VALDEZ SILVER SALMON DERBY
Carlson snags lead
C. Vernon Carlson of Fairbanks landed a 16.72-pound silver salmon Wednesday to take the lead in the Valdez Silver Salmon Derby.
Carrie Little John sits in second place with a 16.18-pounder and Paul Lucio holds third with a 16.10-pounder.
The competition, which began July 20 and earns the winner $15,000, ends Sept. 1.
UAA VOLLEYBALL
Seawolves ranked 3rd
The UAA volleyball team is among the top-ranked teams in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference preseason coaches' poll, released Thursday.
The Seawolves are ranked third, behind top-ranked Western Washington and second-ranked Central Washington. Western Oregon is ranked fourth.
UAA is coming off its fifth straight winning season, having finished with a 16-10 overall record last season and in a tie for fourth in the GNAC.
UAA volleyball action begins at 9 p.m. Saturday with the annual Green & Gold Alumni exhibition at the Wells Fargo Sports Complex, where admission will be free.
GNAC Volleyball Coaches' Poll
1) Western Washington; 2) Central Washington; 3) UAA; 4) Western Oregon; 5) Seattle Pacific; Montana State Billings; 7) Northwest Nazarene; 8) UAF; 9) Saint Martin's; 10) Simon Fraser.
DRAG RACING
Thornsley takes first
Palmer's Nathan Thornsley, who drag races at Alaska Raceway Park in Palmer, won the Summit Super Series Box Championship last week at the Border Bandits meet in Edmonton, Alberta.
Thornsley qualified for the event by being the points leader in the Top Sportsman class at Alaska Raceway Park. He drives a Tom Yancer mono-shock dragster powered by an alcohol-burning Chevy engine.
The win earned Thornsley a spot in the International Hot Rod Association World Finals Oct. 11-23 at Memphis International Raceway.
Anchorage Daily News