VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Former Slippery Rock University distance running standout Jeff Weiss has qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials in the marathon.

The 2009 Rock graduate was the first American finisher and placed third overall with a time of 1 hour, 4.47 minutes Sunday at the Anthem Half Marathon in Virginia Beach.

Weiss averaged 4.57 minutes per mile. His time came under the “B” standard of 1:05.00 and guarantees him a spot on the start line in Los Angeles on Feb. 13, 2016, when the U.S. Olympic team for the marathon will be selected.

SLIPPERY ROCK — The Slippery Rock University field hockey team has received the Academic Team Award from the National Field Hockey Coaches Association and Gladiator by SGI.The team's cumulative grade point average of 3.56 after the fall semester was the highest in the country among NCAA Division II teams. West Chester was second at 3.45.

NEW YORK — Phil Jackson is back in New York, providing the Knicks stability, championship-building ideas and a link to the franchise's best days.Jackson was introduced as team president of the Knicks, in the midst of another difficult season and with no easy path to a quick fix.But Jackson has won here before, done plenty of it since and says a couple of years off have left him ready to take on what might be his toughest challenge, turning this dysfunctional franchise into a champion again.

AUBURN, Ala. — Auburn hired former Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl to revive a struggling basketball program that hasn't been to the NCAA tournament in more than a decade.The school announced the hiring of the charismatic coach, who remains under a show-cause penalty from the NCAA into August. Pearl had plenty of success on the court, taking Tennessee to the NCAA tournament in each of his six seasons before getting fired in March 2011 in the wake of an NCAA investigation.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Tiger Woods withdrew from the Arnold Palmer Invitational because of persistent pain in his back, creating even more uncertainty for golf's No. 1 player with the Masters only three weeks away.And that's if Woods can even play in the Masters.Woods had to withdraw after 13 holes of the final round at the Honda Classic three weeks ago because of what he called back spasms and pain in his lower back. He tried to defend his title the following week at Doral, only for his back to flare up again in the final round.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Cam Newton will undergo surgery on his left ankle and will be sidelined for four months, the Carolina Panthers announced.The team said the Pro Bowl quarterback has experienced soreness in the ankle since the end of last season.