Beach to Beacon adding HS mile
CAPE ELIZABETH, Maine — The TD Beach to Beacon is adding a competitive High School Mile event to race weekend this year that is expected to attract top high school runners from across Maine, race officials announced Wednesday.
The TD Beach to Beacon High School Mile will take place at Fort Williams on Friday, Aug. 5, starting at 4 p.m. The two-loop course will begin near the Portland Head Light and finish across the official TD Beach to Beacon finish line.
The event is open to all Maine high school runners entering their senior, junior or sophomore years who met the following qualifying standard during the 2015-16 school year: for boys, 5:00 (or sub 17:30 for the 5K), and girls, 6:15 (or sub 20:30 for the 5K).
Interested and eligible athletes can apply beginning June 15 through June 22 at the race website at www.beach2beacon.org.
Indians Byrd suspended for PED use
Cleveland Indians outfielder Marlon Byrd was handed a 162-game suspension from Major League Baseball on Wednesday for using performance-enhancing drugs.
The 38-year-old Byrd, who tested positive for the growth hormone secretagogue Ipamorelin, accepted responsibility and will not appeal. He also was suspended for 50 games in 2012 after testing positive for Taxoxifen.
The suspension begins immediately.
Byrd joined the Indians before the 2016 season after signing a minor league contract. He made the major league team out of spring training and was batting .270 with five home runs and 19 RBIs.
Starr no longer Baylor chancellor
Removed as Baylor president and given a full-time chancellor role, Kenneth Starr will not serve in that role at the university.
ESPN first reported the latest change at Baylor on Wednesday, noting that Starr will continue to teach in the law school.
The independent review of Baylor’s administrative response to sexual assault allegations against a number of athletes, particularly in the football program, led to sweeping changes at the Waco, Texas, private university. Head coach Art Briles was suspended with the intent to terminate his contract based on failed oversight of the program.
Starr was demoted from president last week and given the role of chancellor. He is credited for helping generate the funds needed to build Baylor’s new $266 million football stadium.
Stolen laptop had NFL medical records
A laptop containing the medical records of thousands of NFL players was stolen from the car of a Washington Redskins trainer last month, the team confirmed in a statement Wednesday.
According to a letter from the NFL Players Association that was obtained by the outlet that initially broke the story, Deadspin, the stolen medical records were of every player who went through the NFL scouting combine from 2004-16, as well as current Redskins players.
The Redskins’ statement said the laptop was taken April 15 when a window was broken in one of the team’s trainers cars and the backpack containing the laptop was stolen.
“No social security numbers, protected health information under HIPAA or financial information were stolen or are at risk of exposure,” the Redskins said in the statement.
Kovash in charge of Browns personnel
BEREA, Ohio — The Cleveland Browns reshaped their scouting department this week, the most significant move elevating Ken Kovash to Vice President of Player Personnel.
Kovash spent the past three seasons in Cleveland’s player personnel department as the director of football research. His worked as the Cowboys senior analytics manager three seasons before being hired by the Browns.
Jets’ Clitsome retires at 31
A back injury has led to the retirement of Winnipeg Jets defenseman Grant Clitsome on Wednesday.
The 31-year-old Clitsome spent seven seasons in the NHL. In 205 career games, he produced 15 goals, 56 assists and 98 penalty minutes. Back injuries also plagued him during the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons and he did not play this season.