Three Villanova runners advanced to the finals of their distance races. Senior Bobby Curtis posted the fastest time, 14:10.24, in the men's 5,000-meter heats and junior Frances Koons ran the second-fastest time, 17:23.33, in her heat of the women's 5,000. Senior Liz Haglund grabbed the last berth for the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase final, finishing in 10:25.48.

Senior Arusha McKenzie of Villanova, who was clocked in 2:08.96, did not get past the first round. LSU sophomore LaTavia Thomas, a West Catholic High graduate, moved into the semifinals in 2:08.51.

Villanova senior Marco Radocaj threw 205 feet, 3 inches in the javelin, but did not advance to the final. Junior Max Westman of Penn was in 22d place with 3,466 points after the first day of the decathlon.

Nicole Leach of UCLA (a West Catholic grad) ran the fastest qualifying time in the women's 400-meter hurdles, 56.75. Auburn's Reuben McCoy (Winslow Township) clocked 49.99 in the men's 400-meter hurdles to rank second overall. LSU's Juanita Broaddus (William Penn) advanced in the women's 100.

The Big East will start conference competition in men's lacrosse in the spring of 2010. The teams will include Villanova, NCAA champion Syracuse, Providence, Rutgers, St. John's, Notre Dame and Georgetown.

Elsewhere: Former West Virginia football coach Don Nehlen was recuperating a day after having triple heart-bypass surgery.

Hockey

Dallas Stars defenseman Mattias Norstrom also retired, ending a 14-year career.

Mike Babcock signed a three-year deal worth about $4.5 million to remain coach of the Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings.

Babcock's former assistant, Todd McLellan, was named the San Jose Sharks' head coach, replacing the fired Ron Wilson.

Elsewhere: Minnesota defenseman Erik Reitz signed a one-year contract. . . . New York Rangers defenseman Michal Rozsival, who can become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, had surgery to repair a tear in his left hip. . . . The Carolina Hurricanes signed goalie Michael Leighton to a two-year, $1.2 million deal.

Noteworthy

Mauricia Grant filed a $225 million suit against NASCAR on Tuesday, alleging racial discrimination, sexual harassment and retaliatory termination. Grant, who is black, worked as a technical inspector for NASCAR's second-tier Nationwide Series.

Big Brown's trainer is scheduled to testify next week at a congressional hearing examining safety issues in thoroughbred racing. Rick Dutrow was on the witness list released for the June 19 hearing by the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection.