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US sweeps 1,600 relays at junior worlds

By WTOP Staff

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Kendall Baisden kicked the final 100 meters and the U.S. women won the 1,600 relay Sunday on the final day of the IAAF junior world championships at Hayward Field.

Baidsen, who will be a sophomore at Texas, pushed the women across the finish in 3 minutes, 30.42 seconds. Earlier in the week, Baisden won the 400.

“I was making sure, as always, that I run my own race, not get our too hard, so that I wouldn’t slow down on the homestretch,” Baisden said.

The U.S. men also won the 1,600 relay in 3:03.31 to cap the six-day international track and field event. On Saturday, the U.S. men and women also claimed golds in the 400 relays.

Kendell Williams won the 100 hurdles in a meet record of 12.89 seconds. Fellow American Dior Hall was second at 12.92, breaking the U.S. high school record set in 1989.

Williams, who just wrapped up her freshman season at Georgia, was the U.S. junior champion in the 100 hurdles, as well as the NCAA heptathlon champion and the NCAA indoor pentathlon champion.

“I got out well and went through the hurdles well but I could see Dior peripherally and that helped push me,” Williams said. “This is my last junior meet and I wanted to go out with a bang. I think I did that.”

Alfred Kipketer of Kenya won the men’s 800 in 1:43.95. Countryman Barnabas Kipyego won the 3,000 steeplechase in a personal-best 8:25.59.

“I made a promise in my country that I will win this medal, and I kept my promise,” Kipketer said. “This is very important to me.”

Morgan Lake of Britain won the women’s high jump at 6 feet, 4 inches. Lake also won the world title in the heptathlon earlier in the week, making her the first person to win both events at the worlds.

Dawit Seyaum of Ethiopia won the 1,500 in 4:09.86 on her 18th birthday.

Lazaro Martinez of Cuba won the men’s triple jump with a leap of 52-2 1/2, while Gatis Cakss of Latvia won the javelin with a throw of 242-11.

It is the first time the junior world championships have been held in the United States. Nearly 1,600 athletes from 170 countries are took part in the six-day event, which included athletes born between 1995 and 1998.

There were reports Saturday that four Ethiopian athletes had left the meet and were unaccounted for. The Oregonian newspaper reported that University of Oregon police, along with the Eugene police and other law enforcement statewide were seeking to contact the athletes.

It is not believed that the athletes are in danger. It is not uncommon for athletes seeking asylum from unstable countries to use sporting events as a way to leave, although it is not known if the Ethiopians were seeking to flee their country.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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