Virginia Brophy Achman, the Twin Cities Marathon executive director, will be leaving the job in December. (Carlos Gonzalez, Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Virginia Brophy Achman, executive director of Twin Cities In Motion, will step down in December after 18 years at the helm.

Among the events nonprofit Twin Cities in Motion oversees is the Twin Cities Marathon in October. The organization, which has 21 staff members and a 16-member board of directors, has raised nearly $9 million in its charity fundraising arm.

"I have so many cherished memories from my time at Twin Cities In Motion, and I know even more will be made this year as we celebrate the marathon's 40th anniversary," Brophy Achman said in a news release. "It is an honor to lead an important Twin Cities institution like the marathon."

The release said Twin Cities In Motion President Dean Orton was working with Brophy Achman on a transition.

"She is playing a significant role in shaping our recently adopted strategic plan that sets the stage for growth and greater inclusivity," Orton said.

U softball off to Arizona

The Gophers softball team (3-2) will play six games in the Littlewood Classic in Tempe, Ariz., starting with games against Grand Canyon at 1 p.m. and host Arizona State at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Four seniors — Ellee Jensen (.636), Lauren Espalin (.412), Natalie DenHartog (.353) and Makenna Dowell (.333) — are among team's top five hitters.

Also off to a good start is freshman righthander Emily Leavitt. She is 2-1 with a save in 16.2 innings.

Etc.

Former North Dakota coach Gino Gasparini is the 2022 recipient of the Legend of College Hockey award, the Hobey Baker Memorial Award Foundation announced. Gasparini, who coached at his alma mater from 1978-1994, led North Dakota to national titles in 1980, 1982 and 1987 and four WCHA regular-season titles and four postseason crowns during the 1980s. The Fort Frances, Ont., native, posted a record of 392-248-24 in 16 seasons at North Dakota.

— RANDY JOHNSON

Eden Valley-Watkins girls' basketball coach Tom Jansen won his 500th career game when the Eagles beat Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City 64-46 on Tuesday in Eden Valley. Jansen, in his 25th season, has a career record of 500-171. The Eagles improved to 12-11 this season.

— JOEL RIPPEL

Gophers athletics and Cambria announced a new 10-year partnership that will showcase the Cambria logo on the playing surface at Williams Arena. The agreement will start Thursday when the Gophers women's team will host Rutgers. Cambria, based in Le Sueur, Minn., is the leading American-made producer of quartz surfaces.
The Gophers took sixth in the 200-yard medley relay (1:36.41) on Day 1 of the Big Ten Women's Swimming and Diving Championships in Madison, Wis. Their time was .01 seconds off the 'A' cut (automatic qualifier) for the NCAA meet.