WORLD UNIVERSITY GAMES : Rutgers’ Letko Wins 10,000 Meters

SHEFFIELD, England —  Anne Marie Letko of Rutgers took seven seconds off her best time to win the 10,000 meters Monday at the World University Games.

Letko, 22, broke from the field in the second of the 25 laps at the Don Valley stadium and was never caught, finishing in 32 minutes 36.87 seconds.

In other events, the U.S. men’s and women’s basketball teams both reached the finals. The men’s team beat Israel, 89-59, and will play Canada for the gold medal.

The U.S. women edged China, 79-76, and will play Spain in the final. Spain beat Canada, 81-74.

The U.S. men led, 16-2, and were ahead by 35 points at one point in the second half.

“We can’t play any better than that,” U.S. Coach P.J. Carlesimo of Seton Hall said. “That’s as good as we can play.”

Guard Hubert Davis of North Carolina led the United States with 19 points, and Eric Anderson and Calbert Cheaney, teammates at Indiana, each had 12.

Carolyn Jones had 23 points and Judy Mosely added 20 to lead the American women over China.

American teams also gained the finals in water polo and men’s volleyball. The water polo team beat Italy, 6-4, and will play China. The volleyball team beat the Soviet Union, 3-2, and will play Poland.

The American track team won four other medals. Maicel Malone won the 400 meters in 50.65 seconds, and three Americans won bronze medals: javelin thrower Paula Berry, Jasmin Jones in the 800 meters and Marlin Cannon in the men’s 400.