Jamie Achten of Lee UniversityCLEVELAND, Tenn. -- While the Lee University women's soccer team begins preparations for a season without Jamie Achten, the player directly involved in all four of the school's NAIA national championships, the two-time NAIA player of the year has received another huge national accolade. She was announced Monday as the first Capital One College Division Academic All-America of the Year. That covers NAIA and two-year institutions, including some in Canada. The communications and marketing major from Franklin, Tenn., compiled a 3.97 cumulative grade point average while helping the Lady Flames compile a 90-7-3 record in her four years as a first-team on-field All-American. She set NAIA records for assists in a season and a career (91) and also scored 83 goals. She had 22 goals and 25 assists last season and became a co-honoree as the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame's female athlete of the year. Achten also received the Dr. Paul Conn Award as the top female student-athlete at Lee. "I'm very appreciative of this award," she said of the latest honor. "Credit goes to my team and coach, who would not accept less than my best day in and day out. My Lord Jesus Christ gives and takes away, and I humbly receive this knowing he is my strength to get through life." Athletic director Larry Carpenter praised Achten's humility but said the school "may never have another student-athlete like her." Said coach Matt Yelton: "This recognition is a wonderful capstone to Jamie's career. She is a very special individual, and the quality of who she is extends into every area of her life. She ... exudes excellence in all that she does."
Auto Racing
• Fort Oglethorpe truck driver Tony Helms won the Super Pro class Saturday night at Brainerd Optimist Drag Strip with a 5.31-second run on a 5.30 dial-in. He was driving a 1968 Camaro Z-28 powered by a modified 454 Chevrolet engine on nitrous oxide assist. Matt Grayson of Whitwell was second in a 434 small-block Chevy dragster prepared by his father. Ron Lane and David Bigham were third and fourth. Bigham won the Foot Brake class with a 7.72 run on a 7.72 dial in a 1969 Dodge Dart, with Jason Earley second in a '65 Ford Falcon. Ronnie Clayton won the 5.70 heads-up competition with a 5.71 on a 5.70 dial in a classic '57 Chevy, with Shawn Bailey second in a'65 Ford Pinto. John Dempsey was first and Wes Moore second in the 6.00 class, and Lonnie Wigley was first and Mike Clayton second in 7.0. Colby Crane of Henagar, Ala., won the Junior Dragster class with Justin Moore of Georgetown second. Steven Farrow had the low elapsed time (4.90) and top speed (140.25 mph) of the meet.