500 athletes from around the world will descend on Richmond this weekend for the World Duathlon Championships. This is going to be a great event to watch in downtown Richmond if you want to see fast runners and even faster bikers. And for the best view of all — consider volunteering. The Duathlon World Championships are a great way to showcase Richmond’s best views and its one of its other great assets — it people. The race, on Oct. 21st, starts and ends downtown and consists of multiple 7.5K run loops and multiple 19K bike loops, navigating 4 bridges and much of Riverside Drive. The age groupers (or amateurs) start at 7:30 a.m. the Elites start closer to 9 a.m. Traffic will be affected in downtown, Byrd Park, near Maymont, Idlewood, Riverside Drive, Manchester, Brown’s Island and the Canal Area downtown until about 3 p.m. For the bike course click here. For the run course click here.

For more information on volunteering, contact the volunteer coordinator: marymarshall[at]sportsbackers[dot]org

Here’s the latest University of Richmond Spiders Sports update for Monday, October 15 from Bob Black:

No. 20 Richmond Routs Stony Brook, 42-0
Eric Ward set a career-high with three touchdown passes - all coming in the third quarter - as No. 20 Richmond blanked Stony Brook 42-0 at UR Stadium Saturday afternoon. Tim Hightower surpassed 100 yards on the ground for the fifth-straight game and broke the school’s single-season record with his 14th rushing touchdown.

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Here’s the latest University of Richmond Spiders sports update from Bob Black:

20th-ranked Spider Football Hosts Stony Brook Saturday On Times-Dispatch Family 4-Pack Day
The Spiders step out of conference for the final time this season, hosting Stony Brook in the first-ever meeting between the schools, this Saturday, Oct. 13 at UR Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Click here for info on Times-Dispatch Press Pass Family 4-Pack Day.

Richmond, VCU To Hold MLB Scout Day Tonight At The Diamond
The baseball teams at Richmond and VCU will together hold their annual Major League Baseball Scout Day this evening at The Diamond. Following the workouts, the teams are set to play an exhibition game at 6:15 p.m. The event is open to the public, as scouts from across Major League Baseball will be in attendance to watch the Spiders and Rams workout. VCU will take its workout from 4-5 p.m., followed by the Spiders from 5-6 p.m.

Chuck Boone Golf Classic Set For Homecoming Weekend
The Annual Chuck Boone Golf Classic will be held at Independence Golf Club. Friday November 2, 2007. The event will benefit the Charles S. Boone Scholarship and Spider Athletics. Click here for printable registration form.

Here’s the latest University of Richmond Spiders Sports Update from Bob Black:

Towson Wins Thriller, 23-21, Over No. 14 Richmond
Tim Hightower scored from 14 yards out to put the Spiders up with 29 seconds to play, but Towson quarterback Sean Schaefer found Demtrius Harrison in the end zone as time expired to lead Towson over No. 14 Richmond, 23-21, at Johnny Unitas Stadium Saturday afternoon in Towson, Md. Hightower rushed for a game-high 120 yards, his fourth consecutive 100-yard rushing performance. The Spiders step out of conference this Saturday, returning home for a 3:30 game against Stony Brook.

Field Hockey Improves To 2-0 In A-10 Play With 3-2 Win Over Saint Joseph’s
Sophomore Adrian Pickar scored two goals as the Richmond field hockey team defeated Saint Joseph’s 3-2 Sunday to improve to 2-0 in conference play. The Spiders, who have now won 44-straight games against Atlantic 10 opponents, completed a weekend sweep of Temple and the Hawks, two teams that are receiving votes for the NFHCA Top-20 Poll.

Men’s Soccer Plays Two-Time Defending A-10 Champs To Scoreless Tie
The men’s soccer team played to a double-overtime scoreless tie with two-time defending Atlantic 10 Champion Rhode Island in a non-conference match Sunday afternoon at First Market Stadium. Junior goalkeeper Eric Sciocchetti made eight saves as he recorded his third shutout of the season and the 12th of his career.

Women’s Soccer Splits Two Conference Matches To Open A-10 Play
Junior Jessie Wolfe scored two goals and had an assist as the women’s soccer team scored a 4-0 victory over St. Bonaventure Friday night at First Market Stadium. A goal with less than three minutes remaining in regulation was the difference as the Spiders fell to Duquesne, 2-1, at First Market Stadium Sunday afternoon.

SnagAJob.com Party Stops announced for spectators: Local roads to be affected

With 500 of the world’s top run-bike athletes coming to Richmond for the 2007 McDonald’s Duathlon Long Course World Championships on Sunday, October 21st, preparations are underway to create an exciting event for spectators and athletes alike.

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Here’s the latest University of Richmond Spider Sports Update from Bob Black.

Spiders Outscore UNH, 45-38; Jump To 14th In TSN Top 25
Tim Hightower scored four touchdowns and Justin Rogers set a school record for kickoff-return yardage Saturday as Richmond defeated New Hampshire 45-38. Hightower scored on runs of 2, 72 and 13 yards, the final touchdown coming with 8:42 remaining in the game. He also caught a 5-yard pass from Eric Ward for a score. The victory improved the Spiders mark to 3-1 overall, 2-0 in the CAA, and vaulted them to 14th in this week’s Sports Network Poll. New Hampshire (2-2; 0-2) dropped from 11th to 15th in the rankings. Complete Top 25 Poll

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Here’s the latest Spiders sports update from Bob Black:

Home Game Today At UR Stadium!
The 25th-ranked Spiders (2-1, 1-0) play on the UR Stadium grass for the first time since last November when they host 11th-ranked New Hampshire in a CAA Football contest tomorrow on Family Weekend. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. There’s something for everyone - so click on this headline link for details and ticket info!

Important Parking & Stadium Information For Football Games At UR Stadium
Please note: The City of Richmond has posted signs restricting parking on neighborhood streets near and around UR Stadium. Game day parking is available in designated and marked University of Richmond lots adjacent to UR Stadium. Click on the above headline link for more details.

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The Spiders learned yesterday they will open their season against Maine in the 2k Sports College Hoops Classic in Memphis, Tenn., on Nov. 5 at 4 p.m. That will be the first Division I men’s basketball game of the season, according to Evan Olesh, the director of communications for The Gazelle Group, Inc., which is promoting the tournament.

West of the Boulevard mentions University of Richmond’s home opener against the University of New Hampshire this Saturday at 3:30pm.

The Spiders have a top notch football team this year. They lost their opener to higher-division IA Vanderbilt, but came back and crushed their last two opponents to stand at 2-1. Richmond has a great shot at the CAA title this year.

IMPORTANT PARKING INFO FOR HOME RICHMOND FOOTBALL GAMES AT UR STADIUM:

Please note: The City of Richmond has posted signs restricting parking on neighborhood streets near and around UR Stadium. Game day parking is available in designated and marked University of Richmond lots adjacent to UR Stadium.

We’ve been following University of Richmond’s tailback Tim Hightower for some time, especially thanks to reports from Bob Black. This morning, the Times-Dispatch has an update on various awards Hightower has received:

For the second time in three weeks, the University of Richmond tailback has been honored on a national level after receiving the CAA award. The senior was named national player of the week by the Sports Network and College Sporting News yesterday for his school-record 295 yards rushing against Bucknell on Saturday.

In his previous game on Sept. 8, Hightower had rushed for 246 yards against Northeastern. That gives him 541 yards on 43 attempts over the past two games, an average of 12.6 yards per carry.