In brief: Banned Olympian Gatlin will volunteer as coach
Banned Olympic champion sprinter Justin Gatlin has agreed to be a volunteer coach for the boys track team at his high school this spring.
The athletic director for Woodham High School in Pensacola, Fla., said Tuesday that Gatlin has frequently donated his time and money to the team since graduating in 2000.
Gatlin, the world-record holder in the 100 meters, faces a suspension of up to eight years following a positive drug test for testosterone and other steroids at the Kansas Relays in April. His appeal is still pending.
He still shares the 100 record of 9.77 seconds, but that will be erased once his doping penalty becomes official. Gatlin won the Olympic 100 gold medal at the 2004 Athens Games and the 100 and 200 at the 2005 world championships in Helsinki.
Winter sports
Mancuso wins title
Olympic giant slalom champion Julia Mancuso won the downhill on the Oreiller-Killy course in 1 minute, 38.93 seconds for her first World Cup victory in Val d’Isere, France.
Renate Goetschl of Austria was runner-up, 0.43 seconds behind, and World Cup downhill leader Lindsey Kildow, Mancuso’s teammate and last year’s Val d’Isere winner, was 0.54 back in third.
“Five days. Six top-three finishes for Americans.
Bode Miller started the roll Friday with a super-G win at Val Gardena, while Steve Nyman took the downhill at the Italian resort the following day for his first World Cup win.
Miller then finished second Sunday in the giant slalom at Alta Badia, Italy, as did Ted Ligety in Monday’s slalom on the Gran Risa course.
“Shani Davis won a head-to-head duel in the 5,000 meters with 2006 Olympic champion Chad Hedrick at the U.S. Allround Long Track Speedskating Championships in West Allis, Wis.
Davis finished in 6 minutes, 24.93 seconds to edge Hedrick, who skated alongside Davis in the final pair and clocked a 6:25.47 on the first day of the championships. Besides winning the 5,000 at the Turin Games, Hedrick, of Spring, Texas, also took home a bronze and a silver.
Davis, of Chicago, also won the 500 with a 36.52 to again beat Hedrick, who was second in 37.60.
“Vancouver Olympic organizers say it has been a “banner” year with more cash rolling in than expected, venue construction finishing early and on budget, and Canadian awareness of the 2010 Games increasing.
Football
BC hires Jagodzinski
Boston College hired Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski, a former BC assistant, to be its head coach and signed him to a five-year contract.
The offer was first reported Monday but confirmed by the school on Tuesday. Jagodzinski is scheduled to be introduced on campus tonight.
“Mario Cristobal was hired by Florida International, luring the Miami assistant from his alma mater with a five-year contract and the chance to be one of the youngest coaches in Division I-A.
“Penn State defensive tackle Ed Johnson has been suspended for violating a team rule and will miss the Outback Bowl.