LEAD - The fourth annual Leading Ladies Marathon was on Sunday, beginning at the Lead Country Club and finishing at the Spearfish City Park.

There were 450 runners registered to run the half and the full tracks. The first runner to arrive back in Spearfish was Mary Coordt.

The Leading Ladies Marathon was the dream of its director, Elaine Doll-Dunn. After running the course for her birthday, she was determined to open it for more women to participate. The idea is to inspire and nurture women to achieve their potential.

Some participants in this year's race included Kathrine Switzer, 61, who was the first woman to run the Boston Marathon. Dr. JoAnne Owens-Nausler, a motivational speaker and fitness expert, participated in the half-track. South Dakota State Sen. Tom Katus was available to greet the women as they crossed the finish line.

Mines gathers votes in NAIA Top 25 poll

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The South Dakota Mines women's volleyball team was among several teams to get a mention in the NAIA Volleyball Top 25 poll. The Hardrockers finished 2007 as the runners-up in the Dakota Athletic Conference tournament and posted a 23-6 record.

The 'Rockers begin their season this weekend in Dickinson, N.D., at the DAC/Frontier Conference crossover tournament. The 'Rockers will take on University of Montana-Western and Montana State-Northern on Friday and then Montana Tech and Carroll College on Saturday.

Fresno Pacific, Calif., a member of the Golden State Athletic Conference, tops the preseason and enters the 2008 campaign as reigning national champions.

The first regular season ranking will be released Sept. 9.

Augustana returns all starters, earns ranking

SIOUX FALLS - The Augustana volleyball team is ranked No. 20 in the nation in the CBS College Sports/AVCA Division II Coaches Top 25 Poll, the AVCA office announced today.

Augustana posted a 19-11 record in 2007 and tied for third in the North Central Conference standings. The Vikings finished the season ranked 24th after advancing to the North Central Regional Championships.

The Vikings return all six starters from last year's team, including a trio of players who earned All-NCC honors. That group includes senior outside hitter Cayla Schroeder, senior setter Lisa Hoegh, and junior right-side hitter Ellen Andrews.

Augustana does welcome a new head coach in 2008. Ashley Buckley, the team's assistant coach in 2007, takes over as head coach this fall.

Augustana opens the season by traveling to San Antonio, Texas, on Aug. 29 to compete in the St. Mary's College Tournament.

Cobblers' football team set to scrimmage

RAPID CITY - The Rapid City Central football scrimmage will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at O'Harra Stadium. Cobbler football items and apparel will be available.

The Cobblers Kick off the regular season at O'Harra Stadium at 7 p.m. Aug. 29 against Aberdeen Central.

Phil Jackson to receive honorary degree

GRAND FORKS, N.D. - Hall of Fame basketball coach and University of North Dakota alumnus Phil Jackson will add an academic honor to his growing list of career accomplishments Monday when he receives an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from his alma mater at a convocation ceremony set for 2 p.m., at the Chester Frtiz Auditorium on campus.

Jackson, the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, has amassed 976 regular season wins in his 17 seasons coaching in the NBA. He led his teams, the Chicago Bulls and the Lakers, into the playoffs every year he has coached. His playoff win percentage of .700 is tops all-time in the NBA, thanks in large part to his nine NBA world championships - six with Chicago and three with Los Angeles.

Jackson graduated from UND in 1967, after pursuing studies in religion, philosophy and psychology.

Jackson grew up in Williston, N.D., before moving on to take classes and play basketball at UND. Recruited by Bill Fitch, who also would move on to a career in NBA coaching,

Three USD players in Great West picks

NAPERVILLE, Ill. - The Great West selected the pre-season players of the year on offense, defense and special teams. Three USD players were named amongst the picks.

Cal Poly All-American wide receiver Ramses Barden was a unanimous choice of the five head coaches as offensive player of the year, and Cal Poly wide receiver-return specialist Tre'dale Tolver was selected as special teams player of the year. Despite seeing action in just eight games in 2007, UC Davis defensive lineman John Faletoese earned enough respect to be selected the pre-season Defensive Player of the Year.

Also considered for offensive honors were quarterback Noah Shepard from South Dakota, running back Joe Trombetta of UC Davis, quarterback Danny Freund of North Dakota and quarterback Cody Stone from Southern Utah.

Also considered for defensive honors were linebacker Blake Hojer from South Dakota, defensive lineman Sean Lawyer from Cal Poly, free safety Rory Manke from North Dakota and linebacker Robert Takeno from Southern Utah.

Special teams nominations included punter Tim Stanek from South Dakota, kicker Brandon Hellevang from North Dakota and return specialist Nick Miller from Southern Utah.

SDIAAA awards scholarships to athletes

WATERTOWN - South Dakota Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association president Don Ray has announced the names of the recipients of the annual SDIAAA Scholarships.

Kaitlin Gebhart, of Elkton, Dustin Nowotny, of Rapid City, and Tessa Weber, of Flandreau, each received $500 scholarships.

Gebhart is a sophomore at the University of South Dakota majoring in accounting.

Nowotny, a 2007 graduate of St. Thomas More High School, is a sophomore at the University of South Dakota majoring in pre-med.

Weber will attend Southwest Minnesota State University and major in marketing and public relations.

Two additional $250 scholarships are being given this year to the state winners in the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association Student Essay Contest. Winners this year are Alexa Duling, of Gregory, and Thomas Brockhoft, of Winner.

Brockhoft will attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and major in pre-med.