Fast Break

Track and field

Area athletes on U.S. team

Five area college athletes are included on the USA Track and Field roster for the world championships in Osaka, Japan, Aug. 25-Sept. 2.

The Americans are trying to retain their crown as the world’s best track team after winning a record 14 gold medals at the 2005 world championships in Helsinki. Their overall medal haul of 25 matched the U.S. total from the 2004 Olympics.

Washington State University’s Diana Pickler, who finished second in the women’s heptathlon at the USA Track & Field Championships in June, headlines the list. Former WSU standouts Dominique Arnold (110 hurdles, pictured above), Bernard Lagat (1,500 and 5,000 meters) and Ian Waltz (discus) also made the team. Waltz went to high school in Post Falls.

Former University High and University of Washington pole vaulter Brad Walker will also compete.

Arena Football

Shock put four on all-af2 team

Wide receiver Antwone Savage and defensive back Rob Keefe were named to the all-af2 American Conference first team on Monday.

Shock center Rico Ochoa and defensive lineman Devon Parks made the second team.

Savage collected 40 touchdowns and 2,260 all-purpose yards during the regular season. He was second in the league in scoring (17.6 a game) and sixth in the league in all-purpose yards (161.4).

Keefe is a repeat on the first team. He picked off nine passes and was second on the team in total tackles with 81.5.

College basketball

Eastern joins GU at Great Alaska

Eastern Washington will join Gonzaga at the 2007 Great Alaska Shootout men’s basketball tournament.

The University of Alaska Anchorage announced the completion of the eight-team bracket on Monday afternoon. The rest of the men’s field consists of host Alaska Anchorage, Butler, Michigan, Texas Tech, Virginia Tech, and Western Kentucky.

The tournament is Nov. 21-24 at Anchorage’s Sullivan Arena.