Briefs for print
At The Meadows
Dapper Dude zipped to the lead, thwarted the challenge of the hard-used Stride Of Pride and captured Saturday’s $20,000 Winners Over $10,000 Life/Preferred Handicap Pace at The Meadows.
Dapper Dude was on an uncontested lead down the backside for Aaron Merriman when the three-wide Stride Of Pride drew even. But Stride Of Pride, parked every step, retreated in the lane, and Dapper Dude scored in 1:51.1. Sam Hill rallied for second, 1-1/4 lengths back, while Hawk’s Red Chief shot the Lightning Lane for show.
Bill Bercury trains Dapper Dude, an 8-year-old son of The Panderosa-Dress To Suggest who now boasts $1,156,880 in career earnings, for Renee Bercury.
Trainer Ron Burke fashioned a five-bagger, including four victories with Dave Palone at the helm, on the 12-race card.
Running to
nationals
Redshirt senior Julie Friend won the individual title at the NCAA Atlantic Regional Championships and the California University women’s cross country team finished in third place Saturday to advance to its second NCAA Division II National Championships in the last three years.
Friend was the program’s first regional champion, posting a winning time of 20:36, two weeks after being the first Cal running in over 35 years to win the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference title.
Cal earned the third and final qualify spot with 112 total points.
Senior Summer Hill ran to a top-five finish with a time of 21:18.
The Vulcans will compete at the NCAA National Championships Nov. 18 in Evansville, Indiana.
W&J field hockey earns playoff bid
The Washington & Jefferson women’s field hockey team defeated Utica 3-1 to win the Empire 8 Conference Field Hockey championship and an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs.
Peters Township graduate Jenna Jaworski scored the game-winning goal for W&J (13-4), which won its first conference title since 2011.
The full playoff bracket will be released tonight at 10:30 p.m.
Longtime statistician dies
The University of Virginia’s oldest living football player and a member of the official statistics crew until this season has died.
Dr. John Risher was 107 years old.
The school says Risher died Friday in Lynchburg.
Risher graduated in 1932 with a degree in chemistry. He attended UVA’s School of Medicine, earning his medical doctorate in 1936.
He also was a member of the 1931 Virginia football team. He saw his only game action in a season-opening 18-0 victory over Roanoke at Lambeth Field, which was the Cavaliers’ only victory that season. Risher hurt his ankle a week later and he never saw the field again.