Mead runner Baylee Mires will run for University of Washington

Track and field: Baylee Mires, who could finish high school with more gold medals from the state track meet than any athlete in Greater Spokane League history, will run for Washington next season.

 The Mead senior (pictured above) chose UW over California after considering all the Pac-10 schools and other track powers across the country.

 “I loved the team,” she said. “It’s going to be different. They’re so good in cross country, I’m going to walk in and have them take care of me.”

 Though Mires has twice placed fifth in the State 4A cross country meet, her passion is on the track. She won the 800- and 1,600-meter races at the State 4A meet the past two seasons as well as anchoring the Panthers’ two-time State 4A-winning 1,600 relay team. Last spring, Mead won the team championship, to go with the boys title won by the Panthers, who are coached by Mires’ father, John.

   Dave Trimmer

UW player will not be charged

College men’s basketball: Prosecutors said Friday they will not file felony charges against a University of Washington player who was the subject of a rape investigation.

A 16-year-old girl claimed the player forced her to perform a sex act at a Seattle apartment on Jan. 8. But King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg’s office said in a news release that witnesses portrayed the encounter as consensual.

The state says there was no evidence to substantiate a charge of third-degree rape. Seattle police had recommended that no rape charges be filed, and prosecutors agreed after conducting their own review.

The witnesses reported that the player bought alcohol for himself and the girl before going to the apartment, and Satterberg said the case is being referred to the city attorney’s office to determine whether the player should be charged with furnishing alcohol to a minor.

Associated Press

Cancer claims Georgia bulldog

College football: UGA VIII, Georgia’s white English bulldog mascot, died from lymphoma, ending his reign as mascot after only half of a season.

UGA VIII died before serving a full season on the Sanford Stadium sideline. He took over as the team’s mascot for Georgia’s Oct. 16 game against Vanderbilt and was mascot for the final six regular-season games.

Associated Press