Sports

Gillian Norris was a two-time district runner-up and the county's lone state qualifier in the past decade. (FILE)

Gillian Norris was a two-time district runner-up and the county's lone state qualifier in the past decade. (FILE)

BEST OF 2010/11-2019/20: Meet the LCR's Girls Golf All-Decade Team

JORDAN KROEGER
Tuesday, June 30, 2020
GIRLS GOLFER OF THE DECADE Gillian Norris, Columbia, 2015 class An impressive sophomore season was only the beginning of a stellar career for Gillian Norris, who was the only girls golfer in the county to qualify for the state tournament in the last decade.
Bridget Morse was a three-time state qualifier and has the school record in the 5K. (FILE)

Bridget Morse was a three-time state qualifier and has the school record in the 5K. (FILE)

BEST OF 2010/11-2019/20: Meet the LCR's Girls Cross Country All-Decade Team

JORDAN KROEGER
Monday, June 29, 2020
GIRLS RUNNER OF THE DECADE Bridget Morse, Columbia, 2018 class Take a look at Columbia’s record book and it’ll take you a minute to find another name other than Bridget Morse. In her four-year career, Morse posted the 13 fastest times in school history with a personal-best of 18:31.
Evan Conklin was a state qualifier in 2018. (FILE)

Evan Conklin was a state qualifier in 2018. (FILE)

BEST OF 2010/11-2019/20: Meet the LCR's Boys Swimming All-Decade Team

JORDAN KROEGER
Friday, June 26, 2020
BOYS SWIMMER OF THE DECADE Evan Conklin, Columbia, 2019 class There weren’t many state qualifiers for the boys swim team this past decade, but one swimmer near the end of it broke through to cap off his career. That was Evan Conklin, who made it to state in 2018 in the 100 freestyle.
This photo provided by NASCAR shows the noose found in the garage stall of Black driver Bubba Wallace at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday, in Talladega, Ala. The discovery prompted a federal investigation that determined the rope had been there since at least last October. (COURTESY OF NASCAR)

This photo provided by NASCAR shows the noose found in the garage stall of Black driver Bubba Wallace at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday, in Talladega, Ala. The discovery prompted a federal investigation that determined the rope had been there since at least last October. (COURTESY OF NASCAR)

AUTO RACING: ‘The noose was real’ - NASCAR releases photo from Talladega

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Thursday, June 25, 2020
Declaring “the noose was real,” NASCAR officials on Thursday released a photo of the rope found in the speedway garage stall of Black driver Bubba Wallace that prompted a federal investigation into whether he had been the target of a hate crime.
ACC Commissioner John Swofford announces the cancelation of the remainder of the men's basketball ACC Tournament at Greensboro Coliseum on March 12, in Greensboro, N.C. (JARED C. TILTON/Getty Images/TNS)

ACC Commissioner John Swofford announces the cancelation of the remainder of the men's basketball ACC Tournament at Greensboro Coliseum on March 12, in Greensboro, N.C. (JARED C. TILTON/Getty Images/TNS)

COLLEGE SPORTS: ACC Commissioner Swofford to retire in June

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Thursday, June 25, 2020
When John Swofford became commissioner of the Atlantic Coast Conference in 1997, the league was basketball-centric and North Carolina-focused. In the 23 years since, the conference has grown into a 15-school behemoth spanning 10 states.
Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred addresses reporters during MLB Media Day activities on Feb. 18, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (SMILEY M. POOL/TNS)

Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred addresses reporters during MLB Media Day activities on Feb. 18, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (SMILEY M. POOL/TNS)

MLB: Baseball scrambles back into action amid lingering concerns

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Wednesday, June 24, 2020
Ron Gardenhire and Dusty Baker are a little uneasy. Jim Crane hopes his Houston Astros can play in front of fans at some point. As baseball scrambles to start an abbreviated season, the prevailing mood is one of nervous excitement. “Is it a risk?
Columbia receiver Jace Hoskey catches a touchdown pass during summer conditioning last June. (FILE)

Columbia receiver Jace Hoskey catches a touchdown pass during summer conditioning last June. (FILE)

PREP SPORTS: Florida enacts heat stroke protections for student athletes

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Wednesday, June 24, 2020
TALLAHASSEE — A grieving mother's plea to Florida lawmakers was fulfilled when Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a measure requiring schools to do more to protect student athletes from heat strokes, including having water-filled tubs at games and practices to rapidly cool the body.