Athlete From Davenport Qualifies To Race In Pan-American Games

Tim Briggs of Davenport has qualified for the Pan-American Games in two events after finishing second late Saturday in the 5,000 meters at the USA Junior National Track and Field Championships in Walnut, Calif.

Briggs, who just completed his freshman year at the University of Portland, won the 10,000-meter run by 16 seconds Friday night.

Briggs will compete in both races at the Pan-Am Games Sept. 4-5 in Santiago, Chile.

Saturday, Briggs, a three-time Washington Class B cross country champion, timed 14:47.9. His winning time for the 10,000 was 30:57.9.

Vandals get budget boost

A record $4 million athletic budget for the University of Idaho was approved by the state Board of Education meeting in Moscow.

The budget rose from $3,831,380 to $4,043,830, effective for the fiscal year starting July 1. The athletic budget does not include $900,000 or so provided by the Vandal Boosters, mostly for scholarships.

Jeff Eisenbarth, assistant financial vice president for auxiliary services, said the increase from last year basically involves 5 percent salary increases for all full-time state employees.

The budget does not include provisions for adding another women’s sport. Athletic director Pete Liske talked last winter about adding women’s soccer or swimming, but now says the Vandals plan to see if gender equity-Title IX issues become more clearly defined.

The contract of new football coach Chris Tormey, approved earlier this spring by the state board, takes effect July 1. Tormey has worked without a contract since being hired Jan. 9 to replace John L. Smith, who left to coach Utah State. Tormey will make $71,869, the same as Smith’s 1994 salary.

SFCU claims 2nd

Spokane Federal Credit Union wasted Gil Pierce’s grand slam home run, dropping an 11-6 decision to Lacey, Wash., in the championship game of the Summer Heat American Legion baseball tournament in Ephrata and Moses Lake.

Pierce’s slam in the fifth tied the score at 5. Brian Maley had an RBI single in the sixth to give SFCU a 6-5 lead, but Lacey scored six on five hits in the seventh to win it.

SFCU advanced to the title game with a 3-2 win over Apple Valley. Pat Stiffler’s two-out single in the top of the seventh scored Tyson Deal, who had doubled, with the winning run.

, DataTimes MEMO: Changed from the Idaho edition.