Erin Jackson won the women’s 1,000 meters at the U.S. Olympic trials for long track speedskating by finishing faster than her good friend, world record-holder Brittany Bowe, on Saturday in Milwaukee to qualify in that event for the Milan Cortina Winter Games, where she also will defend her gold medal in the 500.

At the trials four years ago at the Pettit National Ice Center, Jackson slipped during the 500 and failed to earn a spot in that event. But Bowe, who did qualify in the 500, gave up her spot to Jackson, who then went to Beijing and became the first Black woman to win an individual gold medal at a Winter Olympics.

Bowe had the fastest time Saturday heading into the final two-woman heat, when Jackson completed the 1,000 in 1 minute, 14.63 seconds. That was 0.38 faster than Bowe. They both grew up in Ocala, Fla., and started in inline skating before switching to the ice.

Saturday’s performance by Jackson was all the more impressive because she tore her left hamstring just before the start of a World Cup meet in December.

U.S. Speedskating said Bowe will get the second U.S. berth in the 1,000. She turns 38 next month and will be heading to her fourth Olympics — and has said this will be her final appearance.

On the men’s side, star speedskater Jordan Stolz shockingly stumbled to the ice right after the start of the men’s 1,000 meters at the U.S. Olympic trials for long track speedskating but still finished with the third-fastest time and will head to the Milan Cortina Winter Games.

Stolz, 21,is not just considered a medal contender for at least three events, including the 1,000, at the Feb. 6-22 Games — he is probably the favorite for gold in those.

MLB

Infielder Kazuma Okamoto and the Toronto Blue Jays agreed to a $60 million, four-year contract, multiple sources reported.

A six-time All-Star, Okamoto has a .277 average with 248 homers and 717 RBIs in 11 Japanese big league seasons, leading the Central League in home runs in 2020, 2021 and 2023. He homered off Colorado’s Kyle Freeland to help Japan beat the U.S. 3-2 in the 2023 World Baseball Classic final.

Under the posting agreement between Major League Baseball and Nippon Professional Baseball, a deal must be finalized by 2 p.m. today.

Okamoto, a 29-year-old third baseman and first baseman, hit .327 with 15 homers and 49 RBIs in 69 games last year for the Central League’s Yomiuri Giants. He injured his left elbow while trying to catch a throw at first base on May 6 when he collided with the Hanshin Tigers’ Takumu Nakano, an injury that sidelined Okamoto until Aug. 16.

Okamoto presumably would play mostly at third with five-time All-Star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. at first.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Boopie Miller had 27 points and 12 assists and SMU beat No. 12 North Carolina 97-83 in Dallas, giving the Mustangs their first win over a ranked team for second-year coach Andy Enfield, the ex-USC coach.

Corey Washington added 23 points, while B.J. Edwards scored 15 points and had six assists for the Mustangs (12-2), who are in their second Atlantic Coast Conference season. SMU never trailed after the break in its ACC opener.

No. 18 Arkansas 86, No. 19 Tennessee 75: Freshman Darius Acuff Jr. scored a career-high 29 points, including a key 3-pointer with just more than 2 minutes left in the game, to lift the Razorbacks (11-3) over the Volunteers (10-4) in the Southeastern Conference opener for both teams in Fayetteville, Ark.

UCF 81, No. 17 Kansas 75: Riley Kugel had 19 points and a crucial three-point play with less than 10 seconds remaining to lead UCF (12-1, 1-0 Big 12) over the visiting Jayhawks (10-4, 0-1). Themus Fulks had 16 points and Jordan Burks scored 14 for UCF, which is off to its best start since 14-0 in 2010-11. Kansas played most of the second half without star guard Darryn Peterson, who scored 23 of his 26 points in the first half.

No. 1 Arizona 97, Utah 78: Tobe Awaka and Jaden Bradley each scored 18 points and the Wildcats (14-0, 1-0 Big 12 Conference) cruised past the Utes (8-6, 0-1) in Salt Lake City.

No. 5 Purdue 89, Wisconsin 73: — Braden Smith became the Big Ten’s career assists leader, Fletcher Loyer scored 20 points and the Boilermakers (13-1, 3-0 Big Ten) beat the host Badgers (9-5, 1-2).

No. 6 Duke 91, Florida State 84: Isaiah Evans scored a career-high 28 points to lead the Blue Devils (13-1, 2-0 Atlantic Coast) over the host Seminoles (7-8, 0-2).

No. 8 Houston 67, Cincinnati 60: Milos Uzan scored 18 points, including a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 2:48 left, and the Cougars (13-1) rallied in the second half against the host Bearcats (8-6) in the Big 12 Conference opener for both teams.

No. 10 BYU 83, Kansas State 73: A.J. Dybantsa had 24 points to offset seven turnovers in his Big 12 Conference debut, Robert Wright III added 18 points and the Cougars (13-1, 1-0) held off the Wildcats (9-5, 0-1) Kansas State in Manhattan, Kan.