Dix clocks fastest 100 for '09

TALLAHASSEE, Florida (CMC):

Top American sprinter Walter Dix clocked the fastest time in the world this year in the 100 metres dash on Saturday. Dix, who won bronze medals in the 100 and 200 last year at the Beijing Olympics, clocked 10 seconds flat during the Seminole Invitational at Florida State University's Mike Long track.

Dix's season-opening performance bettered Jamaica's Yohan Blake's time of 10.08, the previous top mark in the world this year.

"With a 1.1 headwind, that's like a 9.9 low, maybe 9.8 high, so that was a great time and that's what I wanted to do," said Dix. "The last time I ran was September."

Meantime, Dix may not be able to run at several major track and field meets this season because he is in arbitration to get out of a six-month trial contract with agent Kimberly Holland of Atlanta-based ICON Management, the Sun-Sentinel newspaper reported.

Xiang doubtful for Worlds

Xiang

BEIJING (AP):

Liu Xiang's coach is doubtful the former Olympic champion hurdler will recover from surgery in time to defend his title at the World Championships in Berlin in August.

The 2004 Athens Olympic champion recently resumed training after undergoing surgery on his right foot in December at Houston, Texas.

The injury kept him from defending his 110-metre hurdles title at last summer's Beijing Games, where he sensationally withdrew at the start line in the heats. He was China's best hope to win gold in athletics at Beijing.

"He trains every day at present, but still cannot take on special training for striding hurdles," Liu's longtime coach, Sun Haiping, was quoted as saying in yesterday's China Daily newspaper. "We don't want to put him at risk again."

Wade burns Knicks

WADE

MIAMI (AP):

Dwyane Wade scored 55 points, one shy of the franchise record, and the Heat wrapped up the No. 5 spot in the Eastern Conference play-offs by beating the New York Knicks 122-105 on Sunday night.

Miami will play fourth-seeded Atlanta in the first round of the play-offs.

Wade shot 19-for-30 from the field, set a career high with six three-pointers and nearly topped Glen Rice's team record of 56 points before leaving with 1:06 remaining.

Liverpool hopeful

LONDON (AP):

Liverpool have nothing to lose at Chelsea today and a few reasons to believe they can score at least three goals to overturn a 3-1 deficit and reach the Champions League semi-finals for the fourth time in five seasons.

The Reds have already ended Chelsea's 86-match unbeaten home streak this season and completed a Premier League double over the London club for the first time in 19 years.