McCorory, Richards-Ross break 50 second barrier

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Francena McCorory won the women’s 400 meters Saturday in the U.S. Outdoor Track and Field Championships, finishing in 49.48 seconds to edge Olympic champion Sanya Richards-Ross.

McCorory won her first U.S. 400 title with her best career time and the fastest time in the world this year.

Richards-Ross, who beat McCorory by two-tenths of a second in the semifinals, finished in 49.66. Richards-Ross joined McCorory as the only two female runners to break the 50-second mark this year.

Gil Roberts won the men’s 400, and Dawn Harper-Nelson beat Queen Harrison by a hundredth of a second in the women’s 100 hurdles. American record-holder Maria Michta won her fifth consecutive U.S. title in the women’s 20-kilometer racewalk, finishing in 1 hour, 35 minutes, 54.37.

Auto Racing

Huertas leads Colombian sweep of Houston podium

HOUSTON – Carlos Huertas raced to his first IndyCar Series victory, leading a Colombian sweep of the rain-soaked podium Saturday in the Grand Prix of Houston doubleheader opener.

Strategy put Justin Wilson and Huertas in the lead late in the race. Wilson eventually had to pit for fuel. Huertas assumed the lead with seven minutes to go.

Then a caution briefly slowed action but IndyCar had enough time to run one final lap.

Only Graham Rahal ran into the back of third-place Tony Kanaan before the restart. IndyCar could not go green. Rahal was penalized for hitting Kanaan, so third-place went to Carlos Munoz in the first all-Colombian sweep of the podium in IndyCar history.

Cycling

Kreuziger dropped from Tinkoff-Saxo Tour line-up

LONDON – Roman Kreuziger has been dropped from the Tinkoff-Saxo team line-up for the Tour de France and will not be riding in support for Alberto Contador because of anomalies in his biological passport.

The abnormal results were detected in 2011 and 2012, his team said in a statement on Saturday, adding that the cycling’s international federation “is likely due to instigate disciplinary proceedings against him.”

Golf

Reed, Wie highlight busy day of action on the greens

BETHESDA, Md. – Patrick Reed held it together better than anyone Saturday at steamy Congressional to build a two-shot lead in the Quicken Loans National.

Reed made three bogeys in a seven-hole stretch but still managed an even-par 71 and was in good position to claim his third victory this year. He was at 6-under 207, two shots ahead of Seung-yul Noh (66), Freddie Jacobson (71) and Marc Leishman (73).

COLOGNE, Germany – Former champion Pablo Larrazabal made five birdies for a 5-under 67 to claim the overnight lead going into the final day of the BMW International Open on Saturday.

The Spaniard, who won the tournament in a play-off with compatriot Sergio Garcia in 2011, finished strongly and holds a three-shot lead at 17-under par with eight players tied for second on 14-under.

ROGERS, Ark. – Michelle Wie shot her second consecutive 5-under 66 on Saturday to take a two-shot lead in the suspended second round of the NW Arkansas Championship.

Coming off a victory Sunday in the U.S. Women’s Open at Pinehurst, Wie had six birdies and a bogey in her morning round at Pinnacle Country Club.

PITTSBURGH – Bernhard Langer moved closer to his first Senior Players Championship victory Saturday, shooting a 4-under 66 in the third round to stay in front of hard-charging Kenny Perry.

Langer was at 15-under 195 through 54 holes of the third major on the Champions Tour schedule, where he has five top- 10 finishes but no victories. The two-time Masters champion shook off a slow start with a 4-under 31 on the back nine.

Associated Press