By becoming the first Gophers winner of the 13th annual Roy Griak Invitational, junior Rasa Michniovaite was chosen as the September athlete of the month.
Michniovaite crossed the finish line on Saturday in 17:08, which is the 14th fast time in Minnesota history and helped Minnesota to a fourth place finish, its highest since 1991.
The transfer from the University of Vilinius in Lithaunia also won the Minnesota/Drake Dual Sept. 11.
In the polls
The Rolex Collegiate Rankings preseason tennis poll was released this week, containing two Gophers. Junior Nora Sauska and senior Alice Rangsithienchai are ranked 14th in doubles, while Sauska received a 52nd ranking in singles.
Remembering FloJo
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Ñ The accolades keep pouring in for Florence Griffith Joyner.
The world record-holder in the women’s 100 and 200 meters, who died Sept. 21 of a heart-related problem, will be honored Sunday by USA Track & Field and the Indiana Pacers.
At the Florence Griffith Joyner Celebration of Life at Market Square Arena, her husband, Al, the 1984 Olympic triple jump champion, will be the featured speaker. Some of FloJo’s 1988 Olympic teammates also will be present, along with representatives of USATF, the Pacers, the U.S. Olympic Committee, the International Amateur Athletic Federation and the NCAA.
FloJo first rocketed to fame at the 1988 U.S. Olympic trials in Indianapolis, where she set the world record for the 100.
Kicked out
SEATTLE (AP) — Placekicker Nick Lentz has quit the Washington football team because he says coach Jim Lambright failed to follow through on a commitment to get him a scholarship.
“I devoted a whole year of my life to the team,” Lentz told the Seattle Post-Intelligencer Monday. “I would love to stay, and I loved the coaches and the program. I’ve got a lot of friends on the team.
“I was told something, and it wasn’t followed through with.”
Lentz plans to attend Washington this quarter, then transfer.
Lambright said through a spokesman that he would not comment until he hears directly from Lentz.
Lentz was a walk-on last year as a freshman, and made seven of 10 field goals and 30 extra points.
From diamond to box
BRISTOL, Conn. (AP) — Joe Carter, one of baseball’s top active home run and RBI leaders, is joining ESPN as an analyst for the postseason.
Carter, who finished the season with the San Francisco Giants, will work Wednesday’s Chicago-Atlanta game and possibly games Oct. 3-4.
Last season, Carter provided analysis during the playoffs for ESPN Radio and ESPNEWS.
“I’d rather be in Atlanta playing, but I knew either way I was going,” arter said Tuesday, one day after the Giants lost to the Cubs 5-3 in a playoff for the NL wild card.