Lagat wins 5,000 at nationals

Track and field: Former Washington State University star Bernard Lagat captured the 5,000 meters at the USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Ore., on Friday evening, edging Chris Solinsky.

Lagat finished in 13 minutes, 23.06 seconds with Solinsky second at 13:23.65. Galen Rupp, who won the 10,000 on Thursday, was third in 13:25.52.

Lagat is the American record-holder in the 5,000 with a time of 12:54.12 set in Oslo, Norway, on June 4, 2010.

Another former Cougar, Blessing Ufodiama, was seventh in the women’s triple jump at 43 feet, 10 inches.

CC Spokane coach Ryan Weidman and Washington’s Joe Zimmerman, a Lewis and Clark HS graduate, competed in the javelin but did not advance to the final eight.

In the Juniors portion of the competition, Eastern Washington University’s Jordan Arakawa threw the 13-pound hammer 216-6 to place third. Recent Coeur d’Alene HS graduate Johnathan Murray did not reach the final eight.

Aric Walden, a recent graduate of Newport HS, did not advance out of his heat of the 110 hurdles. Stephenie Cummings of CC Spokane did not advance out of her heat in the 800.

Related story, C3

Churchill Downs reopens gates

Horse racing: Racing resumed at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., two days after a tornado caused damage to the barn area and forced the track to cancel racing.

Fans began arriving at 4 p.m. for “Downs After Dark,” the track’s popular night racing series.

Track officials canceled Thursday’s scheduled racing after a tornado Wednesday evening damaged several barns and forced up to 100 horses to be moved.

Associated Press

Feds seize ring from Super Bowl

NFL: A former Green Bay Packers lineman whose teams won the first two Super Bowls will have at least one of his championship rings auctioned off to recover some of the $1.7 million the federal government says he owes in back taxes.

Fuzzy Thurston, 77, played for the Packers from 1959 to 1967. Federal marshals have seized his Super Bowl II ring, and authorities are trying to track down his other Super Bowl ring along with other memorabilia to auction off in accordance with a court order.

Associated Press