Julian Nunally USATF national shot put champion

Julian Nunally, who graduated this spring frm McCallie School after winning the Tennessee Division II high school shot put championship for the second time, now is a national champion in the event. Nunally won the USA Track and Field Junior national title recently at Greensboro, N.C., with a throw of 58 feet, 10 inches, which is 10 inches longer than the McCallie record he set in the 2013 TSSAA meet in Murfreesboro. This third of Nunally's six throws at Greensboro was more than a foot beyond the distance for the runner-up. He received coaching throughout his high school career from McCallie teacher Steve Reno. The Chattanooga Jets' Patrick Taylor joined Nunally with All-America status at the USATF meet with a sixth-place long jump of 22 feet, 9 inches in the 17-18 age division. The Jets had 30 athletes from age 7-8 and up with top-20 national finishes, counting relays.

Volleyball

• Going into her 23rd season as Lee University's head volleyball coach, Andrea Hudson has been promoted to assistant athletic director at the Cleveland school. "I am pleased to announce this action by our board of directors," school president Dr. Paul Conn said in a Lee release. "Coach Hudson is certainly deserving, and she has the kind of insight and work ethic which will make her a key individual in leading our overall athletic program. As a volleyball coach, she is superb. Now that we are moving into NCAA Division II, her work as senior woman administrator has given us a chance to see her exceptional administrative skills as well, and I believe she will lend a lot of support to [athletic director] Larry Carpenter and other members of the leadership team." Said Carpenter: "She brings the same work ethic and skill set that's made her a successful coach to the leadership table and has played an integral part in the history of Lee athletics." With her husband, Kevin, as her chief assistant, Hudson has 728 victories in her 22 volleyball seasons. "I am very humbled by the decision that was made by Dr. Conn and the board to appoint me to this new position," she said. "Lee University athletics has become a way of life for me, and I have enjoyed working with Coach Carpenter as my athletic director. As we transition to NCAA, I know this appointment will carry a lot of responsibility, and I am excited about this new season in my life."

Tennis

• Girls Preparatory School tennis coaches Sue and Billy Bartlett recently got to walk onto Centre Court and play doubles on Court No. 6 at the Wimbledon complex. The experience was set up by friends of Sue's on the Great Britain international team for which she has played in recent years. The Bartletts also got to stroll through the players' entrance at the historic All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. They were there, in fact, when word came about the birth of Prince George. "The club treats members like royalty," Sue Bartlett said in a GPS web posting. She came to the United States from England - she grew up about 45 minutes from Wimbledon - to play tennis for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga; she later married Billy, the son of then-UTC coach Tommy Bartlett.

Auto Racing

• A big trail of oil ended the night at the Brainerd Optimist Drag Strip a little early last Saturday. The finals were canceled after one dragster blew up, leaving oil for several hundred feet, according to strip officials. The cleanup time was going to be extensive, so the drivers voted to divide the prize money evenly among all those still in the running.

Boxing

• A Chattanooga Golden Gloves reunion is set for Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Luken gym behind Red Bank High School. All former boxers, coaches, officials, family, friends and fans are welcome, and all are encouraged to bring photos, memorabilia and stories. There is no charge, but a Shuford's barbecue plate will be available for $10. Anyone interested or planning to attend should call Skipper Fairbanks at 877-4113, Alfred O'Dell at 827-4608 or Jacky Godwin at 629-4597.

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