American cyclist Dygert is in top form
By The Associated Press
The plan was for Chloe Dygert to win the world championship in the time trial, then carry that momentum toward the Summer Olympics, where the American road cycling star would be the favorite to win the gold medal.
That was three years, a career-threatening crash and immeasurable heartache ago.
Perhaps Dygert’s plan will come to fruition this time.
Despite dealing with an illness that might have kept her off the start line a day earlier, Dygert roared over the 36.2-kilometer course to Stirling Castle in a time of 46 minutes, 59.80 seconds in the world championships Thursday in Glasgow, Scotland. That was enough to hold off Australia’s Grace Brown, the silver medalist a year ago, by just 5.67 seconds and give Dygert the rainbow jersey she first won in 2019 in England.
“This is really special,” said Dygert, who was leading the 2020 time trial in Italy before crashing into a barrier, sliding down an embankment and so severely injuring her left leg that it took multiple procedures and several months to get back on the bike.
“It’s not just special for me, it’s special for everyone behind me,” added Dygert, who is now the favorite to win at next year’s Paris Olympics. “This means a lot for us. You know, it’s just trusting the process and God’s plan and I’m really thankful for this.”
Dygert had dominated the individual pursuit on the track a week earlier at the worlds — which end Sunday — sending a warning to her closest competitors on the road that the 26-year-old from Indiana was returning to worldclass form.
Suspended Gragson asks for release
Suspended NASCAR driver Noah Gragson has asked Legacy Motor Club to release him from his contract so he can begin working toward reinstatement.
The 25-year-old rookie was suspended indefinitely by Cup officials last Saturday after liking an insensitive meme with a photo of George Floyd’s face. Floyd, who was Black, died in 2020 after a White Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for 9 1/2 minutes.
Series officials said Gragson violated the member conduct of its rule book without providing details.
“I love racing, and I am looking forward to a second chance to compete for wins at the highest level of NASCAR — and, most importantly, make my family, my team and the fans proud of me once again,” Gragson said in a statement in which he sought the release.
Legacy already had announced two-time Le Mans winner Mike Rockenfeller would replace Gragson in the No. 42 car for Sunday’s race at Indianapolis and the race at Watkins Glen the following Sunday.
“Noah has a ton of talent and has a great personality,” team CEO Cal Wells said. “This is a difficult situation, but we are proud that Noah has taken ownership of his actions and are confident he will work through this process with NASCAR and come back stronger.”
Lakers to open season in Denver
The Lakers will reportedly open the 2023-24 season with a rematch of the 2023 Western Conference finals.
The Denver Nuggets, the defending NBA champions, will host the Lakers at Ball Arena on opening night on Oct. 24, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported on Thursday.
The game will be nationally televised on TNT.
The Nuggets, who beat the Miami Heat 4-1 in the NBA Finals, swept the Lakers 4-0 in the conference finals.
The report added that the Golden State Warriors will host the Phoenix Suns as the back end of an opening night doubleheader featuring four Western Conference teams.
— Khobi Price
Players charged in illegal wagering probe
Jirehl Brock and three other Iowa State football players along with three current or former Iowa football players and a student assistant were charged Thursday in connection with the state’s investigation into illegal sports wagering at the two schools.
A total of 15 football and basketball players and staffers with ties to the schools have been charged since last week in the ongoing investigation. Current athletes face a loss of eligibility for violating NCAA gambling rules.
Brock and ISU teammates Isaiah Lee, Deshawn Hanika and Jacob Remsburg were charged in Story County on suspicion of tampering with records. Former Iowa players Arland Bruce IV and Reggie Bracy, current Iowa player Jack Johnson and student assistant Owen O’brien face the same charge in Johnson County.
The Des Moines Register was first to report the charges.
Swiatek beats Muchova in Montreal
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek of Poland beat 14th-seeded Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 on Thursday night in the National Bank Open in Montreal in a match interrupted by rain for more than six hours.
Coming off her fourth victory of the year last week at home in Warsaw, Swiatek finished off Muchova after they were delayed for three hours, 20 minutes following the second set and for two hours, 50 minutes early in the third.
In the only match completed in the afternoon, fourth-seeded Jessica Pegula of the United States beat Italy’s Jasmine Paolini 6-4, 6-0.
Pegula will face sixthseeded double partner Coco Gauff.