Former NCAA national champ sprinter Burrell dead at 26
Former NCAA national champion sprinter Cameron Burrell has died. He was 26.
The University of Houston, where he starred from 2013-2018, announced his death. The school said he died Monday but did not provide further details.
Burrell’s father, Leroy Burrell, a former Olympic gold medal sprinter who coaches Houston’s track team, released a statement through the school.
“My family is extremely saddened with the loss of our son, Cameron,” Leroy Burrell said. “We are going through profound sorrow and ask that all of our friends, extended University of Houston family and the track and field community in the U.S. and abroad allow us to gather with our closest family and friends. We are profoundly griefstricken and thank everyone for the outpouring of prayers and support.”
Cameron Burrell won the national title in the 100 meters in 2018 in Eugene, Ore. He won a second national title with his team that season by running the anchor leg of the 4x100-meter relay.
Cameron Burrell was a three-time, first-team All-America in the 60-meter dash (2014, 2017-18) in the indoor season and earned first-team AllAmerica honors three times (20162018) in the 100 on the outdoor schedule. He also was an All-America honoree as the anchor of the team’s 4x100-meter relay in 2014 and 2018.
He was on the 4x100 relay team which won gold at the World Junior Championships in 2012 and earned silver at the 2019 World Relays. He ran anchor on the United States relay team that won gold at the 2018 Athletics World Cup.
Burrell became the 121st man to run the 100 in less than 10 seconds when he posted a time of 9.93 seconds on June 8, 2017. The mark was .01 of a second faster than his father’s school record.
NFL SEATTLE CUTS TROUBLED SMITH »
Aldon Smith’s time with the Seattle Seahawks was short as the team released the embattled defensive end.
Smith was reinstated by the NFL in the spring of 2020 after missing four seasons due to off-field issues. He appeared in 16 games for Dallas last season and had five sacks along with 48 tackles.
He signed a one-year deal with Seattle in April but he was arrested two days later on a second-degree battery charge in St. Bernard Parish near New Orleans. He is scheduled to be arraigned later this month.
Even though Smith missed the Seahawks’ offseason program, coach Pete Carroll said early in training camp that the team was ready to support Smith.
Smith set an NFL record with 33½ sacks in his first two seasons before his career spiraled out of control due to multiple drunken-driving charges. He was also arrested in 2018 on a domestic violence charge in San Francisco. PANTHERS ADD LINEBACKER BYNES » The Carolina Panthers signed Josh Bynes to provide veteran depth at linebacker with projected starter Denzel
Perryman expected to miss some time battling an undisclosed injury. Bynes, 31, started all 16 games last season for the Cincinnati Bengals and had 99 tackles, a fumble recovery and a sack. RAVENS RECEIVER BATEMAN OUT » Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh said rookie wide receiver Rashod Bateman is expected to miss “a number of weeks” with a soft tissue leg problem.
Bateman was drafted in the first round by the Ravens this year, part of Baltimore’s attempt to boost its passing game. Now it’s not clear when the rookie out of Minnesota might return. COLTS GM, COACH GET EXTENSIONS » Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard and coach Frank Reich were given contract extensions through 2026.
Boxing
PACQUIAO AGREES TO FIGHT UGÁS » Manny Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39 KOs) could have postponed or canceled his boxing comeback when opponent Errol Spence Jr. dropped out less than two weeks before their Aug. 21 showdown.
Instead, the former eight-division champion didn’t hesitate to replace Spence with Yordenis Ugás (26-4, 12 KOs), the Cuban WBA welterweight champion, just 11 days before the payper-view show at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Spence has a retinal tear that requires surgery, but he didn’t know about it until a prefight medical exam.
Miscellany
NADAL PULLS OUT OF CINCINNATI EVENT » After pulling out of the hardcourt tournament in Toronto this week, Rafael Nadal said he was also withdrawing from the upcoming event in Cincinnati because of an injured left foot that has troubled him for months. The decision by the 20-time Grand Slam champion means he is unlikely to play before the U.S. Open. TRAINER NAVARRO PLEADS GUILTY TO FRAUD » A racehorse trainer pleaded guilty in New York to charges related to a scheme to give horses performance enhancing drugs so they perform better. Jorge Navarro entered the plea in Manhattan federal court, where sentencing was scheduled for Dec. 17. PANTHERS SIGN REINHART » The Florida Panthers signed newly acquired forward Sam Reinhart to a threeyear contract. Reinhart, 25, was a restricted free agent, and acquired by the Panthers in a trade with the Buffalo Sabres last month. Sportsnet.ca reported Reinhart’s contract has an annual average salary of $6.5 million. He’s a five-time 20-goal scorer in six full NHL seasons with Buffalo. JETS RE-SIGN PIONK » The Winnipeg Jets avoided arbitraton and signed defenseman Neal Pionk to a four-year contract worth roughly $23.5 million. SPIRIT SUSPEND COACH » The National Women’s Soccer League’s Washington Spirit said it has suspended former coach Richie Burke and will investigate accusations of his “verbal and emotional abuse” toward players.
The team said it was contacted by The Washington Post about an article posted online Wednesday.
“We take these allegations very seriously and are undertaking an immediate investigation. Burke has been suspended pending the investigation and is prohibited from contacting players and staff and our facilities,” the Spirit’s statement said. “We, as a team, will not tolerate any situation for our players and staff that is less than professional. Our athletes, and all of those who support them, deserve the absolute best.”
On Tuesday, the Spirit announced that Burke had resigned as the club’s coach and would be re-assigned to its front office.
ROSE RECEIVES PAYNE STEWART AWARD» Justin Rose of England was selected to receive the Payne Stewart Award, one of the premier awards on the PGA Tour that recognizes character, sportsmanship and a commitment to charity.
PISTONS RE-SIGN GUARDS »