Sports Digest

AREA

Curtis winner at Sharon

HARTFORD — Rob Curtis returned to victory lane for the first time in almost two years as he scored a win in the Big Block Modifieds at Sharon Speedway Saturday night.

Jeff Johnson ended Alan Dellinger’s dominance in the E-Mods with his first win of 2008. Bob Felmlee (Sprint Cars), Andy Paden (Sprints) and Alan Dellinger (Pure Stocks) also captured repeat victories.

The Bill Kirila Memorial will be the next event at Sharon Speedway July 5.

Mercer to host July 4 national

MERCER, Pa. — Mercer Raceway Park will host the Small Car National Open July 4. Racing begins at 6 p.m. Adult admission is $7 and it’s $3 fir kids 6-15. A family pass is $18.

Carlisle to compete

Hubbard High junior Jackie Carlisle has been selected to play on a national high performance team during the summer.

Carlisle (6-foot), will leave July 15 for training before a national tournament in Tucson, Ariz., July 22-27.

NATION

AD donates $1 million

STILLWATER, Okla. — Oklahoma State athletic director Mike Holder and his wife have given $1 million to the university for academics.

The gift will go toward endowed chairs for the university’s Spears School of Business and will be used to help create an entrepreneurship department within the school.

Mike Holder said Saturday he and his wife, Robbie, decided to make the gift after Malone and Amy Mitchell gave $57.2 million to the university Thursday to be split between academics and athletics. Of that, $22 million was earmarked for endowed chairs for the business school.

“I thought, how do you say thank you to someone who gave that much support and showed that much faith in what you’re trying to accomplish?” Holder said.

Holder has a master’s degree from Oklahoma State’s business school.

Canadian roster set for Olympics

TORONTO — Samuel Dalembert of the Philadelphia 76ers and Joel Anthony of the Miami Heat headline Canada’s 12-man basketball roster for an Olympic qualifying tournament.

Canadian coach Leo Rautins named his roster Sunday, wrapping up a 10-day training camp.

“We’re very excited about this team,” Rautins said. “The guys have all been working extremely hard and we’re just looking forward to getting things started.”

Also on the team are guard Rowan Barrett, who has spent 10 years in the national program, and Tyler Kepkay, a guard for Utah making his national team debut. Rautins’ son Andy, a Syracuse guard, recovered from knee surgery to make the squad.

Canada needs a top-three finish in July 14-20 qualifying tournament in Greece to earn an Olympic spot. The Canadians are grouped with Slovenia and South Korea.

Former Olympian going strong at 90

WADSWORTH, Ill. — Former Olympic swim champion Adolph Kiefer celebrated his 90th birthday with a 30-minute workout in the pool.

When he was 18, the Chicago swimmer won the gold medal in the 100-meter backstroke at the 1936 Berlin Games. He later was invited to Hollywood to audition for the movie role of Tarzan. He starred in aquatic shows in the 1950s and invented about a dozen swimming products, including the first nylon racing suit.

He spent the weekend at the U.S. Olympic swim trials at Omaha, Neb.

Minor League No-hit game

OMAHA, Neb. — Dustin Nippert threw a seven-inning no-hitter Sunday, helping Triple-A Oklahoma beat Omaha 2-0 in the first game of a doubleheader.

Nippert (6-2), who passed through waivers unclaimed less than a month ago, struck out five and walked two against the Royals’ Triple-A squad. The Texas Rangers prospect won for the first time in his last four starts.

Vindicator/wire report