Sutter Hanover, winner of the 2006 Governor’s Cup, served notice he’s ready to take on the best of his division by cruising to victory in his season opener, a division of a $100,230 Pennsylvania Sires Stake for 3-year-old colt pacers Saturday night at The Meadows.
The stake, known as the Bye Bye Byrd, was contested over five divisions, with Big Business, Ruff Me Up, Up Front Kyle and Won The West taking the other splits. David Miller scored a driving triple in the Bye Bye Byrd, winning with Sutter Hanover, Ruff Me Up and Won The West.
Miller was unhurried with Sutter Hanover, allowing the son of Dragon Again to settle in fifth before launching an uncovered move down the back side. Sutter Hanover effortlessly passed the leader, Up Front Barry, and drew off to a stylish 3-length victory in 1:51.2. Long-shot Oh Poncho followed Sutter Hanover’s cover to be second, while Up Front Barry saved show.
College track
Waynesburg College sophomore Ashley Dodd, an Upper St. Clair graduate, tied for 14th in a field of 18 in the pole vault on Day 2 of the NCAA Championships.
Dodd cleared 3.47 meters (11-4 1/2) to tie Megan McKenna of Monmouth College (Ill.) for 14th place. The NCAA Championships marks the second postseason competition for the Yellow Jacket sophomore in as many weeks. Last weekend, she finished second in the event at the ECAC Championships, clearing 11-3 3/4.
Cal’s Clark 10th In 5,000 meters
California junior Chris Clark finished 10th in the 5,000-meter run Saturday at the NCAA Division II Track & Field Championships at Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, N.C.
Clark’s time of 14:32.13 was 24 seconds behind the top two runners in the race, Charlie Serrano and and Scott Bauhs, both of Cal State-Chico.
The Vulcan standout finished just five seconds from earning All-America honors for the second time in three days.
The top eight competitors in each event at the national championships are named All-Americans. Clark was eighth in the 10,000 meters Thursday.
Earley rebounds to place 4th
After narrowly making the finals in the hammer throw, Allegheny College junior Liz Earley of Venetia rebounded in the finals to take fourth place, earning All-America honors for the second time in her career.
A case of the pre-meet jitters and a first throw that hit the safety standards put Earley on edge, as she ended the first flight of the competition with a best throw of 160-7, putting her in ninth place by just four inches, giving her a chance at the comeback.
Earley made good use of her second chance, tossing a 173-7 on her first throw of the finals, just off of her personal best, and moving her into fourth place. Terri Schwab of Wisconsin-Oshkosh won the event with a toss of 198-0.
Cal’s Baker to play in World Championship
California University senior tight end D’Monn Baker was selected to compete for Team USA in the 2007 World Championship of American Football.
It’s the first time the United States has fielded a team in this six-country international competition to be held July 7-15 in Kawasaki, Japan.
Team USA will face Germany and Korea in pool play. The other pool will include two-time defending champion Japan along with Sweden and France. Team USA will train at San Jose State University from June 20-July 4.
The 45 players were chosen from a pool of 2006 college seniors and represent all levels of college football. NCAA and NAIA schools were asked by USA Football to nominate up to two seniors during the season. That list was pared down by the Team USA coaching staff through film evaluation.
There are 25 players from NCAA Division I programs, 10 from Division II, nine from Division III and one player from an NAIA program.
“This team is a complete cross section of U.S. football,” Team USA head coach John Mackovic said. “We’re excited that we are able to blend every level of college football and put together a team of players from schools of every size. We hope to represent our country in the highest fashion and be great ambassadors for football around the world.”
Baker, a two-year starter for the Vulcans and 2005 second-team PSAC West selection, helped Cal win eight games in each of the past two seasons and win consecutive PSAC West titles for the first time.
Baker was primarily a blocking tight end in his two seasons at Cal after transferring from Bowling Green. In 21 games, he caught 16 passes for 172 yards and two touchdowns.