TRACK AND FIELD
The Virginia Showcase, the largest indoor track meet in the nation the past five seasons, returns to the Virginia Beach Sports Center from Friday through Sunday.
In the seven years of this meet, which last year drew 4,500 athletes from 35 states, it has produced 14 national records, five U20 world records and more than 200 national-leading marks.
Virginia Showcase alumni include world-record holders, gold medalists, NCAA champions and some of the other best athletes in the nation.
“We are also happy to share that this year’s event will feature athletes who will compete at the Olympics this August in Paris,” said Nolan Jez-Hammer, founder of the Virginia Showcase.
The meet begins at 11:30 a.m. Friday, 7:40 a.m. Saturday, and 9:30 a.m. Sunday.
Tickets are $25 for a weekend pass or $15 for a day pass. Tickets can only be purchased online via etix.com.
PRO TENNIS
Former ODU star qualifies for first major
Former Old Dominion standout Yuliia Starodubtseva went 3-0 in the qualifying rounds for the Australian Open to earn her first main-draw berth in a major championship draw.
Friday, the 23-year-old from Ukraine outlasted Gabriela Knutson 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (10-4) at Melbourne Park to gain a spot in the initial major of the 2024 season. Starodubtseva came into the week ranked 152nd in the world, while Knutson — a California-born former Syracuse University player who now represents the Czech Republic — is 168th.
Starodubtseva earned a chance to face one of the sport’s most famous players, Ons Jabeur of Tunisia, in the first round. Jabeur is ranked sixth on the WTA Tour, has five championships at that level and was the runner-up at the last two Wimbledon events, as well as the 2022 U.S. Open.
With a few dozen folks watching, Starodubtseva led 4-2 in the third set before falling behind 5-4, giving Knutson an opportunity to serve for the match. From 30-all in that game, two points from defeat, the former Monarch broke serve to pull even at 5. Both players then held serve, setting up the high-stakes tiebreak to 10.
Starodubtseva never trailed in the tiebreak, winning the match with a superb backhand down-the-line passing shot that forced a volley error.
Earlier in the bracket, Starodubtseva rolled past 151st-ranked Martina Capurro Taborda of Argentina 6-3, 6-0 and then knocked off 114th-ranked Harriet Dart of Great Britain 6-4, 6-4.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Chadwell gains Group of Five honor
Liberty’s Jamey Chadwell was honored Wednesday night in Houston as the 2023 Paul “Bear” Bryant Award Group of Five Conference Coach of the Year. He led the Flames to a 13-1 season, including the Conference USA championship.
COLLEGE MEN’S BASKETBALL
JMU’s game at App State to be on ESPN2 or ESPNU
James Madison’s Sun Belt game at Appalachian State on Jan. 27, the second clash of the season for the Dukes and Mountaineers, was elevated to ESPN2 or ESPNU. It will start at 6 p.m.
Those teams first will play Saturday at 4 p.m. in Harrisonburg.
Meanwhile,JMU’s Terrence Edwards Jr. was one of 30 men named to the Lute Olson Midseason National Player of the Year Award Watch List, CollegeInsider.com announced. He was the only player listed from a school in Virginia.
COLLEGE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
NSU’s Clark again gains MEAC rookie award
Norfolk State guard Da’Brya Clark was named the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week for the fourth time.
In victories at South Carolina State and North Carolina Central, she totaled 33 points, seven rebounds, six assists and six steals.
COLLEGE SOCCER
Top Drawer Soccer honors two Monarchs
Old Dominion’s Ashlynn Kulha and Ece Turkoglu were recently honored by Top Drawer Soccer on their top 100 lists of 2023. Kulha was No. 25 among freshmen, and Turkoglu was No. 84 among all players after helping ODU to a 13-3-5 record and their second straight Sun Belt Tournament championship.
ODU aide gains promotion
Old Dominion head men’s coach Tennant McVea announced that assistant coach Nathan Jones, a native of Wales, has been promoted to associate head coach. Both were on the staff of longtime ODU coach Alan Dawson, who retired after last season.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Hokies 18th in preseason poll
Virginia Tech was ranked 18th in the Softball America preseason poll and was the only school from the state in the top 25, which was led by reigning NCAA champion Oklahoma.
Besides the Hokies, the ranked ACC teams are: No. 3 Florida State, No. 5 Clemson (including two-way star Valerie Cagle of Yorktown) and No. 9 Duke.
ALL-SPORTS TROPHY
UVA 10th in Learfield Cup standings
The Atlantic Coast Conference has a huge presence in the Learfield Cup all-sports standings through the fall season.
Points are earned by qualifying for NCAA Championships and advancing within those championships, as well as for qualifying for football bowls.
North Carolina holds the top spot, while Notre Dame is No. 4 and Virginia is No. 10. Syracuse (No. 11), Florida State (No. 12), and Louisville (No. 13) follow, while Clemson is No. 15, N.C. State is No. 19, and Pitt is No. 25. Duke ranks 28th overall.
UNC took the field hockey title and earned top-10 finishes in men’s cross country and men’s and women’s soccer. UNC has 372.50 points, while future ACC member Stanford holds second place with 371 points.
James Madison, at No. 44, was the highest-ranking school from the Sun Belt Conference, followed by Old Dominion at No. 69. JMU was the only school to qualify for the NCAA men’s soccer, women’s soccer and women’s volleyball tournaments and a bowl game.
SWIMMING
Douglass wins 100-meter freestyle in pro meet
Virginia alumna Kate Douglass kicked off the TYR Pro Swim Series’ opening night in Knoxville, Tennessee, with a first-place finish in the 100-meter freestyle, matching the Pro Swim Series record set by Sarah Sjostrom with a time of 53.12 seconds. UVA’s Gretchen Walsh was the runner-up in 53.64.
In the 100-meter breaststroke, Douglass established a UVA long-course program record by finishing fourth with a time of 1:06.67.
WOMEN’S GOLF
UVA player in running for Curtis Cup spot
Virginia player Amanda Sambach was one of 12 players selected by the United States Golf Association to participate in a Curtis Cup practice session Jan. 19-20 in Juno Beach and Boynton Beach, Florida.
The 43rd Curtis Cup Match will be held at Sunningdale (England) Golf Club from Aug. 30 to Sept. 1. The USA has won the last three events, and its team will consist of eight players.
