ST. PAUL, Minn. – The St. Olaf College men’s and women’s track and field teams will head to Macalester College on Friday and Saturday for the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

The meet will be held on Friday and Saturday, May 9-10 at Macalester Stadium, with field events starting at 2 p.m. and track events at 2:30 p.m. on Friday. The final day of the meet will get going with field events at noon and track events at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday.

All tickets for the meet will be sold online through HomeTown Ticketing. Single-day adult tickets are $12 (plus fees) and student tickets are $3 (plus fees). Children five and under do not require a ticket. Student tickets are available for individuals currently enrolled in college, high school, middle school, and elementary school (ID required where applicable). Live video and live results will also be provided throughout the meet.

 

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MEN’S PREVIEW

Coming off a runner-up performance at the MIAC Indoor Track & Field Championships, the St. Olaf men’s track and field team will look to improve on last season’s third-place finish at the outdoor conference meet. The Oles carry 19 top-five seeds into the meet at Macalester, including three No. 1 seeds.

Junior Kevin Turlington is the pre-meet favorite in the 5,000-meter run (14:11.84) and 10,000-meter run (30:03.73), as he goes in search of his first individual conference championship. Senior Andrew Skemp is the No. 2 seed in both events and has finished as the runner-up in the 10,000-meter run in each of the last two seasons. Junior Gael Manzur Strandlund is also a top-five seed in both of those events, with senior Sean Hartney seeded fourth in the 5,000-meter run (14:41.01).

St. Olaf’s 4×800-meter relay enters the meet with the top seed time (7:34.14), while the 4×400-meter relay is seeded second (3:18.56). Individually, juniors Cullen Moore and Lance Nemecek are the No. 2 (1:51.98) and No. 3 seed (1:52.20) in the 800-meter run.

After winning the MIAC title in the one-mile run indoors, Hartney is the second favorite in the 1,500-meter run (3:50.02), followed by junior Ignatius Fitzgerald as the No. 3 seed (3:53.17). Fitzgerald is also seeded second (9:01.70) in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (9:01.70), followed by classmate Jack Deaver as the No. 3 seed (9:20.75).

Sophomore Max Albertson, who won the event indoors earlier this year, is the No. 2 seed in the long jump (7.14m) and is the No. 4 seed in the triple jump (13.68m). Also in the field events, first year Kale Kardonsky is the No. 3 seed in the shot put (15.50m) and senior Andrew Cogley is seeded fifth in the high jump (1.90m).

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WOMEN’S PREVIEW

The St. Olaf women are also coming off a runner-up team finish at the MIAC Indoor Championships and finished fourth last year at the outdoor conference meet. The Oles will head to Macalester with 14 top-five seeds in the conference.

After winning a pair of indoor conference titles and being named the MIAC Women’s Indoor Co-Track Athlete of the Year, junior Isabel Wyatt is the No. 1 seed in the 800-meter run (2:12.19), an event she won indoors this year and outdoors last year.

Senior Alison Bode is the No. 1 seed in both the 5,000-meter run (17:04.08) and 10,000-meter run (35:44.49), as she goes in search of her first individual conference title. Junior Lauren Walda is right behind Bode in the seed list in the 5,000-meter run (17:05.92), while senior Sofia Carlson is also in the top five in fifth (18:06.11). In the 10,000-meter run, first year Arabella England is the No. 2 seed to Bode (39:22.55) and senior Cate Gleason holds the No. 5 seed (39:48.29).

Senior Sophie Abernethy leads five top-10 seeds for the Oles in the 1,500-meter run as the No. 1 seed (4:37.23), with junior Ella Landis seeded fourth (4:45.80). Abernethy was the conference runner-up in the one-mile run indoors this year.

Junior Ashlyn Jore holds St. Olaf’s highest seed in the field events as the No. 3 seed in the long jump (5.50m), while first year Logan Paulsen is seeded fourth in the discus throw (41.34m) and sophomore Mara Larson is seeded fourth in the high jump (1.59m).

St. Olaf is the defending conference champion in the 4×800-meter relay (no seed time) and has the No. 4 seed in the 4×400-meter relay (4:05.20). Junior Grace Moeller is also seeded fifth in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (11:42.50).

 

Sparks appear to trail behind the volleyball on its rapid downward journey that glances off the hardwood or caroms off a defenseless rival player.

The explosive, impressive kill shot launched by senior outside hitter “Johnny Smash” Di Carlo has provided continuous, unforgettable highlights of the 2025 Indian River High School boys’ volleyball season. Di Carlo has made the kill shot a powerful art form during his first and only season studying and playing boys’ volleyball at the school in Dagsboro.

“The most exciting part of volleyball is hitting the ball though,” said Di Carlo, who has accumulated 176 kill shots through the first 11 of the Indians’ regular-season games. “Recognizing a defensive block and cover system, taking your approach, jumping as high as you can, and finally, catapulting your hand with the full weight of your body through the ball to an open spot is more than just a point in the books. It’s a momentum-shifter.”

Di Carlo’s impressive power game recalls previous IRHS boys’ power volleyball kill-shot artists including as Carson Barnes (IRHS Class of 2022) and Italian transfer student Luigi Dotoli (IRHS Class of 2024).

The multi-talented, right-handed-hitting Di Carlo is also an adept defensive player, splitting time at the net, in addition to manning the backline. His 123 digs attest to his ability to keep the ball in play, no matter how quick or difficult the rival’s serve may be.

“I believe that the key to the success I have had and that we … are having as a team can boil down to guys filling roles,” said the 6-foot-3 Di Carlo, whose Indians sport a 9-4 won-lost record heading into their final regular-season match at Dover. “Our coaches really know the game, and they put players where they excel the most in our system. I have been fortunate enough to fill the role of the main hitting and passing option.

“The most challenging part about volleyball is just how simple the fundamentals are,” added Di Carlo, who previously played soccer and baseball before discovering volleyball. “This sounds like a misnomer, but simple doesn’t mean easy — especially during up to five long sets of competitive play.”

Discovering the joy of playing competitive volleyball

Born in Salisbury, Md., Di Carlo spent his junior year of 2023-2024 completing an education program in Vilnius, Lithuania. The country is situated in the Baltic region of Europe, and is bordered by Latvia to the north, Belarus to the east and south and Poland to the south.

That’s where he discovered the joy of playing competitive volleyball. After returning to Salisbury, he played beach volleyball daily in Ocean City, Md., with what he called “the highest-level guys around. At the beginning of 2025, I moved to Selbyville.”

After learning about the success and competitiveness of the Indians’ boys’ volleyball program and the school’s academic standards, Di Carlo enrolled at Indian River High School.

“This team has some amazing players and coaches, and has really helped me grow and develop as a player,” said Di Carlo. “I’ve mostly played beach volleyball, where you work with partners. As a result, playing regular volleyball was a new experience. In the regular game, we work together with five other guys on the court to create success.”

According to Di Carlo, the difference between good volleyball players and great volleyball players is not measured by how hard they smash their hand into the ball or how high they jump.

“Those skills help, obviously,” he began. “What separates the great players from the good ones are their stamina and reliability. Thankfully, my experience playing high-level men’s beach volleyball has allowed me to have the stamina and reliability to provide value to the team.”

Crediting his team’s coaching staff

Di Carlo credits a lot of his team’s success to the Indians’ coaching staff of bench boss Mike Markovic and assistants Jay Clark and Chad Zook.

“Our coaches really know the game, and they put players where they excel the most in our system,” he said.

“Johnny has been a great addition to our team,” said Markovic, who is in his second season of guiding the Indians. “He gives us two dominant outside hitters, along with Amor Townsend. Johnny is an excellent all-around player who leads the team in kills, passing and overall defense. His experience as a beach player really shows on the court with his creative shot selections. His athleticism is demonstrated by how quickly he has mastered volleyball, a sport which he has only played a little more than a year. He has definitely been a positive role model for our younger players by showing them competitive drive and the need to master new skills.”

Di Carlo said he is extremely thankful for the support of his family, including his mother, Ruta, a native of Lithuania, and his father, Joseph. He said he appreciates that his parents “allowed me to move to Lithuania and live alone for a year. They’ve enabled me to go and practice so often to get to where I am today,” said Di Carlo, who hopes to play regular or beach volleyball in college. “I have to thank my mom, dad, grandparents, and great-aunt and -uncle for their unwavering support.”

LOS ANGELES – Trumain Carroll, a two-decade expert in strength and conditioning, has been named USC’s director of football sports performance, Trojan head coach Lincoln Riley announced today (May 7).

“Coach Carroll is an accomplished strength and conditioning professional who has consistently trained his teams to compete at the highest level,” said Riley. “His ability to develop players with an emphasis on a strong team culture has been evident throughout his career. He will have a tremendous impact on our program. We’re excited to welcome Trumain and his family to USC.” 

Carroll most recently served as  the director of strength and conditioning at Kansas State where he helped oversee a culture change within the program. Throughout his time in Manhattan, Kan., the Wildcats recorded a combined 36-17 record, collected three bowl victories and the 2022 Big 12 Championship with a 31-28 overtime victory over No. 3 TCU. Since Carroll began working with the Wildcats prior to the 2021 season, K-State was one of only five Power 4 teams to win at least nine games in each of the last three seasons (2022-24) with at least one conference championship in that timeframe.

Prior to arriving at K-State, he was the director of football strength and conditioning at South Florida in 2020 and spent two seasons (2018-19) as the director of strength and conditioning at Arkansas. 

From 2015-17, Carroll was the director of strength and conditioning at SMU. While in Dallas, Carroll oversaw all strength and conditioning for over 400 student-athletes throughout 17 sports with his primary focus being football. During his tenure at SMU, Carroll’s efforts in the weight room aided in the development of First Team All-American wide receivers Courtland Sutton and Trey Quinn who were both drafted in 2018. Sutton and Quinn were two of the most dynamic wide receivers in college football in 2017, each posting 1,000-yard receiving seasons. SMU competed in the Frisco Bowl in 2017. 

Carroll was an assistant strength and conditioning coach at Oklahoma State from 2013-14. In his second coaching stint in Stillwater, Okla., the Cowboys went 17-9 throughout those two seasons and played in the 2014 Cotton Bowl and the 2015 Cactus Bowl.

He then went on to be the head strength and conditioning coach at South Carolina State from 2011-12 where he oversaw the strength and conditioning program for over 300 student-athletes throughout 14 sports.

From 2008-11, Carroll was the director of strength and conditioning at Missouri-Kansas City. 

Carroll began his coaching career in the weight room at Oklahoma State as an assistant strength and conditioning coach. He designed and directed the strength program for the Oklahoma State women’s basketball program that advanced to the Sweet 16 in the 2007 NCAA Tournament. He also assisted in the strength and conditioning program with the football team that went 23-16 throughout those three seasons and competed in the 2006 Independence Bowl, 2007 Insight Bowl and 2008 Holiday Bowl. 

Carroll was a defensive end at Oklahoma State from 2001-05. During his playing career, he helped the Cowboys earn three-consecutive bowl berths, including a victory in the 2002 Houston Bowl and appearances in the 2003 Cotton Bowl and 2004 Alamo Bowl.

Carroll earned his bachelor’s degree in university studies from Oklahoma State in December 2005. He received his Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coach Certification in May 2007 and his USA Weightlifting Sports Performance Certification in February 2008. Most recently, Carroll earned his Master Strength and Conditioning Certification in May 2020.

Carroll’s hiring is contingent upon completion of a successful background screening. 

 

NORFOLK, Va. (May 7, 2025) – The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) will host the 2025 Outdoor Track & Field Championships at William “Dick” Price Stadium on the campus of Norfolk State University. 

Saturday’s action will be streamed live on ESPN+, beginning at 1 p.m. The broadcast will begin with the women’s and men’s 4×100-meter relays, and the day will conclude with the 4×400-meter relays starting at 4:35 p.m. 

The Howard women’s team is striving for its fourth straight Outdoor Track & Field Championship, while the Norfolk State Spartans men’s team are also in pursuit of their fourth consecutive title, continuing a winning streak that began in 2022. 

Competition will begin on Thursday, May 15, at 1:00 p.m. with the start of the men’s decathlon. The first medals of the championship will be awarded in the men’s and women’s discus, high jump, and 10,000-meter run following the completion of each event. 

Friday’s session will be filled with preliminary competition, and the second set of medals will be awarded immediately following the completion of the men’s and women’s long jump, shot put, hammer throw, and 3,000-meter steeplechase events. 

The men’s and women’s championship trophies and Outstanding Performer awards will be presented following the final events on Championship Saturday. 

To view the schedule or get more information, visit the MEAC Outdoor Track & Field Championship Central page.  

About the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference 

The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) is in its 54th year of intercollegiate competition with the 2024-25 academic school year. Located in Norfolk, Va., the MEAC is made up of eight outstanding historically black institutions across the Atlantic coastline: Coppin State University, Delaware State University, Howard University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Morgan State University, Norfolk State University, North Carolina Central University and South Carolina State University. 

                                                                               

TALLAHASSEE – Florida State’s head softball coach Lonni Alameda was named the ACC Coach of the Year on Wednesday morning. Seven Seminoles also earned a spot on the All-ACC Teams. Jazzy Francik, Jahni Kerr and Isa Torres were all named to All-ACC First Team. Katie Dack, Ashtyn Danley and Michaela Edenfield were named to the All-ACC Second Team, and Kennedy Harp was named to the All-ACC Third Team. 

Coach Alameda picks up her seventh ACC Coach of the Year award after leading the Noles to another ACC Regular Season Championship while also battling breast cancer. FSU finished 18-3 in ACC play and did not drop a single series in conference play on its way to a 15th ACC Regular Season Championship. FSU outscored its opponents 172-72. Alameda was also instrumental in managing a pitching staff that ranks first in the ACC in ERA. 

Francik was phenomenal for FSU in ACC play. Francik had a conference-low 1.40 ERA in 35 innings and a perfect 5-0 record. In her last two starts against ACC teams, Francik has thrown 12 scoreless innings and allowed just two hits including pitching a no-hitter at No. 15 Virginia Tech last week. Francik was also named to the ACC All-Freshman Team.

Kerr picked up her second First Team All-ACC honor of her career as the senior from Mableton, Georgia, started hot and never slowed down in ACC play. Kerr finished conference play with a .456 average, four home runs and 23 RBI. Kerr drove in a run in eight consecutive games from April 11-May 3. Her eight-game RBI streak is tied for the third-longest in school history. 

Torres was Ms. Consistent at the top of FSU’s lineup to earn first team honors. Torres hit .456 for FSU in ACC play with two home runs and 19 RBI. Torres struck out just once in 79 at bats in ACC play and was a perfect 4-for-4 on the base paths. 

Dack was a breakout player for FSU this season as she earned her first All-ACC honors of her career. Dack led the team with five home runs in ACC play while driving in 23 runs. Dack .377 in conference play and slugged .672. 

Danley took another step in the circle for the Noles this season to earn second team honors for the second consecutive season. Danley was a perfect 6-0 in ACC play with a 2.39 ERA in 41 innings. She also recorded two saves in ACC play.

Edenfield became a four-time All-ACC honoree on Wednesday as she picked up second team honors for the third time in her career. Edenfield hit .339 in ACC play with four home runs and 19 RBI. Edenfield has been terrific getting on base with a team-leading .519 on base percentage thanks to a team-high 18 walks in ACC play. 

Harp was one of the biggest surprises for the Seminole lineup as she earned her first All-ACC honors. Harp hit .345 in 18 games with two home runs and 11 RBI to go along with six stolen bases. 

The Seminoles will be back in action tomorrow at 11 a.m. in the Quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament against either Georgia Tech or Cal. 

For updated and exclusive content, follow the Seminoles on X (FSU_Softball), Instagram (fsusoftball) and Facebook (Florida State Seminoles Softball). 

Player of the Year: Cori McMillan, VT, Sr., OF

Pitcher of the Year: Reese Basinger, Clemson, Sr., RHP

Defensive Player of the Year: Thessa Malau’ulu, Duke, Gr., UTL

Freshman of the Year: Macey Cintron, Clemson, Fr., RHP

Coach of the Year: Lonni Alameda, Florida State

 

All-Freshman:

Mia Phillips, California

Macey Cintron, Clemson

Marian Collins, Clemson

Jazzy Francik, Florida State

Alyssa Willer, Georgia Tech

Gracyn Tucker, Georgia Tech

Char Lorenz, Louisville

Caroline O’Brien, Notre Dame

Joie Economides, Stanford

Jordan Lynch, Virginia Tech

 

First-Team:

Jordan Stephens, Boston College

Lagi Quiroga, California

Maddie Moore, Clemson

Reese Basinger, Clemson

Alex Brown, Clemson

Macey Cintron, Clemson

Aminah Vega, Duke

Isa Torres, Florida State

Jahni Kerr, Florida State

Jazzy Francik, Florida State

Kat Rodriguez, North Carolina

River Mahler, Stanford

Eden Bigham, Virginia

Jade Hylton, Virginia

Cori McMillan, Virginia Tech

Michelle Chatfield, Virginia Tech

 

Second-Team:

Tianna Bell, California

Ana Gold, Duke

Dani Drogemuller, Duke

DAuna Jennings, Duke

Thessa Malauulu, Duke

Michaela Edenfield, Florida State

Katie Dack, Florida State

Ashtyn Danley, Florida State

Char Lorenz, Louisville

Kyra Chan, Stanford

Emily Jones, Stanford

Alyssa Houston, Stanford

Macee Eaton, Virginia

Kylie Aldridge, Virginia Tech

 

Third-Team:

Brooke McCubbin, Clemson

Jamison Brockenbrough, Clemson

Kennedy Harp, Florida State

Alyssa Willer, Georgia Tech

Taylor Ensley, NC State

Hannah Church, NC State

Carlie Myrtle, North Carolina

Addison Amaral, Notre Dame

Jade Berry, Stanford

Joie Economides, Stanford

Taryn Kern, Stanford

Jordan Lynch, Virginia Tech

Emma Lemley, Virginia Tech

Zoe Yaeger, Virginia Tech

Emma Mazzarone, Virginia Tech

 

 

A bear plunging from a tree. Insightful high school football discussions. Video chronicling the gridiron “battle of the Burg.” Breaking news on Beaver Stadium going big. Exposing questionable contracts in Dauphin County. And a full menu of hot takes in a collection of sports columns.

This diverse list of 2024 content highlighting PennLive’s full array of digital journalism offerings was recently recognized with national awards bestowed by several prestigious organizations in competitions with entries from across the country.

In announcing the company’s award haul, PennLive’s Senior Director of Content Teresa Bonner said:

“The national awards PennLive received showcase the variety of work we do, and the quality of work by our talented staff. The awards recognize breaking news coverage and investigative reporting; our high school football podcast, and Penn State football commentary; and our visual reporting — T.J. Smith’s fine video on the Harrisburg-Bishop McDevitt rivalry and Sean Simmers amazing photo of a tranquilized bear being caught as he fell from a tree.”

Specifically, Simmers earned second place in spot news photography as part of the 91st National Headliner Awards contest for his image entitled, “Bear Falling from Tree.”

The same organization awarded a second place in the digital sports podcast category to the “PA High School Football Report” podcast featuring reporters Brian Linder, Eric Epler and Dan Sostek and produced by Megan Lavey-Heaton. The same podcast was recognized with three statewide awards in the 2003 and 2004.

PennLive was recognized with four awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors, considered by many to be the most prestigious sports journalism organization in the U.S.

PennLive received a Top 10 win for digital portfolio, judged on the overall quality and presentation of sports websites, including multimedia elements. PennLive’s entry featured

• A story on Bishop McDevitt QB Stone Saunders being named PennLive Player of the Year
• Coverage of the District 3 5A football championship between Bishop McDevitt and Exeter
• A look at an award coveted by Penn State football players but little known to the rest of the world
• A video feature on the renewed rivalry between Harrisburg and Bishop McDevitt high schools
• PennZone: PennLive’s high school football watch-along, postgame show

The “Battle of the Burg,” video, about the renewed high school football rivalry between Harrisburg and Bishop McDevitt, led to a Top 5 award in Excellence in Video (Division C) for videographer T.J. Smith.

Reporter Charlie Thompson ranked fourth among the Top 10 in Breaking News (Division C) for his story on the Penn State Trustees green-lighting a major, multi-million-dollar renovation of Beaver Stadium.

And retired sports columnist David Jones placed eighth in the Top 10 (Division C) for a collection of his columns, including well-reasoned ruminations on O.J. Simpson, Caitlin Clark, Coach Dawn Staley and his parting wishes for his favorite sports event, the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.

Finally, as previously announced, investigative reporter Juliette Rihl has been named a local news finalist for the national Livingston Award for her work exposing questionable contracts in Dauphin County. The award honors journalists under the age of 35 for outstanding achievement.

Rihl is one of 19 finalists for the award, with the winner to be announced at a June 10 ceremony in New York. The honor is based on three stories she wrote about former Dauphin County Commissioner Jeff Haste, including a story about a $2 million dollar contract awarded to a friend of Haste who had no experience; a story about Haste approving funding to a tourism bureau where his wife worked; and a story about Haste collecting a $60,000 salary for a job with a questionable purpose.

Prior to joining PennLive last year, Rihl was part of a team of 24 student-journalists at Arizona State University’s Cronkite School who contributed reporting, data collection and analysis to a larger collaboration among multiple journalism organizations looking into the use of lethal restraint by police. The resulting project, entitled “Lethal Restraint,” was listed as a finalist for a 2025 Pulitzer Prize in investigative reporting.

Summing up the impact of all the national honors, Bonner said, “Every day I’m impressed by the dedication of our staff, and the quality of work they produce, and it’s gratifying to see that recognized with these awards.”