4 Triathlons, 4 Days, 1 Mission: BJU's IRON40 to Empower Students and Break Boundaries
The IRON40 is a daring challenge, with Dr. Matthew Weathers, Chief Enrollment Officer, undertaking the incredible feat of completing four full-distance triathlons in four consecutive days. The challenge is designed to inspire the BJU community and raise funds to make a college education at BJU possible for more students.
Weathers will be completing four full-distance triathlons across the days of the event. Over the four days, he will:
Swim 9.6 miles
Bike 448 miles
Run 104.8 miles
Swimming will occur off-site. The bike and running portions of the event will be held around the back-campus loop, and supporters and community members are encouraged to cheer Weathers on and contribute to this important cause. Community participation, whether through a donation or by joining him on the bike or run portions, will directly help raise the funds needed to support students who dream of attending BJU but are unable to afford the cost.
Every contribution will bring us one step closer to empowering the impossible and ensuring that more students have access to a life-changing education. 'I am so thankful for many friends of BJU who have already donated to the cause and look forward to seeing what God will do in the days ahead,' said Weathers.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Upturn
2 days ago
- Business Upturn
Wheeler Earns 10th Career Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour Win at Toyota Stage 7 at Saginaw Bay Presented by Ranger Boats
BAY CITY, Mich., Aug. 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Jacob Wheeler couldn't help himself. Time had already run out in Toyota Stage 7 Presented by Ranger Boats on Saginaw Bay with Wheeler atop SCORETRACKER®, his 10th career Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour win secured. Yet after Wheeler addressed the MLFNOW! viewers and offered some thank yous to those who had helped him get his tournament fishing start growing up in Indiana, he picked his rod back up and pitched a topwater frog back to the clump of reeds and lily pads in front of his boat, trying to elicit one more blowup. That summed up Wheeler's week on Saginaw Bay. Needing only to finish 27th or better to secure his fourth Fishing Clash Angler of the Year title in the past five seasons, he could have played it safe, then celebrated and gone through the motions after he secured the hardware on Friday. Instead, he not only made Sunday's Championship Round but overcame an early 22-pound deficit to Todd Faircloth and willed his way to a win in a three-way battle with Faircloth and Edwin Evers. His total of 110 pounds even on 42 scorable bass ultimately topped Faircloth by 7-6. For the win, Wheeler earned $150,000 – he'll leave Saginaw Bay with $250,000 and two trophies thanks to his AOY victory. The dream end to yet another dominant season left even Wheeler, who is no stranger to recapping victories, short for words. 'I still don't know what to say, to be honest with you,' he said with a chuckle. 'I don't even believe it half the time. I just go fishing and things happen. I'm just speechless. It's crazy, it really is.' Link to Hi-Res Photo of Toyota Stage 7 at Saginaw Bay Winner Jacob Wheeler Link to Day 4 On-the-Water Photo Gallery: Stage 7 Championship Round kicks off on Saginaw Bay Link to Day 4 On-the-Water Photo Gallery: Bass Pro Tour anglers finish 2025 season on a high note at Saginaw Bay Link to HD Video of Highlights from Day 4 Championship Round Competition Wheeler took his first lead of the Championship Round with about 10 minutes left in Period 2. From there, he and Faircloth traded blows, the top spot on SCORETRACKER® changing hands six times during the final period. Wheeler finally took the lead for good by catching a 2-11 with 40 minutes left, then added five more scorable bass to pull away. In typical Wheeler fashion, he pointed not to those bites that earned him win No. 10 but a series of decisions that started on the opening day of the event. Wheeler spent the first period of Day 1 fishing for smallmouth on the outer edges of the competition boundary. Using a drop-shot and forward-facing sonar, he stacked up nearly 52 pounds, then spent the rest of the day largemouth fishing amid the shallow vegetation that lines Saginaw Bay. In the third period, he hit a key area that yielded more than 30 pounds in about 90 minutes. On the second day of qualifying, he once again sampled both shallow largemouth and offshore smallmouth, this time starting on the green fish. Like the rest of the field, he found the smallmouth bite to be getting tougher, making it difficult to justify the hour or so it would take to travel from largemouth habitat to smallmouth waters (or vice versa). So, Wheeler committed to frogging for largemouth during the Knockout Round. While he finished third, easily advancing to Championship Sunday, he knew the area he'd fished, which he shared with Brent Ehrler, wasn't likely to hold up for another day. 'After basically sharing one stretch with Ehrler, I'm like, I'm not going to win this tournament sharing fish, especially after we beat on them this bad,' Wheeler said. 'It was just not going to happen. I knew we'd probably catch some fish there in the morning, and then after that, it was going to be all about making the right decisions, and I'm going to have to have some stuff that I can get away from.' Sunday morning, Wheeler (and just about everyone else in the Top 10) found the bite slower than a day prior. Faircloth, on the other hand, landed on an offshore school of largemouth and piled on 17 scorable bass for 44-3 in the opening hour and a half. At that point, he'd more than doubled every other angler on the water. He finished the first period with 50 pounds exactly, 17-4 ahead of Wheeler. Wheeler knew he needed to find a fresh spot. He considered loading his boat on the trailer and heading for smallmouth waters. But first, he figured he'd check the area that had produced for him on Thursday afternoon. He hadn't been back since, figuring no other angler would find it since it was only accessible with a long idle. At first, Wheeler couldn't relocate his fish. A couple times in the second period, he wondered aloud whether to stay or go. Eventually, a few hundred yards away from where he'd caught them on Day 1, he started to get bites in bunches. In the span of 1 hour, 22 minutes, he boated 13 scorable bass for 33-12 and climbed all the way to the top of SCORETRACKER®. 'When I found them, it was pretty apparent that they all decided to show up right there,' he said. 'And I knew when that sort of happened and we caught them like that, there's a good chance we can win this tournament.' Wheeler targeted a mixture of reeds and lily pads in about a foot of water, catching almost all his bass with a frog but mixing in a Rapala CrushCity Bronco Bug. The key to his area, he believes, was that it wasn't full of submerged vegetation. 'You had a lot of reeds and pads there that were really clean, meaning there wasn't a lot of grass that was choking them out,' he explained. 'Even though it was super, super shallow, it was a deal where they could swim around and they could live in there; they had room to swim around. Where if you have choked out pads or reeds, they're not as good. A little bit of grass is good, but not a whole lot of grass.' As the third period ticked by and he and Faircloth remained neck-and-neck, Wheeler leaned on his ample experience in tight Bass Pro Tour finishes. Not only had he hoisted nine red trophies entering this event, he's fallen just short a few times, too, including a pair of runner-up finishes this season. Instead of skewing his decision-making, the pressure sharpened it. Wheeler, the ultimate competitor, entered 'kill mode.' 'I know what it takes to win,' Wheeler said. 'When I get in those positions, I get in kill mode. You do everything to push you mentally to keep your mind sharp and make the right cast, and every cast matters and every fish matters. You get it to where you're just like locked and trained to focus on that.' The last key decision he made was leaving the spot where he'd relocated his fish from Day 1. Perceiving that the bass had noticed his presence and scattered, Wheeler trolled out toward his starting spot and then back again, picking off a few bass on the way. He arrived at the juice with about an hour left and promptly caught eight more scorable bass. 'I didn't stay in there,' he said. 'I went back out and I was able to catch a few and sort of settle back down and come back in the last hour basically and close it out.' While Wheeler is no stranger to the winner's circle, this victory carries significance for a few reasons. For one, it's his first national win on a frog, one of his favorite techniques and something he said he 'cut my teeth doing.' It also represented the perfect ending to a season-long redemption tour. Earlier this year, he finished in the top six at Lake Conroe, the Harris Chain of Lakes and Lake Murray – all fisheries where he'd failed to make the Knockout Round during previous BPT visits. While he'd fared better in his first event on Saginaw Bay, finishing eighth in the 2023 regular-season finale, Wheeler had to watch another angler, Matt Becker, hoist both the Stage 7 and AOY trophies after that event. Finishing second to Becker by 4 points, that's the only time in the past five years Wheeler's campaign hasn't ended with AOY hardware in hand. He admitted that was on his mind this week. This time, Wheeler made sure it was him who gets to ride off into the offseason as a double winner. 'It definitely gave me a sour taste in my mouth,' he said. 'I caught them and Top 10'd, but I just didn't perform that week. I had a bad Championship Day. … So, I was focused and determined that this one wouldn't get me. I controlled my own destiny that day, and I lost, which is what it's about. Thankfully, I didn't have the Angler of the Year pressure on me (today), but I was able to focus and just call it good.' The top 10 pros at the Toyota Stage 7 at Saginaw Bay Presented by Ranger Boats finished: 1st: Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., 42 bass, 110-0, $150,0002nd: Todd Faircloth, Jasper, Texas, 40 bass, 102-10, $45,0003rd: Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla., 36 bass, 86-10, $35,0004th: Cole Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio, 26 bass, 66-2, $30,0005th: Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif., 25 bass, 61-2, $25,0006th: Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., 23 bass, 58-0, $23,0007th: Nick Hatfield, Greeneville, Tenn., 23 bass, 54-12, $22,0008th: Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., 21 bass, 49-15, $21,0009th: Keith Carson, DeBary, Fla., 18 bass, 45-7, $20,500 10th: James Elam, Tulsa, Okla., 18 bass, 43-6, $20,000
Business Upturn
4 days ago
- Business Upturn
47th annual Legion Nationals get underway in Calgary!
CALGARY, Alberta, Aug. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Over one thousand athletes from across Canada have descended upon Calgary for this year's edition of the Legion National Youth Track and Field Championships. The Games are now officially underway at Foothills Athletic Park. Competition in over 80 events ranging from running relays to long jumps, will see athletes come together for some friendly yet serious rivalry. This year's Games are once again hosted by The City of Calgary and the Calgary Track Council and run from August 8-10. The Legion Nationals are Canada's only track and field competition for the under-16 and under-18 categories. 'This is such a unique opportunity,' says Trevor Jenvenne, Legion Sports Committee Chair and Dominion Vice President. 'I am proud of these athletes who have the chance to participate in a high-level track and field competition, and I'm so proud to be a part of that,' he says. The event officially kicked off Thursday evening at the Opening Ceremony which included the Parade of Athletes and family cheering on competitors, and a special white-hatting ceremony to welcome the Legion's Dominion President, Berkley Lawrence who also fired the starting pistol. This year's championships commemorate the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands. The Legion recognizes these CAF members in both thought and through the design of this year's winning medals. 'It is important to us to highlight a remembrance theme as part of the Games each year,' says Lawrence. 'We ask athletes to take a moment to think of these members, and to recognize the importance of their service in leading to our freedoms, such as competing in these championships.' Back this year is Invictus medalist, competitive rower and cyclist, and para athlete Michael Trauner for a third year as Games Ambassador. Trauner supports and encourages the athletes while sharing parts of his personal story as an Afghanistan Veteran. This year he's highlighting the importance of support networks. 'Much like the military, athletes are chosen to represent their provinces and countries domestically and internationally,' he explains. 'I'm hoping to pass on the message to our young aspiring athletes that even though they have pushed themselves to the absolute limits, they are not alone in their journey. Many have come together to support them including your parents, siblings, family and friends. It takes an individual to train hard and compete, but it takes a community of support to bring home a win,' he says. This is the 47th year for the event organized by the Legion. The competition grew from Legionnaires' support and promotion of youth sports as a healthy activity to help children whose fathers or mothers were serving abroad or had served in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). The Legion later developed local, provincial, and national youth athletic programs, which now culminate in the games. 'We are grateful to the Local Organizing Committee and all volunteers for what they've done to make this an incredible experience for all our athletes,' says Jenvenne, Legion Sports Committee Chair. The Legion's Dominion Command sponsors hundreds of athletes each year, with the support of branches and provincial or territorial commands from across the country. Several hundred other youth join as open athletes. Whether it be winning medals, honing their athletic skills, practicing leadership, or making friends and connections, all come away with something new. Over the years, Legion athletes have gone on to compete at the international level including as part of the Commonwealth, Pan Am and even the Olympic games. Selected Canadian cities host the Legion Nationals for two years in a row, and Regina will host in 2026 and 2027. The Legion is grateful to all its generous sponsors including key supporters PIB Inc., The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada, the Calgary Track Council, The City of Calgary, the Legion's Alberta Northwest Territories Command, the Brawn Family Foundation, Calgary Spring Water, Tourism Calgary and Athletics Canada. The organization also thanks Cochrane Toyota for providing two Games shuttles for the second year in a row. Legion Nationals results will be available throughout the competition as described further below. Competition livestream: Watch live starting August 8: live action (Note: Link is updated starting on competition day 1) Learn more and view schedule: 2025 Legion Nationals information centre Legion Nationals background
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Verizon and Paige Bueckers team up for an exclusive youth basketball experience to empower the next generation of DFW athletes
What you need to know: Verizon is launching a sweepstakes to give youth, ages 13-17, a chance to win a spot at an exclusive basketball experience with Paige Bueckers. Sweepstakes runs from August 8 to August 17. The experience with Paige will take place on August 25 in Dallas. DALLAS, Aug. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Verizon is launching a sweepstakes to offer young basketball enthusiasts, ages 13-17, the opportunity to participate in an exclusive youth basketball experience with women's basketball star Paige Bueckers. Bueckers will be actively involved in the event, participating in drills, demonstrating valuable game strategies and sharing insights into what it takes to succeed on and off the court. Attendees will also enjoy a DJ and photobooth for added entertainment. 'I'm incredibly excited to partner with Verizon to give back to the DFW community that has already shown me so much love,' said Paige Bueckers. 'This experience is designed to empower the next generation of athletes to discover their potential. I can't wait to meet everyone and share my passion for the game.' As one of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex's largest employers with nearly 5000 local employees, Verizon is deeply committed to serving and connecting with the community. The strategic collaboration with Bueckers reinforces Verizon's focus on providing unparalleled access and unique experiences to the communities it serves. 'At Verizon, we believe in connecting people to what matters most, and this experience with Paige Bueckers is a perfect example of how we can connect young aspiring athletes with an inspiring role model who is committed to their success,' said Michelle R. Miller, Senior Vice President at Verizon. 'As the #1 Network* in Dallas, Verizon is proud to team up with the #1 rookie in women's basketball.' For a chance at scoring a spot for a youth to attend this experience, entrants can: Visit participating DFW Verizon stores and enter the sweepstakes for a chance to win a spot at an exclusive youth basketball experience with Paige Bueckers. Entrants must be 18+ and a resident of the state of Texas. Participants must be 13-17 years of age and accompanied by a legal guardian. The sweepstakes will run from August 8 through August 17, with the draw date set for August 18. Starting August 8th, visit for a list of participating stores, full sweepstakes rules and to enter. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Verizon Dallas Basketball Sweepstakes is open to legal residents of the state of Texas, who are 18 years of age or older as of the date of entry and the legal guardian of the participants of the clinic who must be between 13 and 17 years old. Sponsored by Verizon Corporate Services Group Inc. Void where prohibited. Starting August 8th, visit for a list of Participating Stores,Official Rules, and to enter. Starts 12:00 AM CT 08/08/25; ends at 11:59 PM CT 08/17/25. *Based on RootMetrics® {Dallas} RootScore® Report: 2H 2024. Tested with best commercially available smartphones on 3 national mobile networks across all available network types. Your experiences may vary. RootMetrics rankings are not an endorsement of Verizon. Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) powers and empowers how its millions of customers live, work and play, delivering on their demand for mobility, reliable network connectivity and security. Headquartered in New York City, serving countries worldwide and nearly all of the Fortune 500, Verizon generated revenues of $134.8 billion in 2024. Verizon's world-class team never stops innovating to meet customers where they are today and equip them for the needs of tomorrow. For more, visit or find a retail location at VERIZON'S ONLINE MEDIA CENTER: News releases, stories, media contacts and other resources are available at News releases are also available through an RSS feed. To subscribe, visit Media contact: Jeannine Brew Ashley in to access your portfolio
