After winning the women’s title in last Saturday’s 5-kilometer race at the Bank of America Gasparilla Distance Classic in Tampa, Amy Paine told Bill Ward of The Tampa Tribune that she believes her competitive running days are not over.

“I feel like God gives everyone different gifts and I’m using the one with the shortest shelf life first,” said the former Colquitt County High and Rhodes College runner.

Paine won the race with a personal-best time of 17 minutes, 30 seconds, defeating two-time race winner Brigithe Moreno of Plant, Fla., by 50 seconds.

Paine taught in Louisiana graduating from Rhodes College, which is located in Memphis, Tenn.

She is now on Florida State track and cross country coach Bob Braman’s staff as a volunteer assistant. She also is teaching at a Christian school in Tallahassee and is training hard again.

Of this and that:

n Former Packer Aaron Eubanks pitched three scoreless innings in relief in Georgia Southern’s 7-5 loss to Kennesaw State on Tuesday. The loss ended the Eagles seven-game winning streak.

Southern is now 8-3 heading into Friday’s 3 p.m. meeting with Southern Miss in the Wiregrass Classic in Dothan, Ala.

Eubanks allowed no hits, walked three and struck out five against Kennesaw State.

“One of the positives was Aaron (Eubanks). He gave our team a lift,” Eagles coach Rodney Hennon said.

In three outings this season, Eubanks has pitched 5.1 innings, giving up one hit, no runs, four walks and nine strikeouts. Opponents are batting .059 against him.

Teammate Will Southwell is 2-for-7 with three runs batted in this season.

n Ashley Stafford has played in all 25 games and started five for 17-8 Columbus State. She is averaging 3.5 points and 5.3 rebounds a game.

n The Johnson C. Smith University women’s basketball team, coached by Colquitt County Sports Hall of Famer Vanessa Taylor, is 14-12 overall and 9-10 in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association.

The Lady Golden Bulls lost 71-49 to Fayetteville State on Tuesday and will meet North Carolina Central on Saturday in their final game before the CIAA tournament, which begins Monday.

n The Abraham Baldwin College men’s basketball team, ranked No. 13 in the nation, defeated Middle Georgia 80-70 on Tuesday. Former Packer John Michael Hall has a broken finger on his shooting hand and did not play. James Trimble had two points and four rebounds.

“He made a big contribution in the first half,” ABAC coach Todd Sheppard said of Trimble, a freshman.

n Former Packer right-hander Thomas Tripp is 1-0 with a 4.30 after three starts for the Valdosta State baseball team.

Tripp, who got the clinching win for Colquitt County in th 2003 state championship series, has pitched 14.2 innings, giving up 16 hits, seven earned run, 10 walks and 11 strikeouts.

Teammate Sherard Reynolds has played in nine of the Blazers 13 games. He is 0-for-3.

Valdosta State was 8-5 before Wednesday’s home doubleheader with Clark-Atlanta.