CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Sprinter Michael Assefa went from despair to elation in less than 24 hours at the U.S. Paralympic trials, all because of a broken blade.Assefa was in the blocks for the final of the 200 meters Thursday night when the prosthetic he wears in place of his lower left leg snapped.A dejected Assefa, from Frankfort, Ill., was left sitting next to the track as the race went off.I had my accident where I lost my leg four years ago, and I set out a goal to go to the Paralympics ever since, so to have it break right before the race was devastating to me, Assefa said. I thought all my chances were gone.Assefa, who was injured in a train accident, was unsure of what would happen next. But a team of people were standing by ready to help.Theres no real process. Theres no protocol for it, Assefa said. So a bunch of guys here -- we have a great community -- they called the manufacturers, they overnighted a blade for me, and this morning we got it in.His doctors fitted him with the blade just 45 minutes before the start of the 100-meter finals on Friday.Assefa ran the race in 13.3 seconds, crossing the finish line third in the heat. The time doesnt guarantee him a spot on the American team -- under the rules of the Paralympics, national teams are limited in size and U.S. officials have to decide who is in and out -- but it gave Assefas hopes a big boost.He walked off the track with sweat dripping down his face and a big smile. He posed for pictures with family, friends and fans while fighting back tears.Im blessed, Im excited, Im ecstatic, Assefa said. I want to go drink a beer.---Allison Gasparetti is a journalism student at Penn State. Penn State and Georgia are partnering with The Associated Press to supplement coverage of the 2016 Paralympics. Adidas NMD R1 Wholesale . -- The St. Johns IceCaps weathered a wild first period with the help of goaltender Jussi Olkinuora, before finding offensive inroads in the second. Cheap Fake NMD . -- Brandon Jennings made the most of his first game with the Detroit Pistons on Sunday night. http://www.cheapnmdonline.com/pharrell-x-adidas-nmd-human-race-triple-black-white-bb3068-men-s.html . Gerald Green and Miles Plumlee? Green had bounced around the NBA when he wasnt playing overseas. The Pacers gave up on Plumlee after just one season. Now Green and Plumlee are key cogs in the Suns surprising breakout season. Fake NMD For Sale . -- Running backs Darren McFadden and Rashad Jennings were back at practice for the Oakland Raiders on Wednesday despite being hampered by hamstring injuries. Adidas NMD R2 Cheap . The nimble-footed quarterback got his wish, dashing through the snow and a weary defence all the way into the NCAA record book. BERKELEY, Calif. -- Jabari Bird realizes the scrutiny surrounding the California program for the way last season ended.It became impossible to ignore given the embarrassing finish on several fronts -- the basketball on the court, and what was transpiring off it.Cal lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to Hawaii. There were distractions before the Golden Bears even took the court in Spokane, Washington , however.Last years end of the season was extremely motivational. It didnt end the way we wanted it to end, Bird said. We had some unfortunate circumstances.The university reviewed whether coach Cuonzo Martin properly handled sexual harassment allegations against former assistant coach Yann Hufnagel , now at Nevada. An administrative review showed that all department employees -- including Martin -- responded properly. The coach received a contract extension Tuesday taking him through 2020-21.Now, Bird and sophomore forward Ivan Rabb are the two returning regular starters from last season, while point guard Sam Singer played regularly during the absences of injured star Tyrone Wallace.Here are some things to watch for with the Bears:RABBS RETURN: After discussing it with his family, Rabb opted to stick around and extend his college career right at home in the Bay Area -- and thats a big boost for the Bears. A surprise to many as well.Rabb averaged 12.5 points and 8.6 rebounds during his freshman season, helping Cal get back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2013. He had been projected as a first-round draft pick.Its great to have him back. Ive said it before, one of the best guys Ive ever been around as a basketball player, as a young man, and student-athlete, Martin said. He has all the parts to be successful in life, whether hes playing basketball or not. ... He takes pride in going to class and being successful. Not just going, but he wants to be good. He wants to get a degree. He represents the Bay Area. He takes a tremendous amount of ppride in that.ddddddddddddONE AND DONE: Jaylen Brown bid farewell to Berkeley after one season to make the NBA leap.Now, Cal will count on big contributions from 7-footers Kingsley Okoroh and Kameron Rooks.Martin realizes some players will only stay for one year, and he accepts that.I recruit young men that I like to be around, he said. I dont care if theyre rough around the edges, they come from East St. Louis, like I come from, wherever they come from, I just want to be a part of a young mans life to put him in a position to be successful in life.SWITCHING SHOOTERS: When guard Jordan Mathews unexpectedly decided to transfer to Gonzaga, the Bears needed another shooter. They landed Grant Mullins, a graduate transfer from Columbia who will certainly be called upon to help pick up a chunk of the scoring load in his one season for the Bears.TOP FRESHMAN: Freshman Charlie Moore, a 5-11 guard from Chicago, was considered a top recruit out of Illinois and should make an immediate impact. His teammates have been impressed with his speed and maturity adjusting to the college demands.Moore averaged 28 points, seven assists, five steals and four rebounds during his senior high school season at Morgan Park.Hes dynamic, Bird said. Super talented for a kid that young to come in. He hasnt really hit a bump yet as far as Ive seen so far in practice where he couldnt have handled it.THE SCHEDULE: The Bears went a school-record 18-0 at home in Haas Pavilion, where Cal will be tested with most of its early games on the schedule in Berkeley and a date with powerhouse Virginia on Dec. 21 before Arizona visits Dec. 30 to open Pac-12 Conference play. Cal is riding a 19-game home winning streak overall.The Bears also face San Diego State on Nov. 21 at new Golden 1 Center in Sacramento -- the home of the Kings -- that will host the NCAA Tournament next March. ' ' '