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R Ashwin Breaks Silence On Reason Behind Retirement, Farewell Test Talks

“I needed this break. I left the series midway. I did not talk much about cricket, though I did post a few things on X after the Sydney and Melbourne Tests. I did not talk about retirement because I was in the dressing room and it was very important for me to respect the sanctum […]

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R Ashwin Breaks Silence On Reason Behind Retirement, Farewell Test Talks

“I needed this break. I left the series midway. I did not talk much about cricket, though I did post a few things on X after the Sydney and Melbourne Tests. I did not talk about retirement because I was in the dressing room and it was very important for me to respect the sanctum of the dressing room. The fan war is very toxic nowadays, ” Ashwin said on Ash Ki Baat. 



The off-spinner retired with 537 wickets in 106 Tests, ending as India’s second-highest wicket-taker in all formats, only behind the legendary Anil Kumble in the list.

He also talked bout not getting a farewell match.  Now, Ashwin himself has broken his silence on his abrupt retirement. Since”You should know that sometimes it is done instinctively. People are saying many things but there is nothing like that. At that time, I thought I lost my creativity. Endings can be happy also. There is no reason to speculate much.””I personally believe that there is nothing important in having a farewell match. I just want to be honest. Just think, if I get a farewell Test but I am not deserving of a place in the side, I will not be happy. Mere cricket mein dum tha, but I think it always better to stop when people ask why and not why not.”Since the time Ravichandran Ashwin announced his retirement, there has been a lot of speculation about the abrupt decision that happened in the middle of the 2024-25 Border Gavaskar Trophy. Ashwin was picked in only one of the first three Tests, after which he announced his retirement from international retirement. After the decision, there have been several theories. Former Indian cricket team star Manoj Tiwary insisted he was insulted, while former India bowling coach Bharat Arun said he was ‘hurt’. Topics mentioned in this article

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File photo of Ravichandran Ashwin© AFP

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University of Utah Athletics

SALT LAKE CITY – Utah’s student-athletes produced a combined average GPA of 3.387 for the 2024-25 academic year, the third-highest GPA in department history, and highest since the department record of 3.407 set in 2020-21. The 2025 spring semester GPA of 3.371 ranks sixth all-time, and marks the 38th consecutive semester with a departmental GPA […]

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SALT LAKE CITY – Utah’s student-athletes produced a combined average GPA of 3.387 for the 2024-25 academic year, the third-highest GPA in department history, and highest since the department record of 3.407 set in 2020-21. The 2025 spring semester GPA of 3.371 ranks sixth all-time, and marks the 38th consecutive semester with a departmental GPA of 3.00 or higher.

“The consistent academic success of our student-athletes, while competing and winning at the highest level of intercollegiate athletics, is a tremendous testament to the quality of students who choose the University of Utah,” said Mark Harlan, Director of Athletics. “It also speaks to the commitment and priorities of our excellent coaches, staff, academic services team and our campus partners. All of this defines the culture of excellence in Utah Athletics that positions our students for success in the classroom, competition and community.” 

 

The women’s cross-country team, which recorded a third consecutive top 20 finish at the NCAA Championships, earned the highest team spring semester GPA of all sports with a 3.862. The men’s side was led by the NCAA champion ski team for the 10th-consecutive semester, earning a 3.568 after posting a 3.696 GPA in the fall.

 

Other Spring 2025 Highlights

  • 69 student-athletes earned a perfect 4.00 GPA
  • 225 were named to the Dean’s List with a 3.50 or better
  • 393 made the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll, 3.00 or better (80.5%)

Program-Specific Highlights

  • Women’s gymnastics—the Big 12 champion and fourth-place finisher at the 2025 NCAA Championships—has earned a team semester GPA of 3.00 or higher for 60 consecutive semesters.
  • Men’s skiing, women’s cross-country and women’s volleyball have earned team semester GPAs of 3.0 or higher for 35 consecutive semesters.

In 2024-25, The Utes’ athletics programs continued to achieve at the highest levels, earning one national championship, five conference titles by three programs, six teams qualifying for the NCAA Championships and six teams being ranked during their seasons. The Utah Ski team’s national championship was its fifth in the last six completed seasons, and the gymnastics program finished in the top four in the nation for the fifth consecutive season. The Red Rocks are the only NCAA women’s gymnastics team to have appeared in all 49 NCAA Championship meets, and all five Final Fours since the sport moved to the format in 2021.
 
Utah Athletics recently celebrated 87 current or former student-athletes who earned their degrees from the University of Utah over the past year. According to the most recent NCAA Graduation Success Rate (GSR), 95 percent of Utah student-athletes graduated within six years of enrolling. That tied the highest mark in department history, and extended Utah’s streak to seven years of meeting or exceeding the 93-percent benchmark.

 



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Taft Tigersharks compete against six teams at Taft pool on Saturday | Newsletter

The high school swimming season is over for Taft Union High School swimmers and divers, but that doesn’t mean swimming is over for the summer in Taft. The Taft Tigersharks Swim Club practices and competes at meets throughout the year and offers training and practice groups for swimmers of various ages and ability levels. According […]

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The high school swimming season is over for Taft Union High School swimmers and divers, but that doesn’t mean swimming is over for the summer in Taft.

The Taft Tigersharks Swim Club practices and competes at meets throughout the year and offers training and practice groups for swimmers of various ages and ability levels. According to Autumn Sanderson, Director of Operations for the Taft Tigersharks Swim Club, a non-profit organization, “Our mission is to provide a great swim program for kids ages four to 18, and to provide a feeder program for the Taft Union High School Wildcats swim team.”

Practice has been underway for the summer season since April and their first summer meet is set for this weekend, June 7, at the Norman Boyd Vincent Memorial Pool in Taft, with 11 swimmers in 26 events, competing against teams from the Aqua Aces Swim Club (Garces High School), Bakersfield Aquatics Club, Bakersfield Swim Academy, Bear Valley Grizzlies, the Lakeside Swim Team (Bakersfield) and Wasco Swim Club.

Sanderson said swimming skills and background are not prerequisites for joining the program. “Any kids from the ages four-through-18 are invited,” she said. “They don’t need experience. We also offer master swim for people to come swim laps.”

For newcomers who are concerned about risk and safety, Sanderson said, “We provide swim safety for our ‘Tigerpups,’ who are beginning swimmers. Then they can progress to our ‘Tigersharks’ designation level. They practice all strokes and have the opportunity to compete against other teams in Kern County.”

This is Sanderson’s fourth year running the team, and she and Troy Peltz run the program together, but the program has been around since the 1970s. “The Tigersharks’ history is decades long and our safety record is unparallelled,” Sanderson said.

The Tigersharks heat up for summer with several local meets and regional competition, but also compete in an All-Star meet in Santa Clarita in January, against the best swimmers in Kern County. “We have practice from January to April for our winter season, Monday-Thursday. Our summer season is April through July with practice Monday-Friday at the Taft pool.” 

Tigersharks coaches

The Taft Tigersharks are coached by experienced swimming instructors. “Emily Phillips coaches our Tigerpups,” said Sanderson. “She is a teacher at Cre8tive Kids Campus in Taft (a Christian preschool and daycare) and is amazing with our kids.”

“Nancy Woodson also teaches our Tigerpups,” Sanderson added. “She comes from a swim background and is perfect for getting these kids ready for the next group.”

On the Tigersharks level, the swim club has two instructors. “Cat Beilby is our Tigersharks coach and is also from a swim background,” said Sanderson. “She works with our beginner Tigersharks, teaching all the fundamentals they need to know to be stronger swimmers and prepare for competition.”

“And our Tigersharks head coach is Kaylee McDonel,” said Sanderson. “Kaylee is a long-time coach and was a Tigershark for many years.” McDonel also made her mark playing co-ed water polo in the Bakersfield Water Polo Club.

The Tigersharks accept donations, and distribute flyers to local schools, with new flyers set to be sent home with Taft school kids.

A former Tigersharks program runner is Greg Golling, now Taft High School Swim/Diver coach and he said he is always excited to see how the kids progress and who is likely to become a Wildcat swimmer in the near future.

Tigersharks roster

The current Tigersharks roster includes Taft Union HS swimmers Zoie Jane Anglin and Zayden Mitchell. “Zoie was swimming for us last season,” said Sanderson. “She isn’t swimming for us this summer, but is still a Tigershark. Zayden is a current high school swimmer who is swimming for us this summer.”

Current Tigersharks on the Men’s roster include Rydin Frakes, Hayden Hanks, Andrew Lumsden. Lucas Lumsden, Wyatt Madding, Zaydin Mitchell, LJ Pearl Jr., Lennex Peltz and Talen Sanderson.

Current Tigersharks on the Women’s roster include Zoie Jane Anglin, Ginny Blackburn, Riverlynn Brown, Kayleigh Dudley, Abigail Engle, Adara Gameros, Sierra Luper, Natalie Miglis, Lillian Morris, Nue Pearl, Teigen Peltz, Autumn Reynolds, Penelope Romero, Madelyn Sanderson, Emerson Shelby, Faith Tofte, Quinn Usrey, Emily White and Elizabeth Woodson.

For more information, you can visit the Taft Tigersharks home page on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/taft.tigersharks/.



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Athletes in Ad Council/Amazon Initiative Show Why the Mind Is the Real MVP

With Skylar Diggins, Laurie Hernandez and Chaunté Lowe June 4, 2025 12:00 pm 2 min read Share: WNBA star Skylar Diggins, gymnast Laurie Hernandez and Olympic high jumper Chaunté Lowe open up about their mental health journeys in PSAs and an interactive online experience dubbed “The Mind Set.” The push represents an evolution of the […]

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With Skylar Diggins, Laurie Hernandez and Chaunté Lowe

WNBA star Skylar Diggins, gymnast Laurie Hernandez and Olympic high jumper Chaunté Lowe open up about their mental health journeys in PSAs and an interactive online experience dubbed “The Mind Set.” The push represents an evolution of the Ad Council’s “Love, Your Mind” campaign.

“Sports fans across the country look up to athletes, and just like the rest of us, athletes need to take steps to take care of their mental health,” says Heidi Arthur, chief campaign officer at the Council, which produced the work with the Huntsman Mental Health Foundation and Amazon Ads.

Arthur believes the trio’s stories will “show more people that it’s normal to experience challenges, and that it’s important to reach out for help. Laurie’s bravery, Skylar’s determination and Chaunté’s resilience are part of what makes each of these athletes so exceptional, physically and mentally.”

Babak Khoshnoud of Bryght Young Things directed the PSAs. “As a former D1 athlete, Babak brings his lived experience with sports and mental health to this creative project,” Arthur says. “Having been in similar shoes as the athletes starring in the campaign, he brought deep subject-matter experience and a vision to communicate this important message.”

While the PSAs get the conversation started, the interactive online experience features resources and instruction on how breathing exercises, gratitude journaling and meditation can help calm the mind. Users of Alexa or an Echo can access mental health tools via the prompt, “Make my mind the MVP.” Plus, they can listen to Amazon Music playlists inspired by the athletes.

“We’re grateful that Amazon has leveraged the full power of its ecosystem to share this message with their audience and brought such ambitious thinking to this work,” Arthur says. “Amazon also has access to a variety of audience touch points where this experience will live, including Prime Video, in the Amazon store and on the Fire TV landing page.”

Visitors who interact with three resources on the site can enter a giveaway open now through July 7 to win personal objects donated by the athletes. Diggins has provided her childhood basketball, Hernandez is offering her comeback leotard and Lowe donated her survivor bell.



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Clemson Tigers Track and Field Team Set to Compete at NCAA Championships

The Clemson Tigers emerged from the NCAA East Region with eight individuals and two relay teams qualifying for the NCAA national championships. The NCAA outdoor track and field championships will start on June 11 and conclude on June 14 at legendary Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore. The women’s team had the better East Region, as […]

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The Clemson Tigers emerged from the NCAA East Region with eight individuals and two relay teams qualifying for the NCAA national championships.

The NCAA outdoor track and field championships will start on June 11 and conclude on June 14 at legendary Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.

The women’s team had the better East Region, as five individuals and two relay teams qualified for nationals, including ones with experience at the event.

Shantae Foreman, a junior, will return to Eugene for the second year in a row as she finished with the best triple jump in the region with a personal best of 14.01 meters. That should put her in contention for a national championship in the event.

Oneka Wilson is returning to Eugene for the second straight year after she qualified in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 13.04. Gladys Chepngetich is also returning to nationals again after she ran a personal best of 1:59.47 in the 800 meters. It was the 10th fastest time in NCAA history and the fastest time in program history.

Silvia Jelelgo will complete in two events in Eugene. She ran a 4:05.68 in 1,500 meters, which was the sixth-best team in the NCAA this year. She also qualified in the 5,000 meters.

Aniyah Kitt, a freshman, qualified in the 100 meters with a time of 11.12.

The two relay teams are made up mostly of runners that qualified in individual events.

The women’s 4×100 relay team of Kitt, McKenzie Calloway, Sade Gray and Wilson finished with a time of 43.44 to qualify. The women’s 4×400 relay team also qualified as they finished with a season’s best time of 3:29.24 with Shanque Williams, Kitt, Gray and Chepngetich.

On the men’s side, three athletes qualified, two of which will be competing in Eugene for the first time.

Ryan John will make his first nationals appearance after he qualified for the triple jump with his mark of 15.82 meters. Jalen Johnson is also set to make his nationals debut in the 200 meters as the freshman ran 20.29 in the quarterfinals.

Brian Kweyei will run in the 800 meters after he ran a time of 1:47.28 to qualify.



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Items on Paityn Noe, Alli Bookin-Nosbisch, Quinton Orr, Edwin Kurgat, Reed Fischer, Obsie Birru, Karim Achengli

Paityn Noe set a new facility record with a win in the 5,000 on May 31 Paityn Noe has positioned herself perfectly for two top finishes at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships on June 11-14. The Arkansas sophomore started a busy 37 1/2 laps around the track at Texas A&M over two days […]

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Paityn Noe set a new facility record with a win in the 5,000 on May 31

Paityn Noe has positioned herself perfectly for two top finishes at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships on June 11-14.

The Arkansas sophomore started a busy 37 1/2 laps around the track at Texas A&M over two days with a fourth-place finish in the 10,000 meters at the NCAA West meet on Thursday, May 29. The Iowa record holder for 5K who attended Ballard (Huxley) in high school ran 33 minutes, 56.89 seconds and leads off this edition of the WEEKEND UPDATE of the best performances by Iowa-based collegiate and postcollegiate distance runners and triathletes. Pamela Kosgei of New Mexico was the winner in 33:37.04.

Two days later, Noe set a new facility record with a win in the 5,000 on a hot evening in College Station in 15:43.45. Noe won the race by 6.07 seconds over Washington senior Amina Maatoug. The previous record was 15:45.32 set in 2021 by Alabama’s Mercy Chelangat.

Both races were called semifinals because the NCAA final for both events will be contested at the University of Oregon’s Hayward Field next week. Noe also the school record in the 5,000 (15:11.27) and ranks second in Arkansas history in the 10,000 (31:59.22).

Noe will be joined at nationals by fellow Iowan Alli Bookin-Nosbisch. The Iowa senior and graduate school student set a new Iowa school record in the 800 quarterfinals on Saturday, May 31. The former Ottumwa runner shattered her own record of 2:02.92 by racing to a 2:01.70 effort that gave her fourth place overall and third in heat 3.

“We had an amazing day for the women’s team,” Iowa Director of Track and Field Joey Woody said. “Alli (Bookin-Nosbisch) had a terrific race and had a monster kick to break her school record and punch her ticket to Eugene.”

Bookin-Nosbisch finished behind Roisin Willis of Stanford (1:59.81) and Portland’s Laura Pellicoro (2:01.44) in that heat. The top time was produced by BYU senior Meghan Hunter, a 1:58.95 effort that puts her as one of the favorites for the title next week.

Bookin-Nosbisch had qualified for the Saturday event by placing second in heat 2 of the 800 first round on May 29. She ran 2:03.83 for seventh place overall.

Also running both days was Arkansas junior and former Carlisle athlete Ainsley Erzen. Erzen locked in her spot in the quarterfinals on time after placing fourth in heat 5 in 2:06.01. With six heats, 24 make the quarterfinals and Erzen’s time was 22nd best. Two days later, Erzen placed 23rd in 2:10.05 while taking eighth in heat 2. Only 12 made it to Eugene.

Bookin-Nosbisch’s teammate, sophomore Gabby Cortez, didn’t make it out of the first round. The Cedar Rapids Prairie grad ran 2:12.12 to end up eighth in heat 4.

Iowa State redshirt junior Quinton Orr will be making his first trip to nationals after advancing on time in the 3,000 steeplechase quarterfinals on Friday, May 29. The former Humboldt runner took fifth in heat 1 and had to wait to see if his 8:39.13 time would stand up. He ended up 10th, with the top three in each of three heats and the next three best times advancing. Matthew Kosgei of New Mexico ran the fastest time of the heats, 8:25.41, while Orr’s freshman teammate, Joash Ruto, was second in heat 1 in 8:28.86.

Two Iowa athletes came up short in their bid to make it to Eugene. True freshman Luke Knepp, All-Big Ten in the steeplechase two weeks prior, finished fifth in heat 3 in 8:47.22. The Pleasant Valley product was 18th overall. Senior teammate Yohana Yual, who ran for Johnston, also ran in that heat and was seventh in 8:52.56 while taking 21st overall out of 46 finishers.

Other former Iowa preps who competed at the NCAA West event included Iowa State junior Bella Heikes in two events. The Johnston product finished 10th in heat 1 of the 1,500 first round on May 29. Heikes ran 4:27.64 as Washington’s Sophie O’Sullivan posted the top time of 4:13.81.

Two days later, Heikes took 12th in heat 2 of the 5,000. Her time of 16:25.41 was good for 25th overall.

Two Iowa collegians ran the last race in their schools’ singlets. Iowa State junior Kiki Connell, who is transferring to Northwest Missouri State in the fall to be with her future husband Riely Witt, took eighth in heat 3 of the 3,000 steeplechase on May 31. The Northern Iowa transfer who is a Charles City grad ran 10:19.94 for the 24th-best time. Northern Iowa senior Emma Hoins is out of eligibility. The former Waverly-Shell Rock runner and Hawkeye Community College transfer clocked a 10:39.37 time for 11th in heat 2 and 37th overall. The top time was produced by BYU senior Lexy Halladay-Lowry in 9:23.03.

Three former Iowa preps couldn’t make it out of the first round of the 800 on May 28. Nebraska redshirt freshman Gabe Nash ended up 29th overall after taking sixth in heat 2. Nash attended Sioux City North. Northern Iowa senior Drake Hanson’s career ended after placing fifth in heat 6. The former Southeast Polk prep ran 1:49.35 for 32nd overall. Junior teammate Chase Knoche, who is a former Calamus-Wheatland runner, notched 37th overall in 1:50.03. Knoche was seventh in heat 6. Only the top three in each of six heats plus the next fastest six times made it to the quarterfinals on May 30. Former NCAA champion Sam Whitmarsh of Texas A&M posted the top time, 1:46.83.

In the 5,000 semifinals the night of May 30, Northern Arizona sophomore Ford Washburn notched 42nd place overall. The former Iowa City High runner finished in 14:16.51 for 20th in heat 2. Matt Strangio of Portland notched the top time of 13:25.98.

One former Iowa prep competed in the East event in Jacksonville, FL. Liberty University senior Marie Hostetler, coming off a Conference USA steeplechase championship two weeks prior, took 10th in heat 2 and 31st overall in the 3,000 steeplechase quarterfinals May 31. The former Mid-Prairie athlete crossed the finish line in 10:27.59. Alabama sophomore star Doris Lemngole had the best time of 9:13.12.

Sticking with track and field and Grand Slam Track at Philadelphia’s Franklin Field on June 1. Former Iowa State NCAA cross country champion Edwin Kurgat competed in the elite seven-man 3,000 field and ended up sixth. The 29-year-old Kenyan ran 8:04.18.

Six-time NJCAA champion Adva Cohen of the Under Armour Dark Sky squad set an Israeli national record in the 3,000 steeplechase at the Continental Tour Gold event in Bydgoszcz, Poland, on May 30. The former Iowa Central Community College great ran a new best of 9:27.79 to break her own record of 9:29.74 set in 2018.

Shifting to road racing, where Drake University 5,000 record holder Reed Fischer picked up a fifth-place finish at the Bank of America Chicago 13.1 on Sunday. The Tinman Elite athlete based in the Boulder, CO, area covered the half marathon distance in 1:02:41. Former Iowa athlete Aidan King picked up 48th place in 1:14:08. Zouhair Talbi was the champion in 1:01:08.

Former Grand View University NAIA champion Obsie Birru finished third among the women at the Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon in San Diego on May 31. Birru, a former Johnston runner now based in Phoenix, covered the 13.1-mile distance in 1:18:50. The winner was fellow American Julia Vasquez Giguere in 1:14:05.

The sixth annual EMC Dam to DSM race was held on a muggy day on May 31 from Saylorville Lake to Cowles Commons in downtown Des Moines. Karim Achengli, who starred at Iowa Central before going to Northwest Missouri State, picked up the victory in 1:08:43.00 on a course that was about a tenth short of the expected 13.1-mile distance. The native of Spain, a 33-year-old now living in Urbandale, topped former Simpson College NCAA champion Spencer Moon by 3.63 seconds. Moon, 24, is a former South Central Calhoun prep now representing Fitness Sports Distance Project and living in West Des Moines. They averaged 5:15 per mile.

Aidan King, completing the first half of his difficult back-to-back half marathons, took third place in 1:09:54.45. King, 23, is an Iowa City resident. Former Pleasant Valley prep Hayden Kuhn, an Iowa junior who redshirted this season, was next in 1:11:22.70. Iowa freshman Carson Hough, a former Des Moines Christian athlete, ran 1:11:40.29 for fifth. Zack Janulewicz, who just finished his senior season at Waukee Northwest, grabbed sixth in 1:11:40.57. Aaron Fynaardt, another Des Moines Christian grad who started his college career at Drake before transferring to Union University, was next in 1:11:40.74. Jack Flori, a recent Dowling Catholic grad, was next eighth in 1:11:41.34. Wartburg College’s Ahmed Aldamak, a former Cedar Falls runner, ran 1:12:37.02 for ninth. Runablaze Iowa’s Don Agisha picked up 10th in 1:13:49.59. Agisha, 21, lives in Norwalk. James Johnson, who finished his freshman season at Simpson and is a Marshalltown grad, took 11th in 1:14:22.90. Chase Bulten, a former Northwestern College and Manson-Northwest Webster who now coaches at Campbellsville University in Kentucky, ended up 12th in 1:14:26.91.

The women’s champion was former All-Missouri Valley Conference runner Casey McDermott. The Drake and Newton High grad covered the distance in 1:18:19.32, a 5:58 pace per mile. McDermott, 36, now lives in Malcom. Taking runner-up honors was former Norwalk and Central College athlete Angela Chaney. The reigning IMT Des Moines Marathon champion and resident of Drakesville clocked a 1:20:03.16 time. Chaney represents Runablaze. Teammate Pasca Cheruiyot, the winner of the 39th and final Dam to Dam in 2018, took third in 1:20:48.48. Cheruiyot, 38, is a resident of Ankeny. Fitness Sports Distance Project’s Lexi Brown, a former Wartburg College American Rivers Conference champion who prepped at New London, was next in 1:21.12.47. Brown, 23, lives in Waverly. Former Valley prep Lauren Schulze, who completed her college career at Illinois State this spring, ran 1:22:25.17 for fifth. Schulze, 22, lists Clive as her address. Another former Valley Tiger, Teghan Booth, was next in 1:25.26.87. Booth, 22, of West Des Moines just finished her career at Simpson College.

There were 3,994 finishers and about 1,000 who didn’t attempt to start.

On to trail racing and the Sunapee Scramble races at Sunapee, New Hampshire, on June 1. Former Iowa State All-American Dan Curts finished sixth in the premier USATF race. The resident of Lebanon, NH, finished in 1:12:28. The winner was David Norris of Steamboat Springs, CO, in 1:09:55.

Finishing back in Iowa. At the Quad Cities Criterium Running Wild Mile in Davenport. Running Wild Elite’s Mike Gille, 24, finished third in 4:34. The St. Ambrose assistant coach lives in East Moline, IL. Teammate and former Pleasant Valley prep Devin Allbaugh, 35, of Bettendorf was next in 4:38 on the very hilly course. RWE’s Kevin Claus, 30, of Port Byron, IL, ended up sixth in 4:45. Steven Potter, 25, of Janesville, WI, set a new course record in 4:25. Ana Pineda, 24, of Joliet, IL, also set the women’s course record on the Glenwood Avenue hill in 5:19.

At the Pigman Triathlon, an Iowa tradition in Palo since 1992, Runablaze Iowa’s Elaina Biechler, 39, of Dubuque took the women’s win in 1:16:15.0. She had a 5K run of 19:43.5.

Timothy Doyle, 48, was the overall winner of the sprint event. Doyle covered the .5K swim, 25K Bike and 5K run in 1:12:27.3. His bike split of 39:45.3 was the best. Reese Manternach, 24, took second in 1:13:16.9 with the best 5K run of 18:36.7.

The women’s Olympic distance winner and fourth overall was Maggie Liaboe, 36, in 2:23:11.4. Liaboe averaged 21.8 mph on the bike. Just one spot behind her was Jordan Fullan, 35, in 2:24:03.4. Fullan was the second female.

Christian Sande, 38, was the men’s Olympic distance victor. Sande covered the 1.5K swim, 40K bike and 10K run in 2:18:44.9. Fellow Iowan Jack Harty, was second in 2:20:21.7, just barely ahead of Keith Enyart, 44. Enyart was timed in 2:20:28.9.

NOTE: The Weekend Update will return on June 17.

MISSING A TOP DISTANCE RUNNER OR TRIATHLETE?: Let me know at bergeson@registermedia.com.

Want to hear more about distance running in Iowa. Listen to my podcast here: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/lance-berg



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Volleyball Completes Its 2025 Signings with the Addition of Addison Walker

Story Links CHATTANOOGA — Chattanooga volleyball capped of its signings on Wednesday when head coach Julie Torbett Thomas announced the team’s final addition to the 2025 roster, Addison Walker. Walker, who was an early enrollment gray shirt at Gardner-Webb this past semester, comes to the Mocs with all four years of eligibility […]

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CHATTANOOGA — Chattanooga volleyball capped of its signings on Wednesday when head coach Julie Torbett Thomas announced the team’s final addition to the 2025 roster, Addison Walker.

Walker, who was an early enrollment gray shirt at Gardner-Webb this past semester, comes to the Mocs with all four years of eligibility remaining as an outside hitter. The six-foot-two freshman from Parkland, Florida, was the No. 36 ranked prospect coming out of the state of Florida for the Class of 2025 according to PrepDig.

“Addison is the final piece to our puzzle and a big outside hitter with a heavy arm,” Coach Torbett Thomas said. “We originally recruited her as a junior in high school, but she chose to graduate early, which didn’t align with our needs at the time. That spring in a college gym, however, gave her a valuable head start—mentally and physically—without using a year of eligibility.

“I really wanted another freshman who could train for four years and grow with the program. Addison fits that mold perfectly. Her early college experience, combined with her long-term potential, makes her a tremendous fir for UTC volleyball.”

Walker was a standout for Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, receiving numerous All-County Team selections from the likes of the Sun Sentinel and the Miami Herald over the course of her playing career. Walker also received MSDHS’s Offensive MVP award in back-to-back seasons as a junior and senior.

The Parkland, Florida, native was named to VBall Recruiter’s Top Player List for the Class of 2025 while also being a multi-time invitee to USA Volleyball Team Florida Selection Camp as well as USA Volleyball National Team Development Program Training. Walker also wrapped up her time at Marjory Stoneman Douglas with a little hardware, having led the Eagles to the Florida District 14 title as a senior.

Walker has also built up a resume in the classroom that rivals her resume on the volleyball court, with Walker graduating from Marjory Stoneman Douglas early with a perfect 4.0 GPA. She is also a member of the National Honor Society.

Addison Walker, born January 7, 2007, is the daughter of Ray and Kelly Walker. She also has two siblings: Brooke and Storm. Ray (father) played quarterback at the University of Nebraska – Omaha, while her grandfather Kevin O’Riordan played college basketball at the University of Miami (FL). Addison is currently undecided on what she will study while attending UTC.

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