WASHINGTON — Federally mediated negotiations between the NFL and the players' union have stretched past 35 hours over five days — and they aren't done.

Tuesday's session ended after about eight hours. The union, meanwhile, called off a planned meeting with player agents that was supposed to happen Thursday in Indianapolis; labor talks are expected to continue that day in Washington.

After months of infrequent and sometimes contentious bargaining, the league and union have been communicating face-to-face since Friday. They agreed to try mediation in a bid to find common ground before the current labor deal expires at the end of the day March 3. The union has said it believes team owners want to lock out the players as soon as the next day, which could threaten the 2011 season.

ERIE — Will Nesbitt of Center Township won two matches in claiming the boys (age 18) sectional tennis championship at the Pennbriar Athletic Club last weekend.He defeated Zach McCafferty 6-2, 6-3 in the semifinals before besting Nick Ward of Erie 7-5, 6-2 in the finals.SRU field hockey tops nation in GPASLIPPERY ROCK — The Slippery Rock University field hockey team led Division II with a collective grade-point average of 3.55 for the fall semester, as determined by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association.The Rock's GPA was second highest in all NCAA divisions, trailing only Division III's Worcester (Mass.) State College's 3.57.

LOVELAND, Colo. — The Central Hockey League suspended an assistant coach of the Colorado Eagles for the remainder of the season after he lost his cool and some of his clothes during a game last weekend.Greg Pankewicz became incensed Saturday when a linesman tackled an Eagles player after a fight broke out in a win over the Mississippi River Kings.He dressed down the official and then partially undressed himself, tossing his jacket onto the ice, followed by his shirt, undershirt and what appeared to be his shoes.