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Posted at 3:10 p.m., Thursday, June 7, 2007

DQ knocks heptathlon favorite out of NCAA race

By Bob Baum
Associated Press

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Heptathlon favorite Diana Pickler saw her hopes of finally winning an NCAA title in her last collegiate competition dashed today when she was disqualified from the 200 meters, the last of her four events of the day.

The Washington State senior, who had the top college score of the year entering the meet, had taken the lead by winning her 200 heat, but she was disqualified for stepping outside her lane.

The rule prohibits a runner's left foot from landing on or outside the line for two consecutive steps.

"I reviewed the incident with two umpires at the place of the infraction," meet referee Shirley Crowe said in a statement posted at the protest tent, "and reviewed the video with (referee) Fred Newhouse, and it is clearly a violation of running more than two steps inside of the lane."

Washington State coach Rick Sloan appealed but acknowledged it was a lost cause.

"I have spoken to a meet referee who is a close friend," Sloan said. "He's seen the footage and he said basically we're wasting our time."

Pickler went from what would have been 3,728 points to last place among the 25 competitors at 2,723 points. With no hope of winning, she withdrew from the meet in order to concentrate on the U.S. championships to be held in two weeks in Indianapolis.

Pickler left the track without speaking to reporters.

"Everything that we have done in preparation was geared for this meet," Sloan said. "Everything has been focused right to this point. Five years have been focused to this point."

Her departure left SMU's Gaelle Niare in first place with 3,690 points. The senior from France usually concentrates on the high jump and was competing in only her second heptathlon, not counting one she did several years ago when she was not training for the event.

"I like challenges, and I was ready to compete," said Niare, who acknowledged she still has much to learn in some of the seven events that make up the heptathlon. "I want to reach the qualification for the world championships (6,100 points) for the French team."

Pickler's twin sister Julie was in seventh place with 3,466 points. Defending champion Jacquelyn Johnson of Arizona State was fourth at 3,577, nine points behind Bettie Wade of Michigan, who was in third.

University of Hawaii junior Annett Wichmann finished the first four disciplines with a school-record 3,387 points and is in ninth place in the 26-player field.