Former Saint Augustine's Kia Davis chooses different path to Beijing Olympics

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"It really hasn't sunk in yet," the 32-year-old Kia Davis said by phone Thursday afternoon. "I want to treat it like just another meet, but I know it isn't just another meet. I'm sure I'll start getting those butterflies inside very soon."
The only thing that would make the experience better is the uniform she will be wearing in China.

Davis will compete for the Republic of Liberia, the homeland of her father and paternal grandparents, not for the United States. She will be competing in the 400-meter dash, and possibly the 200. "It wasn't an easy decision," Davis said. "I agonized over it. I sat down and had a long talk with my coach, Bethune-Cookman University's Garfield Ellenwood, who also is coach of the Liberian national team, my family and my fiancée (Michael Ford, an assistant coach at Baylor).

"I know some people won't like that," said Davis, who lives in Daytona Beach, Fla., and is an assistant coach at Bethune-Cookman University. "They'll think I'm un-American or unpatriotic. I've already received some static over it. If someone can come to this country and take a spot away from an American athlete, why can't an American do the same thing elsewhere?

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Bentley transferring from St. Augustine's College to Middle Tennessee State University for track

After redshirting a year at an NCAA Division II national track and field power, former Brainerd High School speedster Adrian “Buck” Bentley is heading to a Division I career closer to home.

Bentley signed scholarship papers Monday to run for Middle Tennessee State University. He’s leaving Saint Augustine’s College in Raleigh, N.C., with 24 credit hours and a grade point average above 2.6. He was majoring in engineering and mathematics, so he was taking some heavyweight courses.

“He always had the academic ability. He struggled about what is necessary to move on,” said Brainerd coach Mary Sparn, noting that Bentley got behind early in high school. “He is a very bright kid. Actually, he’s not a kid anymore — he’s an adult, and he’s proved that.”

Bentley holds Brainerd records for the 100- and 200-meter dashes and is part of the school’s record 4x100 relay. He won the 100 and 400, helped win the 4x100 and finished second in the 200 in the 2007 TSSAA Class A/AA state meet, leading the Panthers to the team championship.

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Stampeders hopeful sprints out of brother's shadow

The words from his brother will spur Calgary Stampeders hopeful Eddie Montgomery.

Knowing his younger sibling would soon be on his way to the Stampede City to follow his pro football dreams, Tim Montgomery wanted to offer his last bit of support before going behind bars.

"He looked at me and said, 'Do what you've gotta do. You're not in my shadow anymore,' " recalled Eddie Montgomery from his family home in Gaffney, S.C. "I loved to be in his shadow because everybody knew me as Tim's younger brother and I looked up to him, like a father figure as much as a brother."

While Eddie is catching passes and returning kicks at Stamps camp that opens Sunday, his brother -- the former world record-holding sprinter whose fall from grace came at a dizzying pace -- will be in prison

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NSU assistant to become head coach at St. Augustine’s College

Photo: Falcons new head basketball coach Lonnie Blow.

Lonnie Blow, Jr., an assistant basketball coach at Norfolk State, is leaving to become the head coach at St. Augustine’s College in Raleigh, a Division II school.
Blow, 48, spent the past two seasons working under former Spartans coach Dwight Freeman and current coach Anthony Evans.

“It’s going to be tough leaving Norfolk State,” Blow said. “We worked really hard and we have the left the program headed in the right direction. But I’m pretty excited. This is a great opportunity for me.”

Blow, who has been an assistant at Hampton University and a head coach at Granby High School, will be introduced today at a press conference in Raleigh.

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