INDIANAPOLIS – The Dallas Morning News, Denver Post and Los Angeles Times were the big winners in the Associated Press Sports Editors annual contest conducted on the campus of Indiana University Purdue University-Indianapolis and judged by a panel of 94 sports editors.

The Morning News, Post and Times claimed the prestigious Triple Crown in the 175,000-and-over circulation category. The papers were honored for the excellence of their daily, Sunday and special sections.

The Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald collected a Triple Crown in the 75,001-175,000 circulation category. The Lincoln (Neb.) Journal Star was a three-time winner in the 30,000-75,000 category, while the Denton (Texas) Record-Chronicle and the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle completed the feat in the under-15,000 circulation category.

The contest also recognized the nation's best writing in the categories of breaking news, columns, explanatory, features, game stories, investigative and projects.

Yahoo! Sports collected a division-high six writing awards in the over-175,000 category. Columnist Dan Wetzel was a part of three of the entries honored. The Boston Globe and Kansas City Star won five writing awards apiece, while the Newark Star-Ledger and USA Today took home four each.

The Columbus Dispatch and the Des Moines Register hauled in six total writing awards in the 75,001-175,000 division. The Salt Lake Tribune was recognized five times. The Austin American-Statesman and the News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.) had four writing winners.

In the 30,000-75,000 category, the Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer was medalist with five writing awards, three by columnist Dan Wiederer. Wiederer has won 11 APSE writing awards, 10 in the past four years. The Wichita Eagle was second in the division with four.

The Columbia (Mo.) Missourian piled up five writing honors to top the under-30,000 division. The Antelope Valley (Calif.) Press and the Santa Cruz (Calif.) Sentinel were next with four apiece.

The 2010 contest added a multimedia category for both over and under two million unique users. 

The winners will be recognized at the APSE’s 38th annual Summer Conference at the Sheraton Boston from June 22-25.