Big Ten officials mum on possible expansion

Big Ten officials mum on possible expansion

PARK RIDGE, Ill.

The Big Ten did not take formal action during a meeting Sunday about conference expansion, although officials say their timeline may change after the Pac-10 revealed plans for their own expansion.

The 11 school presidents and chancellors along with Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick met for about 41/2 hours, and Big Ten commissioner Jim Delaney said the majority of time was spent on expansion dialogue.

Michigan State President Lou Anna K. Simon emphasized that academics would play a large role in determining what schools would be a good fit to join the Big Ten — not just athletics.

Soccer fans stampede outside stadium

TEMBISA, South Africa

Thousands of soccer fans stampeded outside a stadium Sunday before an exhibition game between Nigeria and North Korea, leaving 15 people injured, including one police officer who was seriously hurt.

Several fans fell under the rush of people, many wearing Nigeria jerseys. The Makhulong Stadium in the Johannesburg suburb seats about 12,000 fans.

The mayhem happened only five days before the start of the World Cup, the first to be held in Africa.

“At this moment we have 14 civilians that were slightly injured in the process, one policeman seriously injured,” police spokesman Lt. Col. Eugene Opperman said outside the stadium.

Tri-City Speedway

FRANKLIN, PA

Tri-City Speedway suffered its third rainout of the season Sunday.

As a result of the rainout, the RPM Auto Sales E Mod Mini Series race scheduled for Sunday night was postponed along with the E Mod Meet and Greet with the fans. A new date for the Fisher & Father Night events will be announced.

UCLA-Arizona to meet

OKLAHOMA CITY

The secrets of softball success at UCLA are still a mystery — even to the latest bunch of Bruins chasing a championship.

Samantha Camuso cracked a three-run homer and B.B. Bates hit a two-run shot as UCLA moved into the Women’s College World Series finals for the first time in five years with a 5-2 win over Georgia on Sunday.

“It’s a great feeling. It feels like it’s been a little too long,” player of the year finalist Megan Langenfeld said. “We have a bunch of alumni that are here and they keep telling us, ’Don’t worry. You guys have it.’ Whatever ’it’ is, I don’t know, but I guess we have it.”

The fifth-seeded Bruins (48-11) will face longtime rival Arizona in the best-of-three finals starting tonight.

The Wildcats swept a pair of games against Tennessee.

Zenyatta to carry high weight in Vanity ’Cap

INGLEWOOD, Calif.

Zenyatta will carry high weight of 129 pounds when she tries to run her record to 17-0 in the $250,000 Vanity Handicap on June 13 at Hollywood Park.

Trainer John Shirreffs said Sunday the weight assignment was pretty much what he expected. He says he’s trying to focus on the race itself and not Zenyatta’s attempt to remain undefeated.

One more victory would allow Zenyatta to surpass Cigar, Citation and Mister Frisky for longest winning streak by a modern-day thoroughbred. That trio won 16 in a row.

Zenyatta will be going for a record third win in the 1 1-8-mile Vanity. She also carried 129 pounds when she won the race last year.

World record set in Monmouth turf race

OCEANPORT, N.J.

Monmouth Park officials say a horse running on turf for the first time in his career has set a new world record.

Mandurah, a 6-year-old gelding, ran the mile over a firm course in 1:31.23, beating the 1:31.41 mark set by Mister Light on Jan. 3, 2005, at Gulfstream Park in Florida.

Trained by Grant Forster and ridden by Alex Solis, Mandurah set the record while winning a $50,000 starter series race.

Vindicator staff/wire reports