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Jackson, Parham and Stargell accompanied juniors Sara Marvin and Marta Sivina for the shot put toss in the throwing ring. Marvin took fifth place at 14.58 meters, while Sivina accomplished a personal best at 11.84 meters. “Considering the circumstances, I think the team did a really good job adjusting to the weather delays and modifications. […]

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Track and Field

Jackson, Parham and Stargell accompanied juniors Sara Marvin and Marta Sivina for the shot put toss in the throwing ring. Marvin took fifth place at 14.58 meters, while Sivina accomplished a personal best at 11.84 meters.
“Considering the circumstances, I think the team did a really good job adjusting to the weather delays and modifications. I’m very pleased with the composure they had for the meet,” Thomas said. 
Junior Santana Spearman participated in the 60 and 200-meter events and recorded times of 7.94 and 25.55 seconds. Despite both times representing personal bests, Spearman failed to make the finals in the 60-meter race and was just outside the top five of the 200-meter event. Sophomores Elsa Steer and Clara Steer were the only Commodores to participate in the mile race and ran 5:04.76 and 5:34.18, respectively. Elsa Steer’s race on Jan. 11th was a personal best and seventh in the field.
Vanderbilt entered four athletes in the long jump. Sophomore Anaya Webster ranked fourth at 5.66 meters, barely missing third place by 1.5 inches. First-year Anya Carey participated in the event and finished within the top 10 with a jump of 5.45 meters. Parham and Stargell also participated in the event.
Five inches of snow did not stop the Vanderbilt Track and Field team from opening its season in record-setting fashion. Competing at home in the 2025 Commodore Challenge, the Black and Gold achieved seven personal bests as nine new names debuted on the school’s list of top 10 all-time indoor performances.

Field Events

The weekend of racing concluded with the 4×400-meter relay race. The team consisted of first-year twins Isabella Dagrosa and Mackenzie Dagrosa, McBride and Webster. Their combined efforts secured them third place, with a time of 3:48.77. 
The Black and Gold had similar success in the 600-meter race. Georgia native Allyria McBride ran the second-fastest time in program history, clocking in at 1 minute and 31.29 seconds. Fellow Georgian first-year Kenyah Connor made a strong debut for the program, clocking in at 1:31.72. This run tied Connor for the fifth-fastest time in Vanderbilt track history. Despite their strong showings, both Commodores barely missed the podium, with McBride and Connor placing fourth and fifth, respectively. 
In the 300-meter race, Benzinger sped her way into the Commodore record books by running 39.34 seconds, fifth all-time and second fastest in the event. Junior Falon Spearman was right behind Benzinger, securing third place in the race with a 39.87-second finish. Spearman’s time put her just outside of a Vanderbilt record.
Vanderbilt’s record-setting started in field events when sophomore high jumper Rowan Houston sailed over 1.71 meters, achieving a personal best and cementing her jump as the seventh-ever-highest by a Commodore. Her jump also tied her for second overall in the event. Alongside Houston, first-years Pryncess Jackson, Devyn Parham and Kayleigh Stargell participated in the event. These three also entered in shot put and long jump.

Track Events

The team’s 2025 debut on the track was equally record-filled. The Commodores packed the track by participating in almost all running events (no Vanderbilt athletes competed in the 800, 3,000 or 5,000-meter competitions). In each of these events, the returning athletes showed strong performances, while the first-years commenced their careers with strong performances across the board.
“[The incoming transfers and first-year’s] talent, experience and passion for excellence is immeasurable. The diversity of events and potential will pair with our returners in a dynamic way,” Thomas said.
After the meet, Thomas credited the team’s success — and the several personal and school records — to the experience, passion and excellence she highlighted during the preseason.
Fourth-year director of cross country and track and field Althea Thomas bolstered the Black and Gold’s roster with 16 new athletes before the season began. The class included 13 first-year athletes, eight of whom were state or national champions in their respective events in high school, and three transfers, including three-time German national champion in the 4×100 and 4×200, Tina Benzinger. 
The Commodores dominated the 1000-meter race, with senior Julia Rosenberg and junior Audrey Allman taking first and second, respectively. Allman ran a personal best of 2:48.69, which ranks fourth in school history. Rosenberg, a member of the 2024 Second-Team All-SEC member, cruised to her first senior season win with a 2:48.46. Junior Mackenzie Culpepper and sophomore Gia Leone also participated in the race, achieving personal bests of 2:54.24 and 3:19.76, respectively.
Three new coaches joined the team to accompany the new athletes, with Chad Balyo and Lisa Morgan focusing on developing distance runners and Candace Fuller coaching throwers. With this talent infusion, Thomas hopes to build on the team’s success with a strong showing in the SEC. If the past weekend’s Commodore Challenge indicates the team’s potential, Commodore fans should look forward to an exciting season. 
In pole vault, Texas native and first-year Jacqueline Rose vaulted 3.65 meters to tie the 10th-place school record. It was also her personal best, earning her a second-place finish. Sophomore Olivia Kosanovich also participated and achieved a personal best in the event.
The Black and Gold also dominated the 60-meter hurdles. Junior Taylor McKinnon took home first with a time of 8.53 seconds, her personal best and seventh-fastest in program history. She was closely followed by Parham, whose 8.56 seconds was the eighth-fastest in school history and secured her second place in the dash. Jackson, who also qualified for the finals, ran an 8.90 in the preliminary heat and an 8.93 in the finals.
The Commodores will stay home for their next event as they host the Vanderbilt Invitational from Jan. 17-18. 
Back in August, Thomas stated her excitement for the new season, the strength of its incoming class and the development of returning athletes.

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Future Olympians likely among NZ’s World University Games team

Some of Team New Zealand athletes for the FISU World University Games in Germany in July 2025 Photo: Supplied / Colin McDiarmid A team of 84 student athletes are going to represent New Zealand at the World University Games in Germany later this month. Organised by the International University Sports Federation (FISU), it is one […]

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Some of Team New Zealand athletes for the FISU World University Games in Germany in July 2025.

Some of Team New Zealand athletes for the FISU World University Games in Germany in July 2025
Photo: Supplied / Colin McDiarmid

A team of 84 student athletes are going to represent New Zealand at the World University Games in Germany later this month.

Organised by the International University Sports Federation (FISU), it is one of the world’s largest multi-sport events.

Around 8500 student athletes and officials representing 150 countries are expected for the games, competing in 18 different sports, including archery, athletics, 3×3 basketball, beach volleyball, fencing, artistic and rhythmic gymnastics, taekwondo, rowing and water polo.

Head of the New Zealand delegation Evelyn Williamson said household names such as Anthony Mosse, Hamish Kerr, Eliza McCartney, Zoe Hobbs and Lauren Boyle had used the event as a stepping stone to bigger things.

“The games are a unique opportunity for athletes to perform at an elite level and gain experience in a high-performance environment. It’s where future Olympians are forged.”

Williamson said New Zealand had been involved in the biannual event since 1983 and had won 30 medals – nine gold, 12 silver and nine bronze.

“It’s not an easy competition to be part of and be successful at,” she said. “The competition is very strong – world champions are there, Olympic champions…

“Just because they’re university age, it doesn’t mean that they’re not highly competitive. It has been something that University and Tertiary Sport New Zealand over the years has been involved with. But this is the biggest team I think we’ve seen in recent memory.”

The games will be held at the Rhine-Ruhr cities of Bochum, Duisburg and Essen from 16-27 July.

Williamson said it was a unique opportunity in multi-sport games that did not come around very often.

“There are some challenges for us because it’s a multi-city format and we spread across 11 hotels in three cities. It’s gonna be pretty unique in that way. It is going to be an awesome opportunity for our athletes.”

Williamson also encouraged New Zealanders to follow the games and athletes on social media.

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Stingers repeat Paris water polo success against USA

The Australian women’s water polo team have inflicted more pain on the USA with another penalty shootout win over their Olympic rivals in Perth. With former skipper and three-time Olympian Zoe Arancini announcing her retirement, the Stingers opened the Tri Nations series in style. Playing their first match at home since winning silver at the […]

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The Australian women’s water polo team have inflicted more pain on the USA with another penalty shootout win over their Olympic rivals in Perth.

With former skipper and three-time Olympian Zoe Arancini announcing her retirement, the Stingers opened the Tri Nations series in style.

Playing their first match at home since winning silver at the Paris Olympics, the Australians posted a thrilling win after the scores were locked at 8-8 at the end of regulation time.

In Paris the Stingers downed the three-time Olympic champions in the semi-finals in a dramatic penalty shoot-out after the scores were also 8-8 at fulltime.

stingersstingers

The celebrations were memorable when the Stingers toppled USA at the Olympics last year. (AP PHOTO)

After some huge saves in their latest shoot-out by goalkeepers Gabi Palm and Gen Longman, fellow Olympian Alice Williams slotted the winning goal.

Williams was everywhere, opening the scoring for Australia after converting a penalty, while she also found the back of the cage in the dying seconds of the first quarter to level the scores 2-2.

The Aussies added another two goals to their haul in the second quarter, courtesy of Abby Andrews and Olivia Mitchell.

In the third, a buzzer-beater goal from Dani Jackovich put the hosts back in it, trailing by one at the three-quarter time break.

Williams scored another in the fourth quarter, with Jakovich again nailing her shot in the final minutes to draw level at 8-8.

For proud veteran Bronte Halligan, it was a case of deja vu.

“An 8-8 score and then to go into penalties…the irony wasn’t lost on me. Almost 12 months ago we had the exact same score in the semi-final against them at the Olympics,” Halligan said.

“It was just a true dedication to the hard work the girls have put in all year and it was really exciting for our first official home game (this cycle) on home soil to come up with a big win in penalties.”

Meanwhile, Arancini, who isn’t playing in the series, confirmed her retirement from the international stage after a 16-year career.

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Former captain Zoe Arancini has called time on a great career spanning three Olympics. (Dan Himbrechts/AAP PHOTOS)

Arancini made her debut for the Aussie Stingers in 2009 and went on to amass 330 international caps and played in the Rio, Tokyo and Paris Games.

Having achieved podium success at every major international competition in world water polo, Arancini said the timing felt right to step away.

“I’ve done this for 16 years now, and to finish on such an amazing note at Paris 2024 is pretty special,” Arancini said.

“I’m ready for the next chapter of my life… I know it’s the right decision because I’m happy, I’m content, and it’s my choice.

“I’m immensely proud of what we’ve achieved, and I’m so excited for the next generation to step in.”

The Australians next face Italy on Sunday in Perth as the teams gear up for the world aquatic championships in Singapore next month.



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NASA Astronaut Captures Rare Jellyfish-Like Transient Luminous Event Above Clouds

NEED TO KNOW NASA astronaut Nichole Ayers, 36, captured a transient luminous event above thunderstorm clouds on Thursday, July 3 “As we went over Mexico and the U.S. this morning, I caught this sprite,” the former collegiate volleyball player said Ayers is aboard the International Space Station as pilot of SpaceX Dragon’s Crew-10, which arrived […]

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NEED TO KNOW

  • NASA astronaut Nichole Ayers, 36, captured a transient luminous event above thunderstorm clouds on Thursday, July 3
  • “As we went over Mexico and the U.S. this morning, I caught this sprite,” the former collegiate volleyball player said
  • Ayers is aboard the International Space Station as pilot of SpaceX Dragon’s Crew-10, which arrived at the ISS in March

A NASA astronaut is in awe of what she witnessed above the clouds.

Nichole Ayers, who is aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as pilot of SpaceX Dragon’s Crew-10, captured the moment when a rare electrical phenomenon occurred above thunderstorm clouds on Thursday, July 3. 

“Just. Wow,” the 36-year-old astronaut wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of the red jellyfish-like electrical occurrence. “As we went over Mexico and the U.S. this morning, I caught this sprite.”

A sprite is “an atmospheric phenomenon associated with lightning,” according to NASA’s Earth Observatory.

The transient luminous event on July 3, 2025.

Nichole Ayers/Instagram


Providing more context, Ayers wrote, “Sprites are TLEs or transient luminous events that happen above the clouds and are triggered by intense electrical activity in the thunderstorms below.”

“We have a great view above the clouds, so scientists can use these types of pictures to better understand the formation, characteristics, and relationship of TLEs to thunderstorms,” she concluded.

This red sprite, like a previous one NASA captured in June 2024, has red tendrils associated with jellyfish sprites due to “the positively charged lightning [interacting] with atmospheric nitrogen, creating an electrical breakdown that produces flashes of red light.”

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Another red sprite that NASA captured in June 2024.

Nichole Ayers/NASA


In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE in May, Ayers talked about the beauty of being in space, where she gets to fly around the world every 90 minutes, with the chance to watch a sunset or a sunrise every 45 minutes.

“I think that ‘excited’ is an understatement,” Ayers, a former collegiate volleyball player, said at the time. “I like to say the English language doesn’t have the right words to describe how amazing the experience is. The launch was amazing. And then getting to come through the hatch of the International Space Station, just awesome, amazing, ecstatic.”

Nichole Ayers.

SpaceX


”It’s been an amazing experience so far,” Ayers added.

The NASA astronaut arrived at the ISS aboard the SpaceX Dragon capsule and the Falcon 9 rocket on March 14 as part of Crew-10.

While in space, Ayers and other astronauts on the mission are conducting science experiments, participating in spacewalks and working out.

They will return to Earth in the fall after their six-month mission.





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Endowment will fund UC Berkeley men’s aquatic sports programs for years to come

University of California, Berkeley benefactors Ned and Carol Spieker have gifted $26 million to endow the university’s men’s aquatic programs, the largest gift in Cal Athletics history.  Ned Spieker, UC Berkeley class of ‘66, played water polo at Cal, so it’s personal. The coach positions will be named the Ned Spieker Men’s Swim Head Coach […]

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University of California, Berkeley benefactors Ned and Carol Spieker have gifted $26 million to endow the university’s men’s aquatic programs, the largest gift in Cal Athletics history. 

Ned Spieker, UC Berkeley class of ‘66, played water polo at Cal, so it’s personal.

The coach positions will be named the Ned Spieker Men’s Swim Head Coach in perpetuity, and the Ned Spieker Men’s Water Polo Head Coach for 20 years. 

“As an alum and coach, it’s hard to put into words what it means to see this kind of commitment,” said men’s water polo head coach Kirk Everist. “It honors our past, supports our present, and guarantees a strong future for the program we all love.”

In 2022, Ned Spieker and his wife Carol made the largest gift in Haas School of Business history with a $30 million commitment that transformed the undergraduate business program from a two-year to a four-year experience, now known as the Spieker Undergraduate Business Program. 

Ned Spieker founded Spieker Properties, one of the largest commercial property companies in the United States, and has also been involved in Haas campus planning, serving as a catalyst for the construction of Chou Hall. Carol Spieker is a trustee emeritus of the UC Berkeley Foundation.

UC Berkeley Chancellor Rich Lyons spoke about student athletes in a statement Wednesday.

“From early morning practices to late-night study sessions, they push boundaries daily, driven by passion and commitment that requires steadfast support,” said Rich. 

Cal Athletics now has five endowed sports — men’s golf, women’s golf, rugby, men’s water polo and men’s swimming and diving.



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Mana Spikers deliver shock win, Bounty Spikers dominate in thrilling volleyball finals

Mana Spikers were the surprise winners in the women’s division. CB SPORTS/25070331 After eight intense weeks of non-stop volleyball action, the 2025 Indoor Volleyball Tournament wrapped up Wednesday night at the National Sports Arena with two electrifying finals that showcased resilience, teamwork and pure athletic excellence. The tournament, which drew widespread community interest and […]

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Mana Spikers deliver shock win, Bounty Spikers dominate in thrilling volleyball finals

Mana Spikers were the surprise winners in the women’s division. CB SPORTS/25070331

After eight intense weeks of non-stop volleyball action, the 2025 Indoor Volleyball Tournament wrapped up Wednesday night at the National Sports Arena with two electrifying finals that showcased resilience, teamwork and pure athletic excellence.

The tournament, which drew widespread community interest and strong fan support, concluded with a surprise win in the women’s division and a much-celebrated triumph for the men’s Bounty Spikers team.

The headline of the night — and of the entire tournament — was the improbable and inspiring victory by the Mana Spikers in the women’s division.
Playing both the semifinals and finals with just five players, the Mana Spikers demonstrated unmatched determination, stamina and cohesion.

“No competition is an easy competition, especially when it comes down to the finals. Although we were short of players at this crucial moment, our team showed up for each other and played our hearts out to the fullest,” said Mana Spikers’ Nicolea Mateariki.

“I first began my volleyball journey with Aunty Jackie Rongo and the AKTT Volleyball Team, where I gained confidence, knowledge, and skill. Each week, we make use of the Nikao Hall and TSA Sports Arena to upskill ourselves and take our development to a better level.

“For this eight-week tournament, I’m happy and humbled to take the dub with my Mana Spikers sisters and hope to continue playing this amazing sport in the future.”

Bounty Spikers capitalised on their momentum throughout the tournament to secure a well-deserved championship title. NICOLEA MATEARIKI/25070330

Their semifinal match saw them take on the reigning champions, Bounty Spikers, in what was expected to be a one-sided affair. But the Mana squad flipped the script, pulling off a stunning upset that sent shockwaves through the competition.

With one player down due to injury and no substitutes available, the Mana Spikers relied heavily on sharp communication, strategic court coverage and sheer willpower to carry them through the final stages.

The final was no less dramatic, as the short-handed squad delivered a masterclass in controlled aggression and smart play, sealing their championship win and leaving fans in awe.

Mana Spikers setter Eclipse Tutere said: “The excuse of being at a disadvantage is what losers say. Champions focus on winning no matter the odds.”

In the men’s competition, the Bounty Spikers capitalised on their momentum throughout the tournament to secure a well-deserved championship title.

The team, made up primarily of Cook Islands athletes with a strong complement of talented Fijian players, blended physical power with precision and excellent court dynamics.

Their path to the title was marked by consistently dominant performances, with standout plays at the net and excellent service games.





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Volleyball state No. 1 recruit Gentry Barker is leaving Lovejoy to transfer to Lake Travis

Volleyball phenom Gentry Barker, the No. 1 recruit in the state in the Class of 2027, said Saturday night that she is leaving 10-time state champion Lovejoy. She is moving back to Austin, where she grew up, and will be transferring to Lake Travis for her junior year. “I’ve always wanted to move back to […]

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Volleyball phenom Gentry Barker, the No. 1 recruit in the state in the Class of 2027, said Saturday night that she is leaving 10-time state champion Lovejoy.

She is moving back to Austin, where she grew up, and will be transferring to Lake Travis for her junior year.

“I’ve always wanted to move back to Austin, and my mom is finally letting me this year,” Barker said.

It’s a huge loss for a Lovejoy program that is tied for the third-most state titles in UIL history. The MaxPreps first-team All-American outside hitter had 484 kills, 483 digs and 42 aces for a 36-9 Class 5A Division II regional finalist as a sophomore, she was named the District 9-5A MVP and she is the No. 1 player in the Prep Dig state recruiting rankings for the Class of 2027.

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“I am definitely going to miss the volleyball a lot,” Barker said of leaving Lovejoy. “It has been really helpful, and I really enjoyed playing with a lot of advanced people, but I think it will be fun at LT too. I get to play with a lot of my old friends.”

Barker was The Dallas Morning News All-Area newcomer of the year as a freshman in 2023. She had a team-high 424 kills as Lovejoy won the Class 5A state title, and she was named the MVP of the state final after recording a match-high 17 kills to go with 11 digs as Lovejoy beat Liberty Hill in three sets to win its fourth state title in five years.

She will join a Lake Travis team that finished fourth in its district and lost in the first round of the 6A Division I playoffs last season. Lake Travis is a two-time state champion, winning back-to-back titles in 2010 and 2011.

Lovejoy will have a new head coach next season, as Sean McMurry was hired after leading A&M Consolidated to a 35-11 record and regional final appearance in Class 5A Division I in 2024. McMurry replaces Natalie Bates (Puckett), who announced in January that she was leaving Lovejoy and will be taking a break from coaching.

Barker has not committed to a college but said, “I’m probably going to commit sooner than later.”

Find more high school sports coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.

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