Day adds another All-America honor

Already an AFCA All-American, Carson-Newman College senior center Kevin Day from Soddy-Daisy was announced Wednesday as a Daktronics All-America second-teamer for NCAA Division II football. He is the only Tennessee resident on the first and second teams. Carson-Newman reached the Super Regional final and led Division II in rushing yards and touchdowns this year behind Day and his fellow linemen. He won the Jacobs Blocking Award for the South Atlantic Conference and.

Softball

• Girls Preparatory School graduates Jackie Baird and Amy Campbell were among the nine 2011-12 National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-America Scholar-Athletes from the East Tennessee State University softball team. That total topped the Atlantic Sun Conference. The honor requires grade point averages of at least 3.50.

• ETSU softball coach Brad Irwin recently announced his early signing class for 2013-14, and the five new Buccaneers included Marion County outfielder Brooke Baxter, Ooltewah catcher-infielder Kelsey Chernak and Northwest Whitfield infielder-outfielder Mykeah Johnson. "Brooke is a very speedy outfielder who will come in and compete for time out there," Irwin said in the school release. "She's a hard-nosed player, she's gritty and she's the type of kid who is going to do whatever it takes to get better and compete." Of Chernak he said, "She can play anywhere. She's a very good defensive player, a smart player and will provide great leadership." Johnson, Irwin noted, "is another versatile, athletic player. Mykeah can swing the bat very well and can play multiple positions."

Soccer

• Georgetown (Ky.) College freshman Sarah Hencke from Baylor School was honored as the women's soccer team's "rookie of the year" at the postseason banquet. The 5-foot-5 Hixson resident missed three games after sustaining a concussion but started 14 and tied for second on the 10-7 team with three goals. "I was really pleased with what Sarah brought to the table this year," coach Leah Crews Castleman said in a Georgetown release. "She gave us speed on the wing with a solid foot and a great sense of the game. I'm excited to see what a spring season can do for her -- get her a little stronger. I foresee her being one of our go-to offensive weapons the next three seasons."

Running

• The 34th year of the Karen Lawrence Run for St. Jude on New Year's Eve will have a new course and is being conducted with the help of Scenic City Multisports, according to race director Benji Cordell. The main race will be about 4.2 miles and make two loops from the Sports Barn downtown up Third Street, across the Walnut Street Bridge, right on Frazier and then to the Chattanooga Theatre Centre area and back. In recent years the course went up West Sixth Street past the YMCA and down Riverfront Parkway. "The city's traffic people wanted us to change it," Cordell said. "The race will be more challenging because it will be hillier, but I think it also will be more scenic." The main race will start at 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 31, followed closely by the start of the 2-mile fun run. On-site registration will begin at 3 p.m. Pre-registration can be done at active.com. For more information email benjicordell@yahoo.com.

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