Steamboat’s Brabec ends five-year nordic combined podium drought by U.S.

Steamboat Springs native Alexa Brabec made history Friday.

The 21-year old ended a five-year nordic combined podium drought for U.S. athletes, taking third in the Individual Gundersen Normal Hill HS102/5km in Trondheim, Norway.

Norway’s Ida Marie Hagen and Germany’s Nathalie Armbruster finished No. 1 and No. 2, respectively. With a time of 14:45.3, Brabec was 13.8 seconds behind Hagen’s winning time.

“It was insane, and I was definitely nervous since this was the first event of the season,” Brabec said.

— Steamboat Pilot & Today

Cross country champ Diggins gets 30th win

TRONDHEIM, Norway>> Olympic cross country skiing champion Jessie Diggins of the United States earned her 30th World Cup victory by winning a 20-kilometer skiathlon.

No. 6 Denver shuts out No. 19 Miami 4-0

Freshman Quentin Miller netted his third shutout Friday night as No. 6 Denver defeated No. 19 Miami at home in the first game of the weekend series. Miller stopped 22 shots for the Pioneers (10-5-1, 6-1-0 NCHC).

Denver fired 42 shots in the game and four different players scored, including Rieger Lorenz, Garrett Brown, Kyle Chyzowski and a power-play goal from defenseman Eric Pohlkamp. Pohlkamp now has eight goals in his last nine games.

“I think our power play’s been struggling all year, and lucky enough, we got one there. It’s nice to get a power-play goal,” Pohlkamp said.

Athletes begin torch relay

ROME>> Olympic swimming champion Gregorio Paltrinieri and fellow Summer athletes started the torch relay for the Milan Cortina Winter Games on Saturday — marking exactly two months before the Feb. 6 opening ceremony.

The torch will cover nearly 7,500 miles and will wind its way through all 110 Italian provinces before reaching Milan.

James Madison hires fired Florida coach Billy Napier

HARRISONBURG, Va.>> James Madison has hired former Florida coach Billy Napier to replace Bob Chesney, who is leaving for UCLA but would coach the Dukes in the College Football Playoff if they make the 12-team field. Napier, who was 22-23 in four seasons at Florida, was fired Oct. 19.

Packers activate Reed

GREEN BAY, Wis.>> Green Bay wide receiver Jayden Reed has been activated from injured reserve, clearing the way for him to play for the first time in nearly three months when the Packers host the NFC North-leading Bears on Sunday.

World Cup final will be on in prime time in Europe

WASHINGTON>> The World Cup final will kick off at 1 p.m. MDT next July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.

The kickoff time allows for prime-time viewing in Europe, where it will be 9 p.m., and Britain, where it will be 8 p.m.

Salah doubtful on future

LEEDS, England>> Mohamed Salah cast doubt on his Liverpool future, saying he felt like he’s been “thrown under the bus” by the Premier League champion. He spoke out after being dropped for the third game in succession as Liverpool drew at Leeds 3-3.

— Staff and wire reports