Fast Break: Pickler second, headed to worlds

Track and field

Pickler second, headed to worlds

Washington State University’s Diana Pickler finished second in the women’s heptathlon at the USA Track & Field Championships Saturday in Indianapolis and qualified for the world championships in Osaka, Japan, Aug. 25-Sept. 2.

Pickler, the first-day leader, scored 6,029 points, 61 points behind Hyleas Fountain, the 2005 heptathlon champion.

Diana’s twin sister, Julie, scored 5,654 points and finished sixth.

Diana leaped 19 feet, 9 3/4 inches on the first heptathlon event of the second day for sixth place, just ahead of Julie (19-4 1/4). Diana threw the javelin a PR-best of 136-6 for third place with Julie eighth at 125-7, also a PR.

In the 800 meters, Diana was eighth (2 minutes, 19.33 seconds) and Julie ninth (2:19.65).

The sisters, from Sachse, Texas, are 2007 WSU graduates.

University of Idaho senior Russ Winger threw the shot 64-7 1/4 to place sixth. The winner was Reese Hoffa of the U.S. at 70-5 1/4.

Lewis and Clark grad Britney Henry of Oregon was eighth in women’s hammer 217-5.

Former WSU Cougar Dominique Arnold, the American record holder in the men’s 110 hurdles, won his first-round heat in 13.66.

The championships conclude today.

Boxing

One punch and it’s all over

The Hit Man needed only one punch to win perhaps his biggest fight yet.

Englishman Ricky Hatton landed a left hook to the body in the fourth round Saturday night in Las Vegas, dropping Jose Luis Castillo to one knee and suddenly ending what had been a brawl between the world’s top 140-pounders.

Castillo took the count from referee Joe Cortez without getting back up, ending the fight at 2:16 of the round.

Hatton remained undefeated in 43 fights and won the IBO version of the title by ending what shaped up as a rough-and-tough 12-rounder with one punch to the liver. It was the 31st knockout for Hatton.