Sports
Grand opening! New BMX track opens May 4 at 11 a.m.


The Marie Davidson BMX Bike Park is officially opening for fun and competitive racing and events
NEWS RELEASE
– Distributed April 11, 2025 2:56 PM
Summary
The Marie Davidson BMX Bike Park, now larger and improved, is ready for local, provincial, national and even international events and competitions. The Nanaimo BMX Club and the City of Nanaimo are inviting the public to a grand opening event on Sunday, May 4 at 11 a.m. for a ribbon cutting, special acknowledgements and an opportunity to see BMX racers in competitive action. The Nanaimo BMX Club has also arranged for Molly Simpson (Canada’s female professional BMX racer and Olympian) to be in attendance as a special guest.
The new facility caters to both amateur and professional athletes, and features an impressive 5-metre start hill and hydraulic start gate, complete with an official’s platform. The track has about 4,000 square metres of new track surface replacing the old 2,800 square foot track. The new jumps, bumps and berms (banked corners) were shaped and constructed to create a fun, fast and competitive BMX racing experience. The track has a recycled concrete and asphalt foundation, sealed with a dust suppressant and soil stabilizer. This approach makes Nanaimo’s track the only one on Vancouver Island and one of only a few in Canada that will be usable year-round.
The BMX track is located at 2001 Labieux Road, and is now bookable for competitions. Nanaimo is set to host the Harbour City Nationals (part of BMX Canada’s 2025 National Series) on the new track in July.
Link to Strategic Plan: Enhancing parks and open spaces supports Council’s commitment to a livable Nanaimo.
Key Points
- The Marie Davidson BMX Bike Park, now larger and improved, is open and ready for local, provincial, national and even international events and competitions.
- The Nanaimo BMX Club and the City of Nanaimo are inviting the public to a grand opening event on Sunday, May 4 at 11 a.m. for a ribbon cutting, special acknowledgements and an opportunity to see BMX racers in competitive action. Special guest and Canadian Olympian Molly Simpson will be in attendance.
- The track has a recycled concrete and asphalt foundation, sealed with a dust suppressant and soil stabilizer making the track usable year-round.
Quotes
“Creating spaces like this bike track is about more than recreation, it’s about building complete communities. Whether you ride for fun or for sport, it gives the Nanaimo community a great place to get outside and stay active. It’s the result of strong partnerships across all levels of government, and our ongoing work to deliver the homes and amenities that strengthens communities throughout B.C.”
Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs
Province of BC
“The start gates are ready and this park is open for world-class competition! The renewed Marie Davidson BMX Bike Park is sure to grab the attention of riders and clubs across Canada; it’s one more amazing facility that adds to Nanaimo’s vibrant sporting community.”
Mayor
City of Nanaimo
Quick Facts
- Together with the Steve Smith Bike Park, including the pump track and the Mountain Bike Skills Park, the new Marie Davidson BMX Bike Park further establishes Nanaimo and Beban Park as an exciting cycling destination.
Images
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Print News Release
Sports
Georgia Freshmen and Signees Shine at SPAR European Cross Country Championships
Nilsson was the first Georgia athlete to compete, racing in the Women’s U20 competition (4450m). She crossed the finish line at 15:56 to place 33rd overall, scoring third for Sweden and helping the team to a third-place team finish with 44 points.
Meanwhile in the Men’s U20 race (4450m), Georgia had three representatives, all of which finished within the top-30.
Signee Lennon led the group with a 15th place finish at 13:37. His performance served as the second-best scoring effort for Great Britain and Northern Ireland that helped the team to a second-place finish with 45 points.
Fellow signee Kalász also delivered an impressive effort with a 13:38 to place 17th overall. Kalász was the first finisher across the line for team Hungary in the competition.
Kudlis finished 29th place crossing the finish line at 13:54, which was first for team Latvia.
News and updates from Georgia’s track and field and cross country teams are always located on X/Instagram at @UGATrack.
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The NCAA women’s volleyball tournament will go on without the sport’s highest-spending team, after undefeated Nebraska, the event’s top overall seed, was stunned by Texas A&M in the quarterfinals on Sunday.
Nebraska was 33-0 heading into the game and is also the sport’s financial powerhouse. The university spent $5.91 million on its women’s volleyball team in the 2023-24 season, the most of any program in the country, according to Sportico’s College Sports Finances Database. Nebraska is the only public FBS school to spend more on women’s volleyball than women’s basketball, and first-year head coach Dani Busboom Kelly earned a base salary of $700,000 this season.
The team also brought in $2.57 million in ticketing revenue, which is the third-highest for any women’s sports team at a public FBS school, trailing only Iowa’s and UConn’s women’s basketball teams. The Aggies, for contrast, made just $288,000 from ticket sales.
Women’s volleyball has taken off in recent years, with top college programs spending more and multiple pro leagues raising millions to get off the ground. Average viewership for the 2025 college regular season on ESPN was up 36% year-over-year. Nebraska, which drew 92,003 fans to a game at Memorial Stadium in 2023, has been a big part of the sport’s success.
Texas A&M is no slouch when it comes to volleyball spending, though, ranking in the top 10 in budget each of the past four years and seventh at $3.75 million in the most recent season for which data is available. On the other side of the bracket, Wisconsin is the No. 3 highest-spending program in the nation at $4.68 million and will face Kentucky, whose $3.21 million in expenses ranked 11th. The fourth semifinalist, Pittsburgh, is public but does not provide its financial details via open records requests.
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Sports
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Jakobi Heady was a standout again for the Wildcats in the teeth of the nonconference season, leading the way offensively with 15 points on 5-9 shooting with a rebound, an assist, and a steal at SEC opponent Missouri. .
Each week, The Bethune-Cookman Office of Athletic Communications recognizes one male and one female student-athlete through the Wildcats of the Week award.
This award recognizes student-athletes who have excelled in competition, in the classroom, and in the community over the past week, exemplifying the Championship Culture of Wildcat Athletics.
2025-26 Wildcats of the Week
December 8-14
W: N/A (No Women’s Competition This Week
M: Jakobi Heady, Men’s Basketball
December 1-7
W: Daimoni Dorsey, Women’s Basketball
M: Sha’Nard Walker, Track & Field
November 24-30
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M: Jakobi Heady, Men’s Basketball
November 17-23
W: Jordan Brooks, Women’s Basketball
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October 13-19
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M: N/A (No Men’s Competition this Week)
October 6-12
W: Valencia Butler, Cross Country
M: Andrew Kiplagat, Cross Country
September 29-October 5
W: Amya Jennings, Volleyball
M: Ali Scott Jr., Football
September 22-28
W: Sierra Herndon, Volleyball
M: Javon Ross, Football
September 15-21
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September 8-14
W: Nola Hemphill, Volleyball
M: Cam’Ron Ransom, Football
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August 25 – 31
W: Kaleigh Williams, Volleyball
M: Andrew Kiplagat, Cross Country
For all the latest Bethune-Cookman Athletics news, follow us on Facebook (Bethune-Cookman Athletics), X (@BCUAthletics), Instagram (@BCU_Athletics) and BCUAthletics.com.
Sports
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Winston Morgan set a new program record in the 300m with a time of 34.50. Jack Roussaeu put himself at fourth all-time in the event with his 35.68 finish, while Jack Inglis placed sixth all-time with a 36.35 finish. As for the women’s 300m, Mariella Schweitzer placed second all-time with her final time of 39.62, while Veronika Simova put herself at third all-time with a 40.27 mark.
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Charlotte DiRocco cleared 1.72m in the high jump of the women’s pentathlon, putting herself at seventh all-time in the event.
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Sports
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In the 60-meter hurdles race at the Jimmy Grant Alumni Invitational hosted by the University of Iowa Saturday, Meyer clocked in at 7.92 second. It’s the fastest time by any Division III athlete so far this season. It’s also the fastest in American Rivers Conference history. He placed third in the meet behind a pair of Hawkeyes.
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This is the second time a Central athlete has received the national weekly honor for the indoor season. The first was Eric Larson in 2015.
Sports
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