Pace

WASHINGTON - U.S. sales of previously owned homes unexpectedly rose to a record 6.8 million annual pace in May, and the median price rose to an all-time high, adding to evidence that the American consumer is underpinning the economy. A Commerce Department report yesterday also showed that sales of new homes rose to a record 1.36 million annual rate last month "It's still looking pretty rosy for the housing market," said Daryl L. Jesperson, chief executive officer of Re/Max International Inc. Re/Max has sold 7 percent to 10 percent more homes this year than at the same point last year, he said.

In response to criticism that it is too diversified, Sylvan Learning Systems Inc. said yesterday it will simplify its business as its stock price continued to slide.Shares in the Baltimore-based education company have lost 56 percent of their value since February. Sylvan's shares closed yesterday at $15.1875, down $1.3125.Sylvan also reported a $9.2 million net loss in its third-quarter earnings, which it attributed to the impact of disposing of PACE, its corporate consultant, training and professional development firm that suffered declining revenue after Sylvan acquired it in 1995.

River Hill junior Jake Pace, a first-team All-Metro soccer player and the county's Player of the Year, has made an oral commitment to play at the University of Maryland. Pace led the Hawks to the Class 2A state championship, scoring a header in overtime to give the team a 3-2 victory over Loch Raven in the title game. Possessing size, strength and ball skills, Pace played on defense, midfield and up front for the Hawks and finished the season with nine goals and nine assists. "We're real happy for Jake and he's real happy - it's real big for the program," River Hill coach Matt Shagogue said.

Aurelio Miti Handanga looked to his right at the starting line of yesterday's Fila 5K, and saw all the inspiration he needed. Next to him were Eluid Barngetuny and David Njuguna, two runners who beat him at a race three weeks ago in Syracuse, N.Y. "I wanted revenge on them," said Handanga, a 27-year-old from Angola. "I said, `Oh, these two guys again; we'll see who's best today.' " Yesterday, Handanga clearly was, as he sprinted out to the early lead, dropped slightly back to gauge his competitors' pace and forged ahead in the last 1,000 meters to win the 3.1-mile race with a time of 13 minutes, 47 seconds.

Dan Marino is under siege. The Miami Dolphins legend hasn't played quarterback since 1999, but he is nevertheless front and center in the NFL's passing craze of 2004. Marino's most revered record has become a target in the Age of the Pass: most touchdowns thrown in a season, 48. First, Daunte Culpepper of the Minnesota Vikings took aim and fired off 18 touchdown passes in five games. He has cooled off but still is on pace to throw for 42. Now it's Peyton Manning's turn. The reigning co-Most Valuable Player from the Indianapolis Colts finished the first half of the season with 26 touchdown throws.

Two new reports yesterday indicated continuing strength in the U.S. economy, increasing the likelihood that the Federal Reserve will keep raising interest rates in an attempt to slow growth. A widely watched predictor signaled that the economic expansion, now in a record 110th month, would continue well into the year; a second report showed sales of new single-family homes surged in March to their fastest pace in 18 months despite rising mortgage rates. The predictor, the Index of Leading Indicators, rose 0.1 percent in March after falling 0.3 percent in February, the Conference Board said.

Picking the perfect house-party playlist can be a tricky task. Maybe you'll start with a little Bob Marley, ease into some vintage James Brown and then go full throttle with Justin Timberlake's new single. Or you could spice it up with an '80s monster ballad or two somewhere in the middle. Playlists - which can be burned onto a CD or uploaded into an iPod - are this generation's mixtapes. They set the tone for home parties and the pace in the gym. Music downloading Web sites such as iTunes have made millions of songs available, allowing average house-party hosts to easily play DJ for their friends.

LAHAINA, Hawaii - -Wisconsin disrupted Maryland's intermittent rhythm with an inelegant prose that has become the staple of its program during coach Bo Ryan's nine-year tenure. One pass, two pass, three pass, four. The Badgers remained unconcerned with Maryland's desire to push the pace during the third-place game of the Maui Invitational and prevailed in large part because of their unruffled approach. The Terrapins dropped a 78-69 decision to Wisconsin on Wednesday, their second loss in two days.

Baltimore's homicide toll is on pace to approach 300 this year, triggering high-level finger-pointing as officials scramble to explain what has gone wrong. A recent spike in killings, including four one day this week, had pushed the year's homicide total to 221 as of late yesterday - 21 more than at the same time last year. Baltimore's homicide toll has been below 300 since 2000. The 300 figure is a symbolic benchmark set during the 1990s, the city's bloodiest decade. Mayor Martin O'Malley says it's not fair for the Police Department to continue accepting the brunt of the blame.

At Emily Adams' ballet studio in Greensboro, N.C., Bran Pace stood out. Not just because he was one of her few male students, or because he was a college-aged beginner, or because of his angelic good looks. He stood out because at the end of class, when all the other students went home, Bran stayed."Let's do it again," he would say.So Emily Adams would stay late too, watching Pace do the steps over and over until he got them just right, working long past the point when other students would give up in frustration, finishing a dance combination only to start it all over again.