 into the final period on a breakaway to give Finland a 2-1 lead, and Niko Kapanen scored 46 seconds later. Janne Pesonen, Mika Pyorala, and Antti Pihlstrom finished the Swedes off with a goal each later in the third. It was the second world title for the Finns; they also beat rival Sweden in the 1995 final.

Injury sidelines Tarpley for World Cup American midfielder Lindsay Tarpley will miss the Women’s World Cup and be sidelined 6-8 months after tearing her right anterior cruciate ligament in Saturday’s 2-0 exhibition win over Japan in Columbus, Ohio. Tarpley, who played for the Boston Breakers last season, also tore her right ACL in 2009 playing for Chicago of WPS . . . In MLS action, Justin Braun scored three goals as Chivas USA beat the host New York Red Bulls, 3-2. Dwayne De Rosario and Thierry Henry scored for the Red Bulls . . . Dubai’s Al Wasl club made Diego Maradona an offer to be its next coach and talks are ongoing. The 50-year-old Argentine great has been out of coaching since he led Argentina to the 2010 World Cup quarterfinals.

Toronto tops Washington for NLL title Garrett Billings and Kasey Beirnes led host Toronto to the National Lacrosse League title, scoring two goals each in the Rock’s 8-7 win over Washington. Goaltender Bob Watson, 41, was selected MVP in his final game before retiring . . . Tilton junior Georges Niang verbally committed to play basketball at Iowa State. The 6-foot-6-inch Methuen resident led the Rams to the NEPSAC Class AA title last season . . . Billy Kennedy left Murray State to replace Mark Turgeon as basketball coach at Texas A&M . . . Phoenix Suns president and CEO Rick Welts revealed to the public that he is gay in a story posted on The New York Times website. Welts said in the story that he wants to break down one of the last significant social barriers in sports . . . In online voting, fans selected four-time Indy 500 winners A.J. Foyt, Rick Mears, and Al Unser as the three greatest drivers in history . . . Antron Brown raced to his second Top Fuel win of the year, beating teammate Tony Schumacher in the NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway. Jack Beckman (Funny Car), Jason Line (Pro Stock), and LE Tonglet (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also won their divisions . . . Michael Phelps beat Ryan Lochte in the 200-meter backstroke at the Charlotte (N.C.) UltraSwim meet . . . Alberto Contador surged to his first stage win at the Giro d’Italia, and took the leader’s pink jersey from Pieter Weening. The three-time Tour de France winner has a 59-second overall lead over Kanstantsin Sivtsov . . . Australian tennis great Ken Rosewall, 76, was admitted to the stroke ward of a hospital after falling ill while attending the Rome Masters. His wife said he suffered no heart or brain damage, but was being kept under observation until he was well enough to return to Australia.