Briefs | Jimmie Johnson breaks wrist in golf-cart fall

Auto racing

Johnson won't be able to drive for at least four weeks: Jimmie Johnson, NASCAR Nextel Cup Series champion, broke his left wrist when he fell out of a golf cart during a celebrity tournament.

The injury occurred Friday at an event in Lecanto, Fla., and will prevent Johnson from driving for at least four weeks, team officials said. The injury was to Johnson's non-shifting hand, and he should be able to participate in preseason testing at Daytona International Speedway in Florida next month.

"I was in a golf cart and the driver took a sharp turn," Johnson said in a statement. "I wasn't holding on tight enough, landed awkwardly on the ground and heard a little pop. It was a fluke deal, but fortunately we're in the offseason and I don't plan to miss any additional time."

The Citrus County Chronicle reported Johnson was prone on the roof of the cart before he fell.

This is the second consecutive year a NASCAR reigning champion was injured during the offseason.

Tony Stewart broke his wrist and bruised ribs in January when he flipped a car during a qualifying race for the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals. He didn't miss any NASCAR races.

Figure skating

Cohen is a popular choice: Sasha Cohen won over judges and fans at the Marshalls Challenge in Boston.

In its second year, the Marshalls Challenge gives fans the opportunity to vote for the winners through in-arena keypads, phone calls or the Internet. A panel of three judges also unanimously voted for Cohen over Johnny Weir and defending champion Kimmie Meissner.

Cohen received 53 percent of the fans' votes. Weir got 33 percent.

"I love the fans. They're so sweet; they're so supportive," said 2006 national champion Cohen.

The 2007 national championships are Jan. 21 to 28 in Spokane. The 22-year-old Cohen said she plans to decide soon whether to compete.

Skiing

Kostelic takes World Cup super-combined: Olympic silver medalist Ivica Kostelic of Croatia won a World Cup super-combined event in Reiteralm, Austria, with a nearly perfect slalom run. Bode Miller of Bretton Woods, N.H., again crashed out of a race. Miller crashed in the last super-combi after leading the downhill leg and also crashed in the last World Cup slalom.

Soccer

Guadalajara earns 11th title: Guadalajara won the Mexican-league title with a 2-1 victory over Toluca, giving it a 3-2 edge in goals for the two matches.

Baseball

Lofton, Rangers might have a deal: A source said outfielder Kenny Lofton, 39, and the Texas Rangers are closing in on a contract agreement.

Tennis

USTA to invest: The U.S. Tennis Association is making a multimillion-dollar investment in The Tennis Channel in hopes of promoting the sport, The Associated Press learned.

Horse racing

Saint Stephen wins: Saint Stephen ($9.60 to win) beat 7-1 shot Southern Africa by a half-length in the Grade III Native Diver Handicap at Hollywood Park in Inglewood, Calif.

Southern Africa, owned by Al and Sandee Kirkwood of Ridgefield, was third in the Aug. 20 Longacres Mile at Emerald Downs in Auburn.

Flamethrowintexan, the Longacres Mile winner, went off at 9-2 in the Native Diver and finished fourth of six.

Running

Tolossa, Denisova triumph: Ethiopia's Ambesse Tolossa won the Honolulu Marathon in 2 hours, 13 minutes, 42 seconds. Lyubov Denisova of Russia won the women's race in a course-record 2:27:19.

Bellevue's Kevin McCarty was 186th.

Kahugu hits jackpot in Las Vegas: Joseph Kahugu got past female champion Jemima Jelagat of Kenya with about a half-mile left to win the male-female challenge prize at the New Las Vegas Marathon.

Kahugu won in 2:16:43 to earn $65,000, making $50,000 for winning "The Challenge" and $15,000 for finishing first in the men's race. Jelagat's time was 2:35:25. The elite women's field started 17:52 before the elite men.

Olympics

Jones, Nott qualify for 2008 Beijing Games: Synchronized swimmers Christina Jones of Fremont, Calif., and Andrea Nott of San Jose, Calif., became the first members of the 2008 U.S. Olympic team when they qualified during competition in Columbus, Ohio.

Seattle Times news services