FACES IN THE CROWD
GYASI ZARDES
HAWTHORNE, CALIF. > SOCCER
Zardes, a redshirt sophomore forward at Cal State--Bakersfield, scored hat tricks in three games for the undefeated Roadrunners, 5--1 over UC Riverside, 3--1 over San Francisco and 4--1 over Gonzaga. He also had two goals in a 2--2 tie with Cal State--Northridge, for a total of 11 goals this season. Through Saturday, Zardes led NCAA D-I soccer in points (3.8) and goals per game (1.8). Last season he was named the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation newcomer of the year.
AMANDA JONES
EL DORADO HILLS, CALIF. > WATER POLO
Amanda, a captain at Oak Ridge High who plays the hole set position, scored eight goals in the first game of the season, a 12--9 win over Oakmont High, to break the school record for goals in a game. She then scored a combined 12 goals over her next two games. Last year Amanda set the school record for season goals (83) and became the Trojans' alltime scorer, male or female, with her 131st goal. Through Sunday she has 64 goals for the season and 198 for her career.
HAYDEN BURNETT
RICHARDSON, TEXAS > FOOTBALL
Hayden, a senior quarterback and kicker at Garland Christian Academy, led the Swordsmen to their best start in program history (4--0) with a 28--0 win over Temple Christian. Through Sunday his league-leading total offense includes 1,298 passing yards (with 14 touchdown passes and four interceptions) and 786 rushing yards (with 11 touchdowns). He has also converted 14 of his 18 extra-point attempts. Last year Hayden was named district MVP and academic all-state in football and basketball.
TRACY COPELAND
RENO > TRIATHLON
Copeland, a 47-year-old accounting manager, won six gold medals and was named Outstanding Female Athlete at the World Transplant Games in G√∂teborg, Sweden. She won her 40--49 age group's 3K run, team 3K run, 5K cycling time trials, 20K cycling road race and 1,500-meter run and was the top female finisher in the virtual triathlon—a composite of the 3K run, 20K bike race and 400-meter swim. Copeland had a liver transplant in 1998. Her donor's family has joined her at four U.S. Transplant Games.
DAN MARINO
WEST CORNWALL, CONN. > FLY-FISHING
Marino, a freshman at UConn, won individual silver at the FIPS-Mouche youth world fly-fishing championship on the Tiber River in Sansepolcro, Italy, to lead the six-member U.S. squad to team gold. They defeated 10 countries for the first team title, youth or adult, in U.S. fly-fishing history. Marino caught 55 trout, the longest measuring 42 cm (16.5"), for 36,380 points. The team caught a total of 217 trout and grayling to outdistance runner-up Italy's 184 fish.
ANDREA MARSH
PANAMA, N.Y. > FOOTBALL
Andrea, a 5'8", 145-pound senior defensive back and a team captain at Panama Central, had two interceptions in a 33--22 win over division rival Clymer Central, including a pick on the game's last play. Through Sunday the two-year defensive starter and backup wide receiver shared the team lead in interceptions (three) and had 26 tackles to help the Panthers to a 3--1 start. Last year she finished the season with 55 tackles and two fumble recoveries. She's the only female starter in her division's eight teams.
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UNLEASHED
Among the 52 four-legged competitors at the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge nationals outside St. Louis this weekend will be Vhoebe, who in June set the world record in the diving-for-distance event. Here's how the 3-year-old Belgian Malinois's mark compares with the 1991 record of Mike Powell, top dog among human long jumpers. Heel!
Powell 29'43/8"
Vhoebe 31'5"
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MIKE POWELL/GETTY IMAGES (POWELL)
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COURTESY OF PURINA INCREDIBLE DOG CHALLENGE (VHOEBE)
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CSU BAKERSFIELD ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS (ZARDES)
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DIANE DA SILVA (JONES)
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JOEL BERRY (BURNETT)
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GLEN COPELAND (COPELAND)
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SAM MARINO (MARINO)
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DEB BAILEY (MARSH)
