Dix uses fast finish to win 100 meters at NCAAs

Walter Dix, a junior at Florida State, was late out of the blocks, then broke away over the final 50 meters to win the 100 on Friday night at the NCAA Division I track and field championships in 9.93, the fastest ever by a U.S.-born collegian.

He barely missed the collegiate mark of 9.92 set by Ato Boldon of UCLA at the 1996 NCAAs. Boldon hails from Trinidad and Tobago.

Trindon Holliday of Louisiana State burst out of the blocks first, but Dix caught him about halfway down the Sacramento State track and pulled away. Holliday was second at 10.06, and Travis Padgett of Clemson third at 10.09.

It was the best mark in the world this year, bettering Asafa Powell’s 9.97 in Belgrade, Serbia, on May 29. Dix already had the world’s fastest 200 this year at 19.69.

Jacquelyn Johnson of Arizona State took the lead in the next-to-last event and went on to become the first three-time NCAA heptathlon champion in 18 years. Her 149-foot 6-inch javelin throw propelled her from fourth place to first, and she finished with 5,984 overall points.

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MOTOR RACING

Bodine beats Skinner again in Texas

Todd Bodine beat Mike Skinner to the checkered flag again at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, holding on to win after another green-white-checker finish in the NASCAR Craftsman Trucks Series Sam’s Town 400.

Bodine, driving a Toyota, edged Skinner by 0.188 of a second for his 11th victory in the series, the first since Bodine made a last-lap pass and beat Skinner by 0.116 of a second -- the closest finish in series history -- last June.

Ryan Newman won his third consecutive NASCAR Nextel Cup Series pole and 41st overall with a fast lap of 170.062 mph in a Dodge for Sunday’s Pocono 500 at Long Pond, Pa. Denny Hamlin qualified second in a Chevrolet at 169.278.

Scott Sharp won the pole for tonight’s Indy Racing League Bombardier Learjet 550 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth with a qualifying lap of 215.260 mph. Sam Hornish Jr. qualified second at 214.518.

Justin Wilson won the provisional pole for Sunday’s Grand Prix of Portland (Ore.), turning a fast lap of 58 seconds flat and 121.903 mph. Robert Doornbos was second at 58.214 (121.455 mph).

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PRO FOOTBALL

Culpepper says he’ll block any trade

Trent Green’s first practice with the Miami Dolphins was apparently Daunte Culpepper’s finale with the team.

Frustrated by the Dolphins’ decision to let him participate only in individual drills, Culpepper walked off the practice field -- accompanied by a member of the team’s security staff -- about an hour into the start of a three-day mini-camp and vowed that he’d block any plans to trade him.

“Any team that’s interested in my services, just sit tight,” Culpepper said. “I’m not going to agree to a trade.”

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SOCCER

Beckham will play despite ankle injury

David Beckham plans to play for Real Madrid at Zaragoza in today’s Spanish league match despite a left ankle injury. The midfielder was hit on the ankle early during England’s European Championship qualifying win over Estonia.

Beckham could win his first major trophy with Madrid if it beats Zaragoza -- and FC Barcelona and Sevilla lose -- this weekend. Madrid leads two-time defending champion Barcelona on head-to-head results. Each has 72 points, two more than Sevilla, with two games to play.

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JURISPRUDENCE

Complaint against Thurman dropped

Two Georgia men dropped their complaint against suspended Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Odell Thurman after accusing the player of kicking and hitting them at a party Sunday in Monticello, Ga.

A hearing on the accusations against Thurman had been set for Friday, but it was canceled because of the dismissal. Thurman had not been charged with a crime, but a magistrate had been expected to hear testimony to determine whether charges should be filed.

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COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Tennessee ends series with Connecticut

Connecticut and Tennessee, the top two programs in women’s college basketball, are ending their annual series.

Connecticut had signed a contract to extend the annual game through the 2008-09 season, but Tennessee terminated the deal, Connecticut officials said.

Tennessee Athletic Director Joan Cronan confirmed that the school had declined to play the game. Connecticut leads the series, 13-9, although Tennessee won the last three meetings.

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MISCELLANY

HBO, Merchant agree to new contract

After a lengthy and sometimes difficult negotiation, HBO and boxing commentator Larry Merchant have agreed to terms on a new contract. Merchant, whose previous contract expired June 1, will continue to work major fights for HBO, including tonight’s Madison Square Garden pay-per-view card headlined by Miguel Cotto against Zab Judah. The new contract is for two years, plus two option years, and calls for Merchant, 76, to work about 60% fewer fights a year for an annual salary believed to be in the $700,000 range.

-- Larry Stewart

The International Olympic Committee said it has held discussions with cycling’s world governing body about introducing skateboarding as a discipline for the 2012 London Games.