Dow finishes 2nd in backstroke at Horizon

Dow finishes 2nd in backstroke at Horizon

Cleveland

Youngstown State junior Ashley Dow was second in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 55.12 seconds at the Horizon League Championships on Friday night at the Busby Natatorium.

The Penguins had other strong performances from sophomore Jana Janson, ninth in the 100-butterfly with a school-record time of 56.64 seconds, and senior Laura Paz, 10th at 57.71 seconds. The 800-freestyle relay team was sixth in 7:44:01. The group of Therese Stevens, Megan Ciampa, Stef van Niekerk and Dow bettered the school mark of 7:45.29 set in 2011.

In the team race, YSU has 198 points and sits in sixth place. The final day of action starts at 10:30 a.m. today.

25th annual Distance Classic is Sunday

YOUNGSTOWN

The Youngstown Road Runners Club will hold the 25th Annual Mill Creek Distance Classic Half-Marathon and 5k on Sunday.

The half-marathon is scheduled at 8:45 a.m. and the 5k starts at 9. Races start and finish at the Wick Recreation Area.

Online registration is available at www.runsignup.com or visit www.ytownrunners.org for more information.

NFL salary cap set at record $133 million

NEW YORK

The NFL’s salary cap for this season has been set at $133 million, the highest amount in league history. Each team must be compliant with the cap number by March 11, when the league’s free agency period begins. The cap amount announced Friday, which applies to active players’ salaries, is up from $123 million last season and surpasses the previous high of $127,997,000 in 2009. The salary cap is calculated by taking a percentage of all projected NFL revenues, subtracting projected benefits for the season, and dividing by 32 teams.

Penguins’ Martin has surgery on hand

CHICAGO

Pittsburgh Penguins coach Dan Bylsma says defenseman Paul Martin had surgery to repair his broken right hand. Bylsma says doctors decided the operation “would be a better avenue for recovery, a quicker recovery.” Martin injured his hand while playing for the United States in the quarterfinal round of the Sochi Olympics and is out for four to six weeks. Bylsma announced the surgery after Pittsburgh practiced at Soldier Field on Friday in preparation for tonight’s game against Chicago.

Sabres trade goalie Miller, Ott to Blues

BUFFALO, N.Y.

Once the shock and emotions of leaving Buffalo and the Sabres began to wear off, goalie Ryan Miller began looking forward to the challenge he and Steve Ott will face in living up to the St. Louis Blues’ expectations. In exchange for Miller and Ott, their captain, the Sabres acquired goalie Jaroslav Halak, forward Chris Stewart, prospect William Carrier, a 2015 first-round pick and a conditional 2016 third-round pick in a deal reached in advance of the NHL trade deadline on Wednesday.

Saints place franchise tag on TE Graham

NEW ORLEANS

The New Orleans Saints have placed their franchise tag on Jimmy Graham in order to protect the club’s rights to its star tight end through next season.

In other NFL moves, wide reciever Jeremy Maclin, who missed the 2013 season with an ACL injury, and the Eagles agreed on a one-year contract; the Panthers used the franchise tag on defensive end Greg Hardy, who will will make $12.45 million next season; and the Seahawks cut wide receiver Sidney Rice and defensive end Red Bryant.

Staff reports/Associated Press