Home Blog Page 59

SWIMMING Preview: Final Tyr Pro Swim Series stop in Clovis has modest entry list

By
Rich Perelman
-

The final leg of the five-stop Tyr Pro Swim Series will be held at the Clovis North Aquatic Center – near Fresno – with only a few of the top U.S. stars entered.

The 800 m Freestyles are on Thursday, with the rest of the events spread across the following three days. The headline swimmers:

Men:
● Townley Haas ~ 100-200 m Free
● Matt Grevers ~ 50-100 m Free, 50-100 m Back
● Justin Ress ~ 50-100 m Back
● Gianluca Urlando ~ 100 m Free, 200 m Back, 100-200 m Fly, 200 m Medley
● Ryan Coetzee (RSA) ~ 50-100 m Free, 50-100 m Fly

Women:
● Mallory Comerford ~ 50-100-200 m Free, 50-100 m Fly
● Leah Smith ~ 200-800 m Free, 400 m Medley
● Kelsi Dahlia ~ 50-100 m Free, 50-100-200 m Fly
● Alia Atkinson (JAM) ~ 50-100 m Free, 50-100 m Breast, 50 m Fly, 400 m Medley
● Sidney Pickrem (CAN) ~ 200 m Back, 100-200 m Breast, 200-400 m Medley

The 17-year-old Urlando opened some eyes with his 1:54.35 200 m Butterfly in the Mel Zajac Invitational in Vancouver. No. 3 on the world list for 2019. He’s not on the U.S. World Championships team, but next year?

Prize money of $1,500-1,000-500 is available for the top three places. NBCSN has coverage from Clovis on Thursday (13th) at 8 p.m. Eastern time and on Friday (14th) at 8 p.m.Eastern. The 15 June finals are available online at www.usaswimming.org.

Look for results here.

FOOTBALL: U.S. stomps Thailand by record 13-0, but it’s Europe’s World Cup so far

By
Rich Perelman
-
Five goals for Alex Morgan in the U.S. opener vs. Thailand (Photo: FIFA)

The FIFA Women’s World Cup has finally completed the first round of games in its six groups, capped by a 13-0 victory by the United States over Thailand in Reims. Consider that the 13 goals – a record for a Women’s World Cup game – is more than 50% of the total number of goals scored in the other 11 games combined (25)!

Moreover, Alex Morgan scored five, equaling Michelle Akers’ total in a 1991 game and seven different U.S. players scored, also a World Cup record.

A great start for the U.S. and a tough one for Thailand, which now must play Sweden, which defeated Chile in a driving rainstorm in Rennes and will be looking for goals. That’s Group F.

But after one round of games, it’s easy to see that the power in women’s football is just the same as in the men: Europe. The comparative statistics – our own compilation – show the gap, even after one round of matches:

Africa: 3 teams
● Record: 0-3
● Goals: 1-7
● Shots: 18-51
● Poss. Avg.: 35-65%

Asia: 4 teams
● Record: 0-3-1
● Goals: 0-18
● Shots: 18-83
● Poss. Avg.: 41-59%

Europe: 9 teams
(Not counting England-Scotland)
● Record: 7-0
● Goals: 16-2
● Shots: 121-50
● Poss. Avg.: 61-39%

North America: 3 teams
● Record: 2-1
● Goals: 14-3
● Shots: 68-25
● Poss. Avg.: 61-39%

Oceania: 2 teams
● Record: 0-2
● Goals: 1-3
● Shots: 23-22
● Poss. Avg.: 44-56%

South America: 3 teams
● Record: 1-1-1
● Goals: 3-2
● Shots: 29-46
● Poss. Avg.: 44-56%

The biggest upset of the first round of play came from a European side — Italy – which shocked Australia, 2-1. Second was Argentina, part of an improving South American group, which held Japan to a scoreless draw.

In the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the tournament ended with all-European semifinals and France as champion. The U.S. has made the semifinals of every Women’s World Cup, but France could be lurking in the quarterfinals … where Brazil made its exit last year in Russia.

Germany lost star midfielder Dzsenifer Marozsan with a broken toe in the win vs. China; the team stated she would be out for the group phase. If the Germans were to win Group B, they would play their Round of 16 game on 22 June and a possible quarterfinal not until 29 June.

BEACH VOLLEYBALL Preview: Warsaw four-star is the last tune-up for the World Championships

By
Rich Perelman
-
Three in a row for: Norway's Christian Sorum and Anders Mol

The 2019 FIVB World Championships in Hamburg (GER) are coming at the end of the month, and the last significant tournament remaining is the Warsaw Open in Poland this weekend.

The first question to be considered is whether anyone can beat Norway’s Anders Mol and Christian Sorum, winners of three four-star tournaments in a row over the last month. The top seeds:

● Men:
1. Anders Mol/Christian Sorum (NOR) ~ Itapema ~ Jinjiang ~ Ostrava Open winners
2. Grzegorz Fijalek/Michal Bryl (POL) ~ Itapema Open runners-up; Ostrava third
3. Viacheslav Krasilnikov/Oleg Stoyanovskiy (RUS) ~ Xiamen Open winners
4. Pablo Herrera/Adrian Gavira (ESP) ~ Xiamen Open runners-up; Doha third
5. Cherif Younousse/Ahmed Tijan (QAT)

Also seeded in the top 10 are Americans Nick Lucena and Phil Dalhausser, in seventh.

● Women:
1. Heather Bansley/Brandie Wilkerson (CAN) ~ Las Vegas & Chetumai Open winners
2. Alix Klineman/April Ross (USA) ~ Yangzhou Open winners
3. Ana Patricia Ramos/Rebecca Cavalcanti (BRA) ~ The Hague & Xiamen Open winners
4. Agatha Bednarczuk/Duda Lisboa (BRA) ~ Ostrava Open winners
5. Sara Hughes/Summer Ross (USA) ~ Yangzhou Open third

Bansley and Wilkerson won at Warsaw last year, with Agatha and Duda third. But American and Brazilian pairs have split the victories in the last four four-star events, but no one pair has emerged as dominant.

Look for results here.

CYCLING Preview: Tour de France in sight as top riders compete in the Criterium du Dauphine

By
Rich Perelman
-

One of the final prep races for July’s Tour de France is the annual Criterium du Dauphine, an eight-stage program in the French Alps. The 71st edition started on Sunday and includes many of the world’s finest riders, including seven former medal winners:

● Chris Froome (GBR) ~ Winner in 2013-15-16
● Jakob Fuglsang (DEN) ~ Winner in 2017
● Romain Bardet (FRA) ~ Second in 2016
● Riche Porte (AUS) ~ Second in 2013-17
● Dan Martin (IRL) ~ Third in 2016-17
● Adam Yates (GBR) ~ Second in 2018
● Tejay van Garderen (USA) ~ Second in 2010

There are plenty of other stars in the field, including 2017 Giro d’Italia winner Tom Dumoulin (NED), French stars Warren Barguil and Julien Alaphilippe, Colombia’s Giro and La Vuelta winner Nairo Quintana and more.

Froome, the four-time Tour de France winner, co-owns the record for wins in this race with three, shared with four others. There is plenty of French talent in the field, but no French rider has won this event since Christophe Moreau in 2007.

Ten men have won this race and the Tour de France in the same year: Louison Bobet (FRA) in 1955; Jacques Anquetil (FRA) in 1963; Eddy Merckx (BEL) in 1971; Luis Ocana (ESP) in 1973; Bernard Thevenet (FRA) in 1975; Bernard Hinault (FRA) in 1979 and 1981; Miguel Indurain (ESP) in 1995; Bradley Wiggins (GBR) in 2012; Froome in 2013-15-16; and Geraint Thomas (GBR) last year.

All of the stages are hilly and the final three stages have significant climbs; the race may be decided in Stage 6, with its late climb up the Col de Beaune before finishing at Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne. Summaries so far:

UCI World Tour Criterium du Dauphine
France ~ 9-16 June 2019
(Full results here)

Stage 1 (142.0 km): 1. Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR), 3:24:33; 2. Philippe Gilbert (BEL), 3:24:33; 3. Wout van Aert (BEL), 3:24:33; 4. Nils Politt (GER), 3:24:33; 5. Gregor Muhlberger (AUT), 3:24:33. Also in the top 25: 25. Tejay van Garderen (USA), 3:24:33.

Stage 2 (180.0 km): 1. Dylan Teuns (BEL), 4:12:41; 2. Guillaume Martin (FRA), 4:12:41; 3. Jakob Fuglsang (DEN), 4:12:54; 4. Thibaut Pinot (FRA), 4:12:54; 5. Michael Woods (CAN), 4:12:54. Also in the top 25: 17. Van Garderen (USA), 4:13:25.

11 June: Stage 3 (177.0 km): Le Puy-en-Velay to Riom (hills)
12 June: Stage 4 (26.1 km Time Trial): Roanne to Roanne (flat)
13 June: Stage 5 (201.0 km): Boen-sur-Lignon to Voiron (hilly)
14 June: Stage 6 (229.0 km): Saint-Vulbas to Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne (mountains)
15 June: Stage 7 (133.5 km): Saint-Genix-les-Villages to Pipay (mountains)
16 June: Stage 8 (113.5 km): Cluses to Champery (mountains)

After being off for three weeks, the women’s World Tour picks up in England for the sixth OVO Energy Women’s Tour, a six-stage tour across England and Wales, finishing in Pembrey Country Park in Wales, on Sunday.

All five of the prior winners are in the race, with a total of 10 prior medal winners:

● Marianne Vos (NED) ~ Winner in 2014; runner-up in 2018
● Lizzie Deignan (GBR) ~ Winner in 2016
● Coryn Rivera (USA) ~ Winner in 2018
● Christine Majerus (LUX) ~ Second in 2017
● Elisa Longo Borghini (ITA) ~ Third in 2016
● Hannah Barnes (GBR) ~ Third in 2-17
● Kasia Niewiadoma (POL) ~ Winner in 2017
● Lisa Brennauer (GER) ~ Winner in 2015
● Jolien D’Hoore (BEL) ~ Second in 2015
● Ashleigh Moolman (RSA) ~ Second in 2016

Three of the prior medalists – Vos, Niewiadoma and Longo Borghini – have also been winners on the World Tour this season and Longo Borghini won the last event, the Emakumeen Euskal Bira in Spain.

Belgium’s D’Hoore won the first stage, winning the final sprint over Amy Pieters (NED) and Brennauer (GER). Summaries and stages:

UCI Women’s World Tour/OVO Energy Women’s Tour
Britain ~ 10-15 June 2019
(Full results here)

Stage 1 (157.6 km): 1. Jolien D’Hoore (BEL), 4:09:12; 2. Amy Pieters (NED), 4:09:12; 3. Lisa Brennauer (GER), 4:09:12; 4. Roxane Founier (FRA), 4:09:12; 5. Marianne Vos (NED), 4:09:12. Also in the top 25: 16. Coryn Rivera (USA), 4:09:12; … 25. Leah Thomas (USA), 4:09:12.

11 June: Stage 2 (62.5 km): Cyclopark Gravesend to Cyclopark Gravesend (flat)
12 June: Stage 3 (145.1 km): Henley-on-Thames to Blenheim Palace (hilly)
13 June: Stage 4 (158.9 km): Warwick to Burton Dassett (hilly)
14 June: Stage 5 (140.0 km): Llandrindod Wells to Builth Wells (hilly)
15 June: Stage 6 (125.9 km): Carmarthen to Pembrey Country Park (major climb)

ARCHERY Preview: Tokyo qualifying spots on the line at 50th World Championships, in the Netherlands

By
Rich Perelman
-

The 50th World Archery Championships has started in the picturesque town of ‘s-Hertogenbosch (NED), with Olympic qualifying spots on the line in addition to the world titles. The top eight teams in the men’s and women’s Recurve divisions will qualify to Tokyo, plus the top four individuals not affiliated with a team.

The best in the world are here, including 18 prior individual medal winners – 10 men and eight women – at the Olympic Games and Worlds:

Men:
● Brady Ellison (USA) ~ 2016 Olympic bronze medalist; 2011 Worlds bronze medalist
● Woo-Jin Kim (KOR) ~ 2011 and 2015 World Champion
● Seung-Yun Lee (KOR) ~ 2013 World Champion
● Jean-Charles Valladont (FRA) ~ 2016 Olympic silver medalist
● Chen-Heng Wei (TPE) ~ 2017 World Championships silver medalist
● Steve Wijler (NED) ~ 2017 World Championships bronze medalist
● Rick van der Ven (NED) ~ 2015 World Championships silver medalist
● Takaharu Fukuhara (JPN) ~ 2012 Olympic silver; 2013 Worlds bronze medalist
● Crispin Duenas (CAN) ~ 2013 World Championships bronze medalist
● Viktor Ruban (UKR) ~ 2008 Olympic Champion; 2009 Worlds bronze medalist

Women:
● Hye-Jin Chang (KOR) ~ 2016 Olympic Champion; 2017 Worlds silver medalist
● Mi-Sun Choi (KOR) ~ 2015 World Championships bronze medalist
● Lisa Unruh (GER) ~ 2016 Olympic silver medalist
● Aida Roman (MEX) ~ 2012 Olympic silver medalist
● Mariana Avitia (MEX) ~ 2012 Olympic bronze medalist
● Ksenia Perova (RUS) ~ 2017 World Champion
● Ya-Ting Tan (TPE) ~ 2017 World Championships bronze medalist
● Maja Jager (DEN) ~ 2013 World Champion

The Recurve class is shot at 70 m and will have finals on Sunday. In the Recurve qualifying round on Monday, Korea’s Woo-Seok Lee led at 696/720, followed by Ellison (695) and Koreans Seung-Yun Lee and Woo-Jin Lee (KOR) at 693. The women’s Recurve qualifying was led by Chae-Young Kang (KOR), who set a world record of 692, followed by Chien-Ying Lei (TPE) and Yichai Zheng (CHN) at 680.

In the Compound Division – not contested in the Olympic Games – arrows are shot at 50m. The 12 prior Worlds medalists entered include:

Men:
● Sebastien Peineau (FRA) ~ 2017 World Champion
● Stephan Hansen (DEN) ~ 2015 World Champion; 2017 World Champs silver medalist
● Braden Gellenthien (USA) ~ 2017 Worlds bronze medalist
● Rajat Chauhan (IND) ~ 2015 Worlds silver medalist
● Adam Ravenscroft (GBR) ~ 2015 Worlds bronze medalist
● Mike Schloesser (NED) ~ 2013 World Champion
● Pierre-Julien Deloche (FRA) ~ 2013 Worlds silver medalist
● Alexander Dambaev (RUS) ~ 2013 Worlds bronze medalist

Women:
● Yesim Bostan (TUR) ~ 2017 World Champs silver medalist
● Kristina Heigenhauser (GER) ~ 2017 Worlds Champs bronze medalist
● Yun-Hee Kim (KOR) ~ 2015 World Champion
● Sara Lopez (COL) ~ 2015 World Champs bronze medalist

The seasonal World Cup leaders include Gellenthien (USA: 47 points), Schloesser (NED: 43) and Kris Schaff of the U.S. (USA: 33). The women’s leader is Alexis Ruiz (USA: 57), Tanja Jansen (DEN: 31) and Lopez (COL: 30).

The qualifying rounds are being held at the Dukes Rugby Field and the finals on the Stadium Parade grounds. Look for results here.

STAT PACK: Results for the week of 3-9 June 2019

By
Rich Perelman
-

The Stat Pack: a summary of results of international Grand Prix, World Cup and World Championships events, plus U.S. domestic events and Pan American championships events of note.

In this week’s issue are reports on 19 events in 15 sports:

● Athletics: IAAF Diamond League 4: Golden Gala in Rome
● Athletics: IAAF Combined Events Challenge in Arona
● Athletics: IAAF Race Walk Challenge: Gran Premio in La Coruna
● Badminton: BWF World Tour 300: Crown Group Australian Open in Sydney
● Cycling: UCI BMX Supercross World Cup in Saint Quentin
● Cycling: UCI Mountain Bike World Cup Downhill in Leogang
● Karate: WKF Karate 1 Premiere League 4 in Shanghai
● Sailing: World Sailing World Cup Series Final in Marseille
● Shooting: USA Shooting National Championships: Trap in Colo. Springs
● Sport Climb: IFSC World Cup (B) in Vail
● Swimming: FINA Marathon World Series 3 in Setubal
● Table Tennis: ITTF World Tour: Hong Kong Open in Hong Kong
● Taekwondo: World Taekwondo Grand Prix 1 in Rome
● Tennis: French Open in Paris
● Triathlon: ITU World Series 4 in Leeds
● Water Polo: FINA Women’s World League Super Final in Budapest
● Weightlift: IWF World Junior Championships in Suva
● Wrestling: USA Wrestling Final X Freestyle Team Trials in Piscataway
● Wrestling: Pan American Wrestling Junior Championships in Guatemala City

plus our calendar of upcoming events through 14 July. Click below for the PDF:

[wpdm_package id=14129 template=”link-template-button-popup.php”]

THE BIG PICTURE: IAAF keeps Russia on suspension, then changes its name to World Athletics

By
Rich Perelman
-

No change.

That was the decision of the International Association of Athletics Associations (IAAF) concerning the Russian Athletics Federation at its Council meeting in Monaco over the weekend. The RusAF continues on suspension, as it has been since 2015.

The IAAF’s Russia Task Force chief, Rune Andersen (NOR) filed a report (available here) which didn’t miss a thing. The six-page document noted in detail that while there was progress toward reinstatement, there was also what Andersen called “back-sliding”:

● The IAAF required that the Russian federation pay $3,246,948 to reimburse its costs for its expenses (so far) related to the Russian investigation. This is being handled.

● The verification of the Moscow Laboratory data and the re-testing of samples is proceeding, but slowly. The report noted that the IAAF’s Athletics Integrity Unit is expected to receive some 110,000 data files from the World Anti-Doping Agency which relate to records of Russian athletes in athletics on the 18th of June. There are about 1,800 doping samples involving such athletes and the Task Force recommended that nothing be done until the required re-testing is completed. That’s going to take some time.

● The report further noted the recent reports of a cover-up attempt of a “whereabouts” violation concerning World Indoor Champion high jumper Danil Lysenko, and reports of banned coaches continuing to work with athletes.

Andersen’s conclusion included this:

“The Taskforce acknowledges that RusAF President Dmitry Shlyakhtin has been very upfront about these recent problems, and has assured the Taskforce that he is doing everything in his power to get them investigated and resolved as soon as possible. Mr Shlyakhtin has repeatedly affirmed his commitment to the new culture of zero tolerance for doping in Russian athletics. However, the question is whether all Russian officials and athletes share that commitment, particularly in the regions. Perhaps it will require an intervention from President Putin himself to help them get the message that things must change.”

The Report further suggested that any reinstatement be done in phases to maintain pressure in favor of compliance. The next report will come in September, prior to the IAAF World Championships in Doha (QAT).

Not surprisingly, Russian officials were unhappy. The TASS News Agency reported that Russian Olympic Committee President Stanislav Pozdnyakov called the decision “lamentable” and added:

“Undeniably, there are still many issues in the Russian athletics, there are cases of anti-doping rules violations. But, firstly, they are isolated incidents and definitely cannot be characterized as systematic. Secondly, they are becoming rarer, while measures against those involved in these cases are becoming stricter. Achieving everything at once is impossible, but we are addressing the issues step by step, according to the plan.

“[W]e are talking about the violations of the past years, which resulted in the RusAF suspension, and the personal responsibility of those, who can be found guilty. However, how does it implicate the rights of [Maria] Lasitskine, [Sergei] Shubenkov, [Anzhelika] Sidorova or any other clean athletes to compete as part of the national team under the Russian flag? How long will they have to pay for the wrongdoings of others? We are talking about the fates of people, some [athletes] retired because they did not see any prospects, this is a real sports tragedy.

“I hope that colleagues in the IAAF understand this, and the intention to speed up the reinstatement of the RusAF’s membership, which they voiced, will be implemented in the near future.”

Pozdnyakov did not acknowledge that athletes such as those mentioned are competing internationally, although as “Authorized Neutral Athletes” and not as Russians. It appears that will continue for a while.

The IAAF also announced that it would be changing its name to World Athletics and adopting a silly new logo (pictured above), to be implemented after the Doha World Championships. Said IAAF President Sebastian Coe, “The hope is that our new brand will help attract and engage a new generation of young people to athletics.” Nope; it looks like a logo for a mountain-climbing group, or a weather pattern. Dumb.

TAEKWONDO: Korea and Russia claim three wins each in Rome Grand Prix

By
Rich Perelman
-
Russia's World Champion Vladislav Larin (striking from the left)

Current and former World Champions claimed half of the divisions in the Rome Grand Prix, especially for the Korean and Russian teams that won three classes each.

For the Koreans, two women’s champions won in Rome: 2017 title winner Ah-Reum Lee at 57 kg and 2019 World 73 kg Champion Da-Bin Lee took the +67 kg class. In addition, Jun Jang won the men’s -58 kg division.

Russia got men’s wins from 2017 World Champion Maksim Khramtcov (-80 kg) and 2019 gold medalist Vladislav Larin won at +80 kg. Elizaveta Ryadninskaya was the winner at -49 kg over Korea’s Jae-Young Sim in the final, 8-4.

Korea further impressed by winning medals in all four women’s categories and in six of the eight divisions overall. Prize money of $5,000-3,000-1,000 was available for the top three place winners. Summaries:

World Taekwondo Grand Prix
Rome (ITA) ~ 7-9 June 2019
(Full results here)

Men

-58 kg: 1. Jun Jang (KOR); 2. Jesus Tortosa Cabrera (ESP); 3. Mikhail Artamonov (RUS) and Tae-Hun Kim (KOR). Final: Jang d. Tortosa Cabrera, 3-2.

-68 kg: 1. Mirhashem Hosseini (IRI); 2. Dae-Hoon Lee (KOR); 3. Bradly Sinden (GBR) and Shuai Zhao (CHN). Final: Hosseini d. Lee, 13-11.

-80 kg: 1. Maksim Khramtcov (RUS); 2. Raul Martinez Garcia (ESP); 3. Cheick Salle Cisse (CIV) and Achraf Mahboubi (MAR). Final: Khramtcov d. Martinez, 16-10.

+80 kg: 1. Vladislav Larin (RUS); 2. Ruslan Zharapov (KAZ); 3. Mahama Cho (GBR) and Sajjad Mardani (IRI). Final: Larin d. Zharapov, 9-7.

Women

-49 kg: 1. Elizaveta Ryadninskaya (RUS); 2. Jae-Young Sim (KOR); 3. Thi Kim Tuyen Truong (VIE) and Miu Yamada (JPN). Final: Ryadninskaya d. Sim, 8-4.

-57 kg: 1. Ah-Reum Lee (KOR); 2. Halice Kubra Ilgun (TUR); 3. Skylar Park (CAN) and Anastasija Zolotic (USA). Final: Lee d. Ingun, 18-8.

-67 kg: 1. Matea Jelic (CRO); 2. Jan-Di Kim (KOR); 3. Hedaya Malak (EGY) and Magda Wiet Henin (FRA). Final: Jelic d. Kim, 8-3.

+67 kg: 1. Da-Bin Lee (KOR); 2. Briseida Acosta (MEX); 3. Aleksandra Kowalczuk (POL) and Gabriele Siqueira (BRA). Final: Lee d. Acosta, 10-4.

SPEED READ: Headlines from The Sports Examiner for Monday, 10 June 2019

By
Rich Perelman
-

Welcome to The Sports Examiner SPEED READ, a 100 mph (44.7 m/s) review of what happened over the last 72 hours in Olympic sport:

LANE ONE

Monday: Do the names Divine Oduuru, Grant Holloway, Chris Nilsen, Sha’Carri Richardson and Janeek Brown mean anything to you? If you’re a track & field fan, they do now and many more will see them in action at the Doha Worlds and Tokyo Olympics thanks to what they achieved at the NCAA Championships in Austin last weekend.

ATHLETICS

Friday: Sensational NCAA men’s finals in Austin, as Grant Holloway breaks a 40-year-old collegiate record in the 110 m hurdles, Nigeria’s Divine Oduhuru doubles un 9.86 and 19.73 for Texas Tech and Chris Nilsen upsets Mondo Duplantis in the pole vault!

Saturday: Astonishing 10.75 women’s 100 m – a World Junior Record and a world leader – for LSU frosh Sha’Carri Richardson, plus more world leaders in the 200 m (Angie Annelus) and 100 m hurdles (Janeek Brown/JAM). Wow!

BADMINTON

Sunday: Korea’s 2014 World men’s Doubles Champions Sung Ko and Baek-Cheol Shin retired in 2016, but they’re back! They defeated the reigning World Champions in the semis and Japanese stars Takeshi Kamura and Keigo Sonoda to show they are going to be a factor on the road to Tokyo.

CYCLING

Sunday: Dutch riders Niek Kimmann and Laura Smulders were the stars at the UCI BMX Supercross World Cup in Saint Quentin in France, each winning their third and fourth medals in six races this season … and both now lead the seasonal series. At the UCI Mountain Bike Downhill in Leogang (AUT), France’s Loic Bruni and Australian Tracey Hannah won again.

FOOTBALL

Sunday: Another terrible performance for the U.S. men’s National Team on Sunday, losing 3-0 to Venezuela in Cincinnati, thanks to some dreadful defending and a mostly lifeless offense.

KARATE

Sunday: Four World Champions ended up with the golds at the Karate1 Premier League tournament in Shanghai. Kazakhstan and Turkey both won two classes.

SAILING

Sunday: Lithuania’s Viktorija Andrulyte was the most dominant sailor at the World Sailing World Cup Final in Marseille (FRA). Competing in the Laser Radial class, she won six of the nine races and was second in two others to win the class by 18 points. Three other classes came down to the final races to determine the winners.

SHOOTING

Saturday: The U.S. National Championships in Trap crowned two brand new champions in
Alex Rennert and Julia Stallings, both of whom had to come from behind to claim their victories.

SPORT CLIMBING

Saturday: She did it! Slovenia’s Janja Garnbret, the Olympic favorite, completed a perfect season – six wins in six events – to win the IFSC Bouldering World Cup title. Japan’s Tomoa Narasaki finished second in the men’s division and won the seasonal title.

SWIMMING

Sunday: Katie Ledecky won the 400 m Freestyle at the Santa Clara Invitational in a world-leading 3:59.28, then her biggest rival, Ariarne Titmus, won the Australian Worlds Trials 400 m Free in 3:59.35. Plus three world leaders at Mare Nostrum I in Monaco, and much more.

Saturday: In the FINA Marathon Swimming World Series in Portugal, indefatigable Ana Marcela Cunha (BRA) just out-touched Italy’s Rachele Bruni to win in cold conditions that required wetsuits. Japan’s Yousuke Miyamoto was a first-time World Series winner, finishing just ahead of favored Andreas Waschburger (GER).

TABLE TENNIS

Sunday: China’s Gaoyuan Lin was a double winner at the Hong Kong Open, taking the men’s Singles and men’s Doubles titles, but the shock was unseeded Yidi Wang (CHN) beating no. 7 Mima Ito (JPN) in the women’s Singles final!

TRIATHLON

Sunday: Well, no one’s perfect, as Katie Zaferes finishes second in the ITU World Series race in Leeds (GBR). But American Matthew McElroy also won a silver, the first U.S. men’s medal in a World Series race in 10 years! 10 years!

VOLLEYBALL

Sunday: The FIVB Nations League continues; the women have completed three of five weeks, with Turkey leading the league at 8-1 and the U.S., Italy, China and Poland at 7-2. Among the men, Brazil is the leader after two weeks at 6-0, with Iran, France and Russia at 5-1.

WATER POLO

Sunday: A 13th FINA World League title for the U.S. women, with Maddie Musselman leading the way in a tight, 10-9 finals victory over Italy.

WRESTLING

Saturday: USA Wrestling’s first Final X matches confirmed Tamyra Mensah-Stock as one of the dominant wrestlers in the world and nominated 14 members of the American team for the 2019 World Championships.

UPCOMING

Highlights of the coming week, with previews in the coming days on TheSportsExaminer.com:

● Athletics: The World Athletics Diamond League moves to a sold-out Oslo on Thursday!

● Football: The FIFA Women’s World Cup continues in France with group play;

● Wrestling: The final Final X matches to select the U.S. World Championships team.

And on top of all the sports action is more intrigue and politics!

VOLLEYBALL: U.S. women win two of three in Nations League in Lincoln; stand third after three weeks

By
Rich Perelman
-

The FIVB Women’s Nations League passed the halfway mark during last weekend’s play, including the U.S. hosting a pool in Lincoln, Nebraska and winning two of three to stand third with two weeks to go. The current leaders:

1. 24 points Turkey (8-1)
2. 22 points Italy (7-2)
3. 21 points United States (7-2)
4. 20 points China (7-2)
5. 20 points Poland (7-2)
6. 19 points Brazil (6-3)
7. 15 points Japan (5-4)
8. 15 points Serbia (5-4)

At Lincoln, the U.S. defeated South Korea (3-1) and Germany (3-0), but lost to Brazil, 3-1. This week, the American squad will head to Jiangmen (CHN) for matches with league-leading Turkey (11 June), Poland (12 June) and China (13 June). The U.S. will finish in Yekaterinburg (RUS) against Russia, the Netherlands and Thailand. The top five teams (plus host China) will advance to the final round.

Poland’s Malwina Smarzek continues as the top scorer in the tournament with 247 total points. The best hitters include Ebrar Karakurt (TUR) with 88 kills in 172 tries for a 51.1% kill ratio, followed by Brayelin Martinez (DOM) at 49.4% (178/360) and Andrea Drews of the U.S. at 46.1% (83/180).

The men’s Nations League has completed two weeks, with Brazil the only undefeated team at 6-0. The current standings:

1. 15 points Brazil (6-0) ~ no. 1 as still undefeated
2. 16 points Iran (5-1)
3. 16 points France (5-1)
4. 14 points Russia (5-1)
5. 12 points Italy (4-2)
6. 12 points Canada (4-2)
7. 11 points Poland (4-2)
8. 10 points Argentina (2-4)

The U.S. is ninth with nine points (2-4) will qualifies automatically for the final as the host country (in Chicago).

The American team went 1-2 in the first round in Poland, then 1-2 again in Ufa (RUS) last week, losing to Italy (3-1) and Russia (3-0) and defeating Portugal (3-1). This week, the U.S. will be Cannes (FRA), facing Argentina (14 June), Germany (15 June) and France (16 June).

Look for complete results and schedules here.

LANE ONE: How the NCAA Championships turned the track & field world around in one weekend

By
Rich Perelman
-
Sha'Carri Richardson's World Junior Record 10.75 in the 2019 NCAA omen's 100 m final

To most of the world, the kind of performances seen at last weekend’s NCAA Track & Field Championships seem unimaginable.

A meet of college athletes producing nine world-leading marks and completely re-shuffling the possible participants and medalists at the 2019 World Championships and possibly the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo?

It happened and this purely American phenomenon has been like this since the NCAA meet started for men in 1921 and for women in 1982. Just to recap, there is a new world order in nine events after Austin:

● Men/100 m:

Texas Tech junior Divine Oduduru (NGR) came in as the favorite, having run 9.94 and 19.76 in April. He erased any doubts about his ability to run against the best, winning the 100 m in a lifetime best of 9.86 (wind +0.8 m/s), tying him for the 2019 world lead with Americans Christian Coleman and Noah Lyles.

Behind him came almost-unknown Oregon senior Cravon Gillespie, who ran a PR 9.93 for second and Japan’s Abdul Hakim Sani Brown – running for Florida – who set a national record of 9.97.

Certainly Oduduru and Sani Brown will be at the World Championships, but the expected trio of Coleman, Lyles and Justin Gatlin for the U.S. will have to consider Gillespie as a contender at the USATF Championships in Des Moines next month.

● Men/200 m:

Oduduru was even better in the 200 m, with a win in 19.73, third on the world list behind Americans Michael Norman (19.70) and Lyles (19.72). That’s also faster than Turkey’s reigning World Champion, Ramil Guliyev has ever run (19.76 ‘18). The Nigerian has to figure as a medal contender at the Worlds now.

Gillespie was second again, again with a lifetime best of 19.93, no. 5 on the world list and fourth among Americans. He has a chance to win a Worlds place for the U.S. in this event too.

● Men/400 m:

In the spring of 2017, the U.S. 400 m corps was LaShawn Merritt and that was about it. Then came Fred Kerley (43.70) and in 2018, USC teammates Michael Norman and Rai Benjamin.

Now the party has really started, with Kahmari Montgomery – who won the 2018 USATF title vs. a weak field – won in 44.23, no. 2 on the season to Norman’s sensational 43.45, and North Carolina A&T’s Trevor Stewart ran 44.25 for second. Add in Kerley’s 44.49 win in Kingston (JAM) on Saturday night and the U.S. is suddenly going to have to leave somebody very good sitting at home during the Worlds. This is really quite amazing.

● Men/800 m:

The U.S. now has four men in the 1:44s or faster after Donavan Brazier set the world-leading mark at 1:43.63 in Rome, then seeing Kansas junior Bryce Hoppel run 1:44.41 in front of Texas A&M star Devin Dixon’s 1:44.84 in Austin … and both are juniors. The U.S. team suddenly got a lot harder to make in 2019.

● Men/110 m hurdles:

The two best high hurdlers in the world in 2019 put on a show in Austin, with Kentucky’s Daniel Roberts running a world-leading 13.06 in the semis and then Grant Holloway breaking Renaldo Nehemiah’s 40-year-old collegiate record, running 12.98 in the final (with Roberts tying the old record at 13.00).

Between them, the pair own the six fastest times of the year and nine of the top 10. Right now, they are medal favorites for Doha … but they have to make the U.S. team first.

● Men/Pole Vault:

Everyone expected LSU’s Mondo Duplantis (SWE) to win the NCAA outdoor title as he’s the world leader at 6.00 m (19-8 1/4). But he didn’t win; South Dakota State junior Chris Nilsen did, clearing 5.95 m (19-6 1/4), moving to no. 9 on the all-time U.S. list. Nilsen will be welcome company at the Worlds for Sam Kendricks, who lost to Nilsen at the Drake Relays in April!

● Women/100 m:

It was clear that LSU frosh Sha’Carri Richardson was special. But 10.75 special?

She was superb, racing to her world-leading mark (and World Junior Record) while celebrating during the last five meters and leading Kayla White (North Carolina A&T/10.95) and Twanisha Terry (USC/10.98) to the finish. Where the U.S. sprint corps looked thin with Tori Bowie in undetermined shape, it now has new life.

It will need it too, as Jamaica got back both of its horses last week, with Elaine Thompson running a then-world-leading 10.89 in Rome and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce running 10.88 at the Racers Grand Prix in Kingston (JAM) on Saturday evening.

● Women/200 m:

Everyone expected Richardson to do something special and she ran a brilliant 22.17, a World Junior Record, but USC’s Angie Annelus, who had a best of 23.22 two years ago, got to the line first in a world-leading 22.16.

Again, the U.S. situation looked fairly modest in this event. It looks a lot brighter now.

● Women/100 m hurdles:

The U.S. has dominated this event for several years, but Jamaica’s Janeek Brown – running for Arkansas – grabbed the world lead at 12.40 from world-record holder Keni Harrison of the U.S. (12.47 in 2019). Not too far behind was USC’s Chanel Brissett (12.52), who is now also a contender for the U.S. team.

A normal NCAA meet? No, this one was special and the hot weather in Austin contributed to excellent conditions for sprinting. And there are caveats about the future.

First is the timing. The NCAA meet came at the end of a lengthy collegiate season that began in January for many athletes, but included strong support from the schools for coaching, athletic training and scholarships for these stars. That’s going away now for the summer and the athletes are on their own in many cases.

That’s an issue because, for American athletes, the selection meet for the World Championships isn’t until 25-28 July in Iowa instead of the normal two weeks later. If some or all of these collegians can make it that far and qualify for the U.S. team, the Worlds in Qatar isn’t until 28 September. For those still in school, that’s going to be a conflict.

There are many instances of stars in the NCAA meet fading quickly. Zimbabwe’s Ngoni Makusha looked like a world beater at Florida State during the 2011 NCAAs, winning the 100 m in 9.89 and the long jump at 8.40 m (27-6 3/4). But he could only manage 10.27 in the 100 and 8.29 m (27-2 1/2) at the Worlds, winning a long jump bronze. He didn’t make it the London Olympic Games in 2012.

Hurdlers Holloway and Roberts confirmed that they will skip their senior seasons and become professionals immediately, which should make their USATF preparations easier. But what about the rest?

This is the great thing about track & field, to see the emergence of new stars, sometimes from nowhere and sometimes – like Richardson – perhaps faster than anticipated. One wild weekend in Austin has made for a much more entertaining summer of track & field ahead.

Rich Perelman
Editor

CYCLING: Kimmann rolls to fourth straight BMX Supercross World Cup win; Bruni gets his second in Downhill

By
Rich Perelman
-
Dutch BMX World Cup champion Niek Kimmann

The stars came out at the UCI BMX Supercross World Cup in France and the Mountain Bike World Cup in Austria and there were familiar faces at the top of the podium.

At Saint Quentin (FRA) for the BMX Supercross, the reigning World Cup champions were in great form, especially Niek Kimmann (NED). Already the winner of both races in Papendal (NED) last week, he rolled to two more wins, winning on Saturday over Alfredo Campo (ECU) and France’s Joris Daudet, then edging Daudet on Sunday for his fourth straight win on the circuit. Kimmann now has an 800-680 seasonal lead on Daudet with four races remaining.

The women’s BMX World Cup has been owned for the last three years by Laura Smulders (NED) and she shows no interest in giving it up. She finished first and second at St. Quentin, and has four medals in six races in 2019. But she is in a tussle with American Alise Willoughby, who posted a 2-3 finish on the weekend and also has four medals in the six races. Smulders has a 670-665 lead, with Judy Baauw (NED) close behind at 600.

In the Mountain Bike Downhill in Leogang (AUT), France’s Loic Bruni won his second race of the season and closed up to within five points of seasonal leader Troy Brosnan (AUS): 520-515. Defending champ Amaury Pierron (FRA) has 450. Brosnan is the only rider to have won medals in all three races so far.

The same goes for fellow Aussie Tracey Hannah in the women’s race, where she won decisively over Germany’s Nina Hoffmann. Hannah has finished third in the seasonal standings the last three years, but now has a 650-500 points lead over Britain’s six-time champ, Rachel Atherton, who finished 10th in Leogang. Summaries:

BMX Supercross World Cup
Saint Quentin (FRA) ~ 8-9 June 2019
(Full results here)

Men I: 1. Niek Kimmann (NED), 32.647; 2. Alfredo Campo (ECU), 33.038; 3. Joris Daudet (FRA), 33.520; 4. Romain Mahieu (FRA), 33.887; 5. Jeremy Rencurrel (FRA), 33.986.

Men II: 1. Kimmann (NED), 32.353; 2. Daudet (FRA), 32.711; 3. David Graf (SUI), 33.185; 4. Rencurrel (FRA), 33.866; 5. Mahieu (FRA), 34.191.

Women I: 1. Laura Smulders (NED), 37.118; 2. Alise Willoughby (USA), 37.132; 3. Simone Christensen (DEN), 38.530; 4. Felicia Stancil (USA), 38.255; 5. Judy Baauw (NED), 38.417.

Women II: 1. Manon Valentino (FRA), 37.139; 2. Smulders (NED), 37.194; 3. Willoughby (USA), 37.241; 4. Jessie Smith (NZL), 37.596; 5. Saya Sakakibara (AUS), 37.653.

UCI Mountain Bike World Cup
Leogang (AUT) ~ 8-9 June 2019
(Full results here)

Men: 1. Loic Bruni (FRA), 3:16.132; 2. Greg Minnaar (RSA), 3:16.456; 3. Troy Brosnan (AUS), 3:16.878; 4. Danny Hart (GBR), 3:18.126; 5. Aaron Gwin (USA), 3:18.550. Also in the top 10: 7. Charlie Harrison (USA), 3:19.333; … 9. Luca Shaw (USA), 3:19.638.

Women: 1. Tracey Hannah (AUS), 3:42.107; 2. Nina Hoffmann (GER), 3:44.542; 3. Kate Weatherly (NZL), 3:51.467; 4. Marine Cabirou (FRA), 3:51.671; 5. Veronika Widmann (ITA), 3:54.192.

SAILING: Three wins each for France and Italy in World Cup Series Final in Marseille

By
Rich Perelman
-
Australia's multi-time World 470 Champions Mat Belcher and Will Ryan

World Sailing’s World Cup Final at the proposed 2024 Olympic venue off Marseille (FRA) showcased especially the host French and visiting Italian sailors who won three events each on the 11-event program.

Seven of the events were not especially close, but three were incredibly tight and decided on the final day of sailing. In men’s RS:X, Italy’s Daniele Benedetti led countryman Mattia Camboni, 32-27 going into the medal race, but Camboni won it while Benedetti finished fifth. Result: Camboni 34.0, Benedetti, 37.0, both ahead of France’s 2018 Worlds bronze medalist Louis Giard.

The men’s Laser class was even closer. Italy’s Giovanni Cocculuto and Singapore’s Ryan Lo went into the ninth race even with 21.0 points each. Cocculuto won it and with Lo third, it was a 22.0-24.0 final.

The women’s 470 was another cliffhanger. Britain’s Hannah Mills and Eilidh McIntyre, the 2018 Worlds bronze medalists, had a 36.0-37.0 lead over France’s Camille Lecointre and Aloise Retornaz (Lecointre was an Olympic bronze medalist from 2016) going into the medal race. They were in sight of each other the entire time, but the French finished second and the British third and that decided the class for the hosts: 41.0 to 42.0.

The outstanding performance of the regatta had to be Lithuania’s Viktorija Andrulyte in the Laser Radial class. After starting off with a fifth-place finish in the first race, she then logged a sensational race series of 1-1-1-2-2-1-1-1 to finish with just 10.0 total points (the worst finish is dropped), to 28.0 for Tatiana Drozdovskaya (BLR).

Familiar faces on the winner’s step included four-time men’s 470 champs Mat Belcher and Will Ryan (AUS) and 2018 World RS:X champ Lilian de Geus (NED). Summaries:

World Sailing World Cup Final
Marseille (FRA) ~ 2-9 June 2019
(Full results here)

Men

RS:X: 1. Mattia Camboni (ITA), 34.0 net points; 2. Daniele Benedetti (ITA), 37.0; 3. Louis Giard (FRA), 39.0; 4. Piotr Myszka (POL), 40.0; 5. Pierre Le Coq (FRA), 47.0.

Laser: 1. Giovanni Coccoluto (ITA), 22.0; 2. Ryan Lo (SGP), 24.0; 3. Zan Luka Zelko (SLO), 25.0; 4. Agustin Vidal Incatasciato (ARG), 28.0; 5. Tomas Pires de Lima (POR), 29.0.

470: 1. Mat Belcher/Will Ryan (NZL), 21.0; 2. Jordi Hammar Hernandez/Nicolas Rodriguez Garcia-Paz (ESP), 47.0; 3. Hippolyte Machetti/Sidoine Dantes (FRA), 66.0; 4. Anton Dahlberg/Fredrik Bergstrom (SWE), 67.0; 5. Kevin Peponnet/Jeremie Mion (FRA), 73.0.

Finn: 1. Andy Maloney (NZL), 19.0; 2. Josh Junior (NZL), 27.0; 3. Max Salminen (SWE), 35.0; 4. Alican Kaynar (TUR), 46.0; 5. Anders Pedersen (NOR), 47.0.

49er: 1. Federico Alonso Tellechea/Arturo Alonso Tellechea (ESP), 20.0; 2. Benjamin Bildstein/David Hussl (AUT), 55.0; 3. Sebastien Schneiter/Lucien Cujean (SUI), 63.0; 4. Kevin Fischer/Yann Jauvin (FRA), 69.0; 5. Sime Fantela/Mihovil Fantela (CRO), 71.0

Women

RS:X: 1. Lilian de Geus (NED), 33.0; 2. Saskia Sills (GBR), 56.0; 3. Flavia Tartaglini (ITA), 58.0; 4. Katy Spychakov (ISR), 60.0; 5. Noy Drihan (ISR), 74.0.

Laser Radial: 1. Viktorija Andrulyte (LTU), 10.0; 2. Tatiana Drozdovskaya (BLR), 28.0; 3. Elena Vorobeva (CRO), 30.0; 4. Yumiko Tombe (JPN), 32.0; 5. Silvia Zennaro (ITA), 34.0.

470: 1. Camille Lecointre/Aloise Retornaz (FRA), 41.0; 2. Hannah Mills/Elidih McIntyre (GBR), 42.0; 3. Silvia Mas Depares/Patricia Cantero Reina (ESP), 70.0; 4. Noya Bar-Am/Shahar Tibi (ISR), 80.0; 5. Fernanda Oliveira/Ana Luiza Barbachan (BRA), 80.0.

49erFX: 1. Julie Bossard/Aude Compan (FRA), 22.0; 2. Aleksandra Melzacka/Kinga Loboda (POL), 33.0; 3. Laura Schofegger/Anna Boustani (AUT), 44.0; 4. Carlotta Omari/Matilda Distefano (ITA), 44.0; 5. Lili Sebesi/Albane Dubois (FRA), 56.0.

Open

Kiteboarding: 1. Nicolas Parlier (FRA), 20.0; 2. Theo de Ramecourt (FRA), 37.0; 3. Axel Mazella (FRA), 37.0; 4. Toni Vodisek (CRO), 50.0; 5. Martin Dolenc (CRO), 70.0.

Mixed

Nacra 17: 1. Vittorio Bissaro/Maelle Frascari (ITA), 32.0; 2. John Gimson/Anna Burnet (GBR), 50.0; 3. Ruggero Tita/Caterina Banti (ITA), 51.0; 4. Billy Besson/Marie Riou (FRA), 65.0; 5. Santiago Lange/Cecilia Carranza Saroli (ARG), 73.0.

KARATE: Four world champions triumph in Premier League Shanghai

By
Rich Perelman
-
Japanese Kata star Ryo Kiyuna (Photo: WKF)

A huge field of 523 karatekas from 70 countries piled into the Gymnasium of Shanghai University of Finance and Economics for the fourth Karate1 Premier League tournament, and at the end, four World Champions ended on the top of the podium:

● Men/Kata: Ryo Kiyuna (JPN: 2018)
● Men/Kumite -50 kg: Serap Ozcelik Arapoglu (TUR: 2014)
● Men/Kumite +84 kg: Sajad Ganjzadeh (IRI: 2016)
● Women/Kata: Sandra Sanchez (ESP: 2018)

Kazakhstan and Turkey both won two classes, with Darkhan Assadilov (Kumite -60 kg) and Sofya Berultseva (Kumite +68 kg) for Kazakhstan; Ozcelik Arapoglu and 2017 European Kumite -84 kg Champion Ugur Aktas (TUR). Summaries:

Karate1 Premier League
Shanghai (CHN) ~ 7-9 June 2019
(Full results here)

Men

Kata: 1. Ryo Kiyuna (JPN); 2. Damian Hugo Quintero Capdevila (ESP); 3. Kazumasa Moto (JPN) and Issei Shimbaba (JPN).

Team Kata: 1. Kuwait; 2. Hong Kong; 3. Malaysia and China.

Kumite -60 kg: 1. Darkhan Assadilov (KAZ); 2. Kaisar Alpysbair (KAZ); 3. Firdovsi Farzaliyev (IRI).

Kumite -67 kg: 1. Andres Madera Delgado (VEN); 2. Seyedali Karimi (IRI); 3. Ali Elsawy (EGY) and Yves Martial Tadissi (HUN).

Kumite -75 kg: 1. Dastonbek Otabolaev (UZB); 2. Bahman Asgari (IRI); 3. Yusei Sakiyama (JPN) and Erman Eltemur (TUR).

Kumite -84 kg: 1. Ugur Aktas (TUR); 2. Ivan Kvesic (CRO); 3. Panah Abdullayev (AZE) and Mahdi Khodabakhshi (IRI).

Kumite +84 kg: 1. Sajad Ganjzadeh (IRI); 2. Saleh Abazari (IRI); 3. Gogita Arkania (GEO) and Mehdi Filali (FRA).

Women

Kata: 1. Sandra Sanchez (ESP); 2. Kiyou Shimizu (JPN); 3. Hikaru Ono (JPN) and Mo Sheung Grace Lau (HKG).

Team Kata: 1. Japan; 2. China; 3. Hong Kong and Vietnam.

Kumite -50 kg: 1. Serap Ozcelik Arapoglu (TUR); 2. Alexandra Recchia (FRA); 3. Radwa Sayed (EGY) and Ahmed Salama Reem (EGY).

Kumite -55 kg: 1. Anzhelika Terliuga (UKR); 2. Jiamei Ding (CHN); 3. Sabrina Ouihaddadene (FRA) and Travat Khaksar (IRI).

Kumite -61 kg: 1. Xiaoyan Yin (CHN); 2. Jovana Prekovic (SRB); 3. Leila Heutault (FRA) and Ayami Moriguchi (FRA).

Kumite -68 kg: 1. Alizee Agier (FRA); 2. Li Gong (CHN); 3. Elena Quirici (SUI) and Vasiliki Panetsidou (GRE).

Kumite +68 kg: 1. Sofya Berultseva (KAZ); 2. Mengmeng Gao (CHN); 3. Ayumi Uekusa (JPN) and Hamideh Abbasali (IRI).

BADMINTON: Korea’s Ko and Shin record upset men’s Doubles win in Australian Open

By
Rich Perelman
-
Korea's 2014 World Champions Baek-Cheol Shin (l) and Sung Ko (r) back on top in Sydney (Photo: BWF)

There was a time – five years ago – when Korea’s Sung Ko and Baek-Cheol Shin were on top of the world as the World Champions in men’s Doubles. But after retiring following the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, they have faded from the scene.

But no more. Unseeded going into the Australian Open in Sydney, the stormed through their bracket and would up facing reigning World Champions Junhui Li and Yuchen Liu (CHN) in the semifinals. The Korean stars won the first set, 21-11, then lost the second (14-21) before rebounding to win the third, 21-17, and move on to the final against Takeshi Kamura and Keigo Sonoda of Japan, the Worlds silver medalists.

No problem, as the Koreans dominated the final with a 21-11, 21-17 win and their first World Tour win of this season. Are Ko and Shin back just in time for an Olympic run after not making the Korean team in 2016?

China won two divisions in Sydney, with no. 2-ranked Yufei Chen defeating no. 3 Nozomi Okuhara (JPN) in straight sets, and no. 2-ranked Yilyu Wang and Dongping Huang winning the Mixed Doubles in straight sets. Summaries:

BWF World Tour/Australian Open
Sydney (AUS) ~ 4-9 June 2019
(Full results here)

Men/Singles: 1. Jonatan Christie (INA); 2. Anthony Sinisuka Ginting (INA); 3. Tien Chen Chou (TPE) and Tzu Wei Wang (TPE). Semis: Ginting d. Wang, 21-17, 21-14; Christie d. Chou, 22-20, 13-21, 21-16. Final: Christie d. Ginting, 21-17, 13-21, 21-14.

Men/Doubles: 1. Sung Ko/Baek-Cheol Shin (KOR); 2. Takeshi Kamura/Keigo Sonoda (JPN);
3. SolGyu Choi/Seung Jae Seo (KOR) and Junhui Li/Yuchen Liu (CHN). Semis: Kamura/Sonoda d. 23-25, 21-19, 21-14; Ko/Shin d. Li/Liu, 21-11, 14-21, 21-17. Final: Ko/Shin d. Kamura/Sonoda, 21-11, 21-17.

Women/Singles: 1. Yufei Chen (CHN); 2. Nozomi Okuhara (JPN); 3. Ratchanok Intanon (THA) and Nitchaon Jindapol (THA). Semis: Okuhara d. Intanon, 21-17, 21-15; Chen d. Jindapol, 21-10, 23-25, 21-6. Final: Chen d. Okuhara, 21-15, 21-3.

Women/Doubles: 1. Yuki Fukushima/Sayaka Hirota (JPN); 2. Qingchen Chen/Yifan Jia (CHN); 3. Misaki Matsutomo/Ayaka Takahashi (JPN) and Greysia Polii/Apriyani Rahayu (INA). Semis: Fukushima/Jirota d. Matsutomo/Takahashi, 15-21, 21-15, 23-21; Chen/Jia d. Polii/Rahayu, 21-13, 14-21, 21-18. Final: Fukushima/Hirota d. Chen/Jia, 21-10, 21-16.

Mixed Doubles: 1. Yilyu Wang/Dongping Huang (CHN); 2. Praveen Jordan/Melati Daeva Oktavianti (INA); 3. Yuta Watanabe/Arisa Higashino (JPN) and Chun Man Tang/Ying Suet Tse (HKG). Semis: Wang/Huang d. Tang/Tse, 21-13, 21-10; Jordan/Oktavianti d. Watanabe/Higashino, 21-13, 12-21, 21-17. Final: Wang/Huang d. Jordan/Oktavianti, 21-15, 21-8.

TABLE TENNIS: China dominates Hong Kong Open with four wins in five divisions

By
Rich Perelman
-
Surprise women's winner Yidi Wang of China (Photo: Hong Kong Table Tennis Assn.)

China’s Gaoyuan Lin put on quite a show at the Hong Kong Open, winning both the men’s Singles and men’s Doubles titles as the Chinese swept the men’s and women’s events.

The world’s no. 2-ranked Singles player came back from 1-2 down to win the title over Japan’s Tomokazu Harimoto, 4-2, and then teamed with Jingkun Liang to won the Doubles tournament by 3-1 over Koreans Woojin Jang and Jonghoon Lin.

The shock came in the women’s Singles, where no. 7-ranked Mima Ito (JPN) was favored in the final against 46th-ranked Yidi Wang, who had come through the qualifying rounds to make it into the main draw. But it was Wang who won easily: 11-3, 11-7, 11-5, 11-6 for a 4-0 sweep and her first career World Tour gold.

Korean pairs finished second in all three Doubles finals; the only non-Chinese winner – so to speak – was Chinese Taipei’s Yun-Ju Lin and I-Ching Cheng in the Mixed Doubles, with a 3-0 sweep of Sangsu Lee and Hyojoo Choi. Summaries:

ITTF World Tour/Hong Kong Open
Hong Kong (HKG) ~ 6-9 June 2019
(Full results here)

Men/Singles: 1. Gaoyuan Lin (CHN); 2. Tomokazu Harimoto (JPN); 3. Jingkun Liang (CHN) and Yu Zhou (CHN). Semis: Lin d. Liang, 4-1; Harimoto d. Zhou, 4-1. Final: Lin d. Harimoto, 4-2.

Men/Doubles: 1. Jingkun Liang/Gaoyuan Lin (CHN); 2. Woojin Jang/Jonghoon Lim (KOR); 3. Kwan Kit Ho/Chun Ting Wong (HKG) and Cheng-Ting Liao/Yun-Ju Lin (KOR). Semis: Liang/Lin d. Ho/Wong, 3-1; Jang/Lim d. Liao/Lin, 301. Final: Liang/Lin d. Jang/Lim, 3-1.

Women/Singles: 1. Yidi Wang (CHN); 2. Mima Ito (JPN); 3. I-Ching Cheng (TPE) and Miu Hirano (JPN). Semis: Wang d. Cheng, 4-0; Ito d. Hirano. 4-2. Final: Wang d. Ito, 4-0.

Women/Doubles: 1. Ke Chen/Zi Mu (CHN); 2. Jihee Jeon/Eunchong Yoo (KOR); 3. Miyuu Kihara/Miyu Nagasaki (JPN) and Wing Nam Ng/Wai Yam Minnie Soo (HKG). Semis: Chen/Mu d. Kihara/Nagasaki, 3-1; Jeon/Yoo d. Ng/Soo, 3-1. Final: Chen/Mu d. Jeon/Yoo, 3-1.

Mixed Doubles: 1. Yun-Ju Lin/I-Ching Cheng (TPE); 2. Sangsu Lee/Hyojoo Choi (KOR); 3. Chun Ting Wong/Hoi Kem Doo (HKG) and Yu Zhou/Xingtong Chen (CHN). Semis: Lin/Cheng d. Wong/Doo, 3-2; Lee/Choi d. Zhou/Chen, 3-1. Final: Lin/Cheng d. Lee/Choi, 3-0.

TRIATHLON: Taylor-Brown beats Zaferes in Leeds; Birtwhistle wins first gold over McElroy’s historic silver for U.S.

By
Rich Perelman
-
Britain's Georgia Taylor-Brown wins in Leeds! (Photo: ITU)

American Katie Zaferes’s perfect season ended on the streets of Leeds (GBR) on Sunday, but she was far from disappointed with her fourth medal in a row of this season, a silver behind home favorite Georgia Taylor-Brown.

“I am really happy,” she said. “Last year I struggled in the bike section, and during the race today I was just thinking that it didn’t hurt so much. And Georgia then ran so well, and ten seconds never seemed so far away, I never gave up. Racing here in Leeds is different, but I quite like it. This was the last Olympic distance for a bit so i’m excited for heading to some sprint distance races now.”

Britain’s Jessica Learmonth was first out of the water in Leeds, much to the delight of the large crowd, and a group of six leaders formed during the bike phase, including Taylor-Brown and Zaferes. Those two took a big lead on the first of the four laps of the run phase.

Taylor-Brown sped away from Zaferes on the second lap and opened a go of 14 seconds which Zaferes was unable to close and Taylor-Brown won her first career World Series gold by 11 seconds in 1:55:46. Learmonth was well back in third, trailed by Taylor Spivey of the U.S. in fourth place.

The men’s race was also historic for Australia’s Jacob Birtwhistle, who also logged his first career ITU World Series victory.

Henri Schoeman (RSA) was first out of the water and was chased by the crowd favorites Alistair and Jonny Brownlee, the gold and silver medalists from 2016 in Rio. The leading pack was as large as 25 during the cycling phase, but the time the running started, it was Schoeman who took the lead, with Birtwhistle, Vincent Luis (FRA) and Javier Gomez (ESP) all chasing. American Matt McElroy closed strongly to move into contention for the medals and Birtwhistle caught and passed Schoeman on the third lap and never looked back.

McElroy claimed the silver and Gomez finished third, just two seconds behind, as Schoeman held on for fourth.

“It’s been a long time coming, but today I guess after a rough start to the year it’s nice to finally come out and put in a performance to show the world what i’m capable of and get that first win on the card,” said Birtwhistle. “The swim was key, to be in the mix from the get go on the bike certainly makes my job a lot easier. We still had to work hard and it wasn’t easy but was able to stay at the front and stay safe and I was hurting on the run but could hang tough until the third lap when I wanted to go a bit earlier and not give Henri that gap.”

It was a satisfying performance for Birtwhistle, who had finished 8-28-23 in the prior World Series races this season, after winning three medals last season and the Commonwealth Games silver medal.

For McElroy, the silver was historic. It was not just his first World Series medal, but the first by an American man since Jarrod Shoemaker’s win at the Hamburg race on 26 July 2009! Over the last two seasons, his World Series finishes had been 17-34-11-21 in 2018 and 32-30 this season.

The Brownlees finished 35th (Jonny) and 44th (Alistair). Summaries:

ITU World Series
Leeds (GBR) ~ 9 June 2019
(Full results here)

Men: 1. Jacob Birtwhistle (AUS), 1:45:12; 2. Matthew McElroy (USA), 1:45:19; 3. Javier Gomez Noya (ESP), 1:45:21; 4. Henri Schoeman (RSA), 1:45:31; 5. Sam Ward (NZL), 1:45:42; 6. Vincent Luis (FRA), 1:45:46; 7. Marten van Riel (BEL), 1:45:47; 8. Pierre Le Corre (FRA), 1:45:47; 9. Fernando Alarza (ESP), 1:45:49; 10. Jonas Schomburg (GER), 1:45:52.

Women: 1. Georgia Taylor-Brown (GBR), 1:55:46; 2. Katie Zaferes (USA), 1:55:57; 3. Jessica Learmonth (GBR), 1:57:22; 4. Taylor Spivey (USA), 1:57:38; 5. Non Stanford (GBR), 1:57:53; 6. Leonie Periault (FRA), 1:1:57:55; 7. Vicky Holland (GBR), 1:58:02; 8. Vittoria Lopes (BRA), 1:58:19; 9. Sophie Coldwell (GBR), 1:58:36; 10. Tamara Gorman (USA), 1:58:40.

FOOTBALL: Sloppy play helps Venezuela to 3-0 win over dreary U.S. men in Cincinnati

By
Rich Perelman
-
Venezuelan striker Salomon Rondon scored twice vs. the U.S. in Cincinnati

Another terrible defensive performance gave visiting Venezuela opportunities that they didn’t miss, rolling to a 3-0 lead in the first half of a friendly in Cincinnati, Ohio and finishing with that score.

After an encouraging start, the U.S. defense fell apart:

● In the 16th minute, an errant clearance by U.S. keeper Zach Steffen turned the ball over to Venezuela just beyond the top of the box and a pass to Salomon Rondon created an easy goal as Steffen was out of position to defend the right-footed kick.

● In the 30th minute, Jefferson Savarino stole the ball, smashed a shot that hit the left post, caromed in front of the U.S. goal and he was in perfect position to rocket the rebound past Steffen for a 2-0 lead.

● In the 36th minute, a long lead pass found Rondon with space against the U.S. back line and he danced around Aaron Long for a left-footed shot that beat Steffen at the left corner of the goal.

Despite having 53% of the possession and an 8-6 edge in shots, the U.S. was three goals down at half. Fox analyst Stu Holden said “This is hard to watch if you’re a U.S. fan” and U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter was blunt at halftime, saying “We gave up three bad goals.”

The second half was better, primarily due to the presence – for the first time since 2017 – of Jozy Altidore at striker and while the U.S. had some good chances, none of them went in.

The U.S. ended the game with a 13-9 edge in shots and 50% of the possession, but it didn’t help. It was the second straight shutout for the American side and with the last goal coming at the four-minute mark vs. Chile on 26 March, it’s been more than 266 minutes since the U.S. scored.

Next up is the CONCACAF Gold Cup, which starts on 15 June; the first U.S. game will be on 18 June vs. Guyana in St. Paul, Minnesota.

WATER POLO: U.S. takes 13th Women’s World League Super Final with 10-9 win over Italy

By
Rich Perelman
-
U.S. scoring ace Maddie Musselman (Photo: USA Water Polo)

Dominant. That’s the only word for the United States women’s water polo team, which won yet another international honor and qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic tournament, at which they will be the favorites.

The U.S. defeated a previously undefeated Italian team, 10-9, to win the FINA World League Super Final in Budapest (HUN). It’s the 13th title for the American women and sixth in a row – in 2014-15-16-17-18-19 – as they compiled a 6-0 tournament record and a 78-41 goal differential.

The U.S. won its group games by a combined 39-20, against Hungary (12-9), Canada (15-4) and Russia, 12-7, then stomped China in its quarterfinal (21-6) and got past the Netherlands in a difficult game, 7-5. The final against Italy ended in a 10-9 triumph.

The U.S. trailed, 4-3, at halftime, but exploded for four goals in the third quarter thanks to two straight tallies by Makenzie Fischer for a 5-4 lead and after Italy tied the match at 5-5, Fischer scored again and Maddie Musselman added another for a 7-6 lead at the start of the fourth quarter. Another six goals – three each – in the final stanza left the final at 10-9; after Italy closed to 8-7, Aria Fischer and Musselman scored to put the game out of reach at 10-8, although Italy got the final score.

Musselman led the U.S. in scoring with 14 goals in the tournament, followed by Maggie Steffens and Aria Fischer, who had 10 each. Musselman was named Most Valuable Player of the Super Final.

The award for top goalkeeper was given to Laura Aarts of the Netherlands. The top scorers in the tournament were Hungary’s Rita Keszthelyi and Maud Megens (NED) with 17 each.

There is prize money in the Super Final: $50,000-40,000-30,000-25,000-20,000-15,000-12,500-10,000 ($202,500 total). Summaries:

FINA Women’s World League Super Final
Budapest (HUN) ~ 4-9 June 2019
(Full results here)

Final Standings: 1. United States; 2. Italy; 3. Russia; 4. Netherlands; 5. Australia; 6. Hungary; 7. Canada; 8. China. Semis: U.S. 8, Netherlands 6; Italy 13, Russia 12. Third: Russia 10, Netherlands 7. Final: U.S. 10, Italy 9.

SWIMMING Panorama: Ledecky sends a message with world-leading 3:59.28; Titmus sends back a 3:59.35

By
Rich Perelman
-
Freestyle superstar Katie Ledecky (USA)

They were swimming half a world apart, in Santa Clara, California and Brisbane, Australia, but it’s as if stars Kathie Ledecky (USA) and Ariarne Titmus (AUS) were swimming in consecutive heats in the same pool.

With Titmus leading the 2019 world list at 3:59.66, Ledecky won the 400 m Freestyle at the Santa Clara Invitational with a powerful 3:59.28 time to take the world lead. About 12 hours later, it was Titmus – still 18 years old – with her chance in the 400 m Free final of the Australia World Champs Trials. She won easily, finishing in 3:59.35 to stand second to Ledecky in 2019.

This is a busy weekend of swimming, just days after the FINA Champions Swim Series concluded and with the Tyr Pro Swim Series starting Wednesday in Clovis, California. At the same time:

Mare Nostrum I in Monaco:

The first of the three legs of this annual series has already produced three world-leading times:

● Men/50 m Free: 21.31, Bruno Fratus (BRA)
● Men/50 m Breast: 26.33, Felipe Lima (BRA)
● Women/400 m Medley: 4:32.67, Katinka Hosszu (HUN)

Fratus was already the world leader at 21.47 at the Brazilian nationals in April, but lowered his mark by 0.16 in winning the shoot-out-style final. Lima took over the world lead from countryman Joao Luis Gomes, who swam 26.42 at the Brazil nationals.

Hosszu has been exceptional, with four wins: the 400 Medley on the first day, then the 200 m Fly (2:07.56), 100 m Back (1:00.22) and 200 Medley (2:09.19) on Sunday.

Michael Andrew of the U.S. won 100 m Back (53.84), in a season’s best (old, 53.98) and Japan’s world leader, Daiya Seto, won the 400 m Medley in the no. 2 time of the year of 4:10.30.

The complete results are here. The next stage is in Canet (FRA) on 11-12 June.

Santa Clara Invitational:

In addition to Ledecky’s world leader in the 400 m Free, Simone Manuel swam a season’s best in the 50 m Free in 24.34, moving her to no. 5 on the 2019 world list.

In Sunday’s finals, Katie Drabot (USA) won the 200 m Fly in 2:06.67, moving her to no. 3 on the year list, and American Katie McLaughlin won the 200 m Free in 1:56.48, placing her =5th for the year. Ledecky had the fastest prelim time of 1:56.65, but skipped the final.

The complete results are here.

Australia World Championships Trials:

Titmus’ mark in the 400 m Free has been the mos impressive performance so far. The Worlds Trials run from 9-14 June and the results site is here.

WRESTLING: Mensah-Stock dominates Final X as 11 of 13 bouts are sweeps

By
Rich Perelman
-
American wrestling star Tamyra Mensah-Stock (at right)

The first of two Final X sessions to select the U.S. World Championships team for 2019 showcased Tamyra Mensah-Stock as one of the emerging stars in women’s wrestling. She dominated Alexandria Glaude to win the 68 kg division at Piscataway, New Jersey and confirmed her status as one of the medal favorites at the 2019 Worlds.

Ranked no. 2 worldwide and a 2018 Worlds bronze medalist, Mensah-Stock won both of her bouts vs. Glaude decisively, pinning her in 4:50 in the first bout and then scoring a 10-0 technical fall to secure her spot on the U.S. team.

Mensah-Stock was one of three 2018 World Championships medal winners on the mat on Saturday, and all three logged wins to earn their spot on the U.S. team for 2019. World 92 kg Champion J’Den Cox defeated Bo Nickal by 4-2 and 5-0 to sweep his series and Nick Gwiazdowski – the Worlds bronze medalist last year at 125 km – edged Gable Stevenson in 4-4 and 3-3 matches that were decided on criteria.

While the 2018 medalists were three-for-three in their Final X contests, the U.S. Open winners won only half of their bouts against the Team Trials Challenge victors:

● Men/Freestyle: There were plenty of raised eyebrows when Yianni Diakomihalis defeated Zain Retherford at the U.S. Open at 65 kg. But this time Retherford was in charge and will once again represent the U.S. at the Worlds – as in 2017 – with 10-4 and 6-6 (criteria) wins. It looked like Diakomihalis won the second bout, 8-6, but a protest from Retherford’s camp initiated a review and the score was revised to 6-6, which allowed Retherford to win on criteria.

● Men/Greco-Roman: Max Nowry (55 kg), Ellis Coleman (67 kg) and Joe Rau (87 kg) were U.S. Open winners who won, but Pat Smith reversed his loss to Kamal Bey at 77 kg (two bouts to one) and John Stefanowicz upset two-time U.S. Open winner Kendrick Sanders (2-0).

● Women/Freestyle: Whitney Conder (59 kg) and Forrest Molinari (65 kg) won their divisions as they did the U.S. Open, but Jenna Burkert (57 kg) and Victoria Francis (72 kg) reversed their losses at the U.S. Open and will represent the U.S. at the Worlds.

Eleven of the 13 bouts were decided in sweeps; only the Smith vs. Bey (Greco: 77 kg) and Molinari vs. Maya Nelson (Women/Freestyle: 65 kg) went to third bouts.

There were two other contests scheduled, but World 86 kg Champion David Taylor was injured and Pat Downey will be the U.S. entry at that eight. World 79 kg Champion Kyle Dake is also injured, but requested a wrestle-off at a later date – which was granted – against Alex Dieringer.

The final Final X contests will take place next week in Lincoln, Nebraska to settle the final 15 U.S. entries for the World Championships. Summaries:

USA Wrestling Final X
Piscataway, New Jersey (USA) ~ 8 June 2019
(Full results here)

● Men/Freestyle

65 kg: Zain Retherford d. Yianni Daikomihalis, 2-0 (10-4, 6-6)
92 kg: J’Den Cox d. Bo Nickal, 2-0 (4-2, 5-0)
125 kg: Nick Gwiazdowski d. Gable Steveson, 2-0 (4-4, 3-3).

● Men/Greco-Roman

55 kg: Max Nowry d. Brady Koontz, 2-0 (3-0, 11-5).
67 kg: Ellis Coleman d. Jamel Johnson, 2-0 (9-1, 6-0).
77 kg: Pat Smith d. Kamal Bey, 2-1 (2-11, 2-1, 6-3).
82 kg: John Stefanowicz d. Kendrick Sanders, 2-0 (8-5, 3-2).
87 kg: Joe Rau d. Ben Provisor, 2-0 (2-1, 5-1).

● Women/Freestyle

57 kg: Jenna Burkert d. Becka Leathers, 2-0 (4-2, 5-0).
59 kg: Whitney Conder d. Victoria Anthony, 2-0 (7-4, pin 1:57).
65 kg: Forrest Molinari d. Maya Nelson, 2–1 (3-5, 12-2, 4-1).
68 kg: Tamyra Mensah-Stock d. Alexandria Glaude, 2-0 (pin 4:50, 10-0)
72 kg: Victoria Francis d. Alyvia Fiske, 2-0 (7-2, pin 3:30).

SWIMMING: Unstoppable Cunha out-touches Bruni to win Marathon World Series in Portugal

By
Rich Perelman
-
Top three in Setubal (l-4): Rachele Bruni (ITA/silver), Ana Marcela Cunha (BRA/gold) and Samantha Arevalo (ECU/bronze). (Photo: FINA)

If there are any people on the planet more fit right now than Brazil’s Ana Marcela Cunha and Italy’s Rachele Bruni, they need to prove it.

Swimming against a small field in the third FINA Marathon Swim Series race in Setubal (POR), the two stars raced 10,000 meters in 19 C (66 F) water – wearing wetsuits – and were stroke for stroke over the final 200 m to the finish. It took a review of the phototimer to separate them and give Cunha the win, for the second time this season.

Said the winner, “This was the first time I felt that I raced well in a wetsuit. Today I tried to swim more in the front of the group, like I did in the Seychelles. I came here because I want to keep racing right up to the World Championships.”

Bruni was also pleased: “I’m very happy with the race, the race was harder than normal with the wetsuit. It was a very fast finish, it was a good clean finish as we didn’t clash at all when we were coming into the finish.

“I’m looking forward to the World Championships which are coming up in less than a month, the World Championships is also our qualification for the Olympic Games so I really want to win a medal at the Champs.”

For Cunha, a four-time World Series winner, and Bruni, the 2015-16 winner, this was just another step toward the 2020 Games. For Japan’s Yousuke Miyamoto, Setubal opened the door to a new level of competition.

Favored Andreas Waschburger (GER) was leading the front pack of six heading into the final lap of the five-circuit race. With just 100 m left, it looked like Waschburger would win, but Miyamoto’s furious kick gave him his first-ever World Series victory.

“The water temperature was low for me and it was a very hard race,” said the winner. “This was the first time for me to win a World Series event and I’m very happy.” Summaries:

FINA Marathon World Series
Setubal (POR) ~ 8 June 2019
(Full results here)

Men/10 km: 1. Yousuke Miyamoto (JPN), 1:34:44.00; 2. Andreas Waschburger (GER), 1:34:45.00; 3. Joaquin Moreno (ARG), 1:34:48.00; 4. Guillermo Bertola (ARG), 1:34:51.01; 5. Logan Vanhuys (BEL), 1:34:52.00.

Women/10 km: 1. Ana Marcela Cunha (BRA), 1:41:12.01; 2. Rachele Bruni (ITA), 1:41:12.01; 3. Samantha Arevalo (ECU), 1:41:18.01; 4. Adrianna Bridi (ITA), 1:41:19.01; 5. Angelica Andre (POR), 1:41:19.01.

SPORT CLIMBING: She did it! Garnbret completes unbeaten season, wins Vail Bouldering World Cup

By
Rich Perelman
-
Seasonal Bouldering medalists (l-r): Akiyo Noguchi (JPN/silver), Janja Garnbret (SLO/gold), Fanny Gibert (SUI/bronze). (Photo: IFSC/Dan Gajda)

Slovenia’s Janja Garnbret completed her dream season, sweeping all six Bouldering World Cups in 2019 and finishing with a perfect 500 points to take her first World Cup title in the Bouldering discipline.

She’s already won three straight titles in Lead – and could get a fourth this season – and continues as the leading candidate to win the 2020 Tokyo competition in the debut of Sport Climbing.

She was clearly the best in Vail, leading the qualifications and second in the semifinals. She reached four tops in the final, while Japan’s Akiyo Noguchi was the only one to reach three. Swiss Fanny Gibert reached two and finished third. Noguchi and Gibert finished 2-3 in the seasonal series as well.

Japan’s Yoshiyuki Ogata, who won one medal during the season – a bronze – and was otherwise 8-29-9-15 in his other competitions, won the men’s Bouldering as the only one to climb four tops in the final. Countryman Tomoa Narasaki finished second and that was enough to propel him past Adam Ondra (CZE) and claim his second seasonal Bouldering title (also in 2016). Ondra finished second and Ogata’s win vaulted him to third in the final seasonal standings. Summaries:

IFSC World Cup
Vail, Colorado (USA) ~ 7-8 June 2019
(Full results here)

Men/Bouldering: 1. Yoshiyuki Ogata (JPN), 4T4z~11/9; 2. Tomoa Narasaki (JPN), 3T4z~5/5; 3. Jongwon Chon (KOR), 3T4z~6/7; 4. Jan Hojer (KOR), 2T4z~4/6; 5. Adam Ondra (CZE), 2T3z~3/4.

Men/Final Bouldering Standings: 1. Tomoa Narasaki (JPN), 340 (best five of six scores are used); 2. Adam Ondra (CZE), 335; 3. Yoshiyuki Ogata (JPN), 264; 4, Jongwon Chon (KOR), 228; 5. Kokoro Fujii (JPN), 227.

Women/Bouldering: 1. Janja Garnbret (SLO), 4T4z~9/8; 2. Akiyo Noguchi (JPN), 3T4z~5/6; 3. Fanny Gibert (SUI), 2T4z~3/9; 4. Miho Nonaka (JPN), 2T4z~5/5; 5. Luce Duoady (FRA), 1T4z~1/8.

Women/Final Bouldering Standings: 1. Janja Garnbret (SLO), 500; 2. Akiyo Noguchi (JPN), 320; 3. Fanny Gibert (SUI), 308; 4. Futaba Ito (JPN), 206; 5. Jessica Pilz (AUT), 203.

SHOOTING: National Trap Championships crown two first-time winners

By
Rich Perelman
-
U.S. National Trap Champion Julia Stallings (Photo: USA Shooting)

The U.S. National Shotgun Championships in Trap finished with two new national champions, both of whom had to come from behind to claim victory.

For Alex Rennert, in a three-way tie for fifth after the 250-shot ranking rounds, he had to survive a shoot-off in order to get to the finals. He squeezed into the finals as the last qualifier, but then proceeded to hit 47 targets to outpace everyone and win his first-ever national Trap title.

“Winning a National Championship was an absolute privilege to have been able to share the Final with some of the best shooters our country has to offer,” Rennert said afterwards. “My [Army Marksmanship Unit] teammates, Will Hinton and Austin Odom kept the pressure on the whole final and I couldn’t be happier for all of us to have swept the podium. I couldn’t have made it this far without the support of the United States Army and the Army Marksmanship Unit.”

The women’s competition was another come-from-behind story. Julia Stallings tied for fourh in the ranking rounds, but then claimed 44 targets in the final to win over defending national title holder Aeriel Skinner (43) and three-time champion Ashley Carroll (34).

“This feels like a milestone and one of the many steps I have to take to get to the ultimate goal of becoming an Olympic champion,” Stallings said. “What it took to get here were a lot of tears, frustration, and ultimately patience to trust myself in hitting the target.”

The Mixed Trap title, in similar style, went to Caleb Lindsey and Emma Williams, who qualified in a tie for fifth, but then won in the finals, shooting 46/50 to edge Glenn Eller and Skinner (45). Summaries:

USA Shooting Shotgun National Championships
Colorado Springs, Colorado (USA) ~ 1-8 June 2019
(Full results here)

Men

Trap/ Final: 1. Alex Rennert, 47; 2. Will Hinton, 45; 3. Austin Odom, 36; 4. Sevin Layer, 29; 5. Derrick Mein, 26; 6. Jake Wallace, 19.

Trap/Ranking: 1. Sevin Layer, 244; 2. Austin Odom, 243; 3. tie, Will Hinton and Derrick Meion, 242; 5. tie, Alex Rennert, Jake Wallace and Derek Haldeman, 241.

Women

Trap/ Final: 1. Julia Stallings, 44; 2. Aeriel Skinner, 43; 3. Ashley Carroll, 34; 4. Kayle Browning, 29; 5. Corey Cogdell-Unrein, 23; 6. Madelynn Bernau, 19.

Trap/Ranking: 1. Corey Cogdell-Unrein, 238; 2. tie, Kayle Browning and Aeriel Skinner, 236; 4. tie, Julia Stallings and Ashley Carroll, 234; 6. Madelynn Bernau, 228; 7. Alicia Gough, 227; 8. Carey Garrison, 226.

Mixed

Team/ Final: 1. Roe Reynolds/Carey Garrison, 46; 2. Glenn Eller/Aeriel Skinner, 45; 3. Caleb Lindsey/Emma Williams, 33; 4. Brian Burrows/Kayle Browning, 31; 5. Seth Inman/Alicia Gough, 26; 6. Derek Haldeman/Ashley Carroll, 19.

Team/Ranking: 1. Caleb Lindsey/Emma Williams, 143; 2. Seth Inman/Alicia Gough, 142; 3. tie, Brian Burrows/Kayle Browning and Glenn Eller/Aerial Skinner, 141; 5. tie, Roe Reynolds/Carey Garrison and Derek Haldeman/Ashley Carroll, 140; 7. tie, Jean Pierre Brol Cardenas/Adriana Ruano Oliva (GUA) and Logan Bankard/Monica Dale, 136.

FOOTBALL: Ukraine, Italy, Ecuador and Korea advance to men’s U-20 World Cup semis

By
Rich Perelman
-
Sebastian Soto of the U.S. fights for possession against Sergio Quintero (ECU) in the U-20 World Cup (Photo: USSF)

There will be a first-time champion in the FIFA men’s U-20 World Cup as the semifinals will pit Ukraine against Italy and Ecuador and South Korea on Tuesday in Poland.

None of these teams have ever won the U-20 World Cup; Ukraine and Ecuador have never gotten to the semis. Italy and Korea have gotten that far: Italy finished third in 2017 and the Koreans were fourth in 1983 (!).

In the quarterfinals:

● Ukraine got an 11th-minute goal from Danylo Sikan and made it stand up for a 1-0 win over Colombia in Lodz.

● In a much wilder game, Italy got an own goal from Mali in the 12th minute, but was tied 1-1 at half. Then the Azzuri got a 60th-minute goal from Andrea Pinamonti to go up, 2-1, only to have the game tied again in the 79th minute. But Pinamonti scored on a penalty kick in the 83rd minute and Davide Frattesi scored a minute later for the 4-2 final in Tychy.

● Ecuador scored first against the United States in Gdynia on a goal from Jose Cifuentes, but Tim Weah scored to tie the game 1-1. But Jhon Espinoza’s score in the 43rd minute proved decisive in a 2-1. The game was close throughout and although the U.S. had the edge in possession (54-46%), Ecuador had more shots on goal, 15-13. It was the third straight U-20 World Cup in which the U.S. lost in the quarters.

The Americans finished second in their group at 2-1 (losing to Ukraine), but eliminated undefeated France, 3-2, in the Round of 16, coming from behind on second-half goals from Sebastian Soto (his second of the game) and Justin Rennicks, who got the game-winner in the 83rd minute.

● Korea had to go to penalty kicks after a 3-3 tie with Senegal in Bielsko-Biala. The game was tied at the end of stoppage time in the second half on a Ji-Sol Lee goal at 90+8! Then Young-Wook Cho scored six minutes into overtime for a 3-2 lead, but Amadou Ciss scored in stoppage time (120+1) for Senegal to force penalties. The Koreans missed their first two, but scored the last three and prevailed, 3-2 to advance to the semis.

Tuesday’s semis will be played in Gnynia for Ukraine and Italy, and in Lublin for Ecuador and Korea. The third-place match will be on Friday (14th) and the title game on Saturday (15th).

Full results are here.

ATHLETICS Panorama: Richardson explodes with 10.75 world leader and World Junior Record!

By
Rich Perelman
-
LSU sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson (USA)

LSU frosh Sha’Carri Richardson made a smooth transition from high school to collegiate track, going from a prep best of 11.28 two years ago to 10.99 going into the NCAA Championships in Austin, Texas.

But on Saturday, she rocketed into world-class and contention for the World Championships in Doha with a stunning 10.75 victory in the women’s 100 m, shattering long-standing records that many thought wouldn’t be challenged for years:

● U.S. Collegiate: 10.78, Dawn Sowell (USA/BYU), 1989
● World Junior: 10.88, Marlies Gohr (GDR), 1977

Sowell’s mark was run at altitude in Provo, Utah and was thought untouchable, and Gohr (then Oelsner) had held the World Junior mark for 42 years!

Against an excellent field and with LSU needing every point it could get to stay in the race for the team title, Richardson got a good start, but was behind Kayla White from North Carolina A&T at about 60 m, but then Richardson had another gear and took off, leaving everyone behind and celebrating with about 5 m to go!

Her 10.75 moves her to no. 9 on the all-time list, with the fastest time run in two years, since Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson ran 10.71 in 2017. White was second in 10.95 and Twanisha Terry (USC) was third – both Americans – in 10.98. The wind was legal at +1.6 m/s.

That was one of five world leaders on the women’s final day at the NCAA Champs:

● 100 m hurdles: Jamaica’s Janeek Brown, also in the thick of the team race for Arkansas, raced through the barriers in 12.40, moving her no. 15 all-time and taking the world lead from American Keni Harrison (12.47). The wind was fine; +0.6 m/s, and Brown was followed by Chanel Brissett (USA/USC) in 12.52 and Tonea Marshall of LSU (USA) in 12.66, both lifetime bests.

● 4×100 m: USC’s team of Brissett, Angie Annelus, Jamaican Lanae-Tava Thomas and Terry ran 42.21, easily the fastest in the world this season, but won’t be listed as such since it was a mixed-nationality team. But LSU’s all-American team of Marshall, Kortnei Johnson, Rachel Misher and Richardson finished in 42.29 and that should be the world leader, well better than the U.S. team that ran 42.51 at the World Relays.

● 200 m: USC’s Angie Annelus (USA) defended her title against Richardson by a hair in a 22.16 to 22.17, with a legal +1.3 m/s wind. That’s a world leader, and both were faster than Dina Asher-Smith (GBR) and her 22.18 from earlier in the season.

It’s also another World Junior Record for Richardson – with an hour – chasing Allyson Felix off the record list with her 22.18 in for the Olympic silver medal in Athens in 2004.

● 4×400 m: The women’s team title came down to a fight between USC and Arkansas, but it was the Texas A&M all-American quartet of Jarra Owens, Tierra Robinson-Jones, Jaevin Reed and Syaira Richardson that won, finishing in 3:25.57, another world leader, faster than the U.S. at the World Relays (3:25.72).

The Arkansas squad of Paris Peoples, Kiara Parker, Morgan Burks-Magee with a 49.79 leg from Kethlin Campbell (all Americans) got the stick around in 3:25.89 for second and as USC’s Anna Cockrell lost the baton on the third leg, the Razorbacks won the team title by 64-57.

The complete results are here.

The follow-up to the men’s final day on Friday was news that both of the hurdle stars – Grant Holloway and Daniel Roberts – are both going professional and will be able to compete for money at this year’s Diamond League and World Championships.

SPEED READ: Headlines from The Sports Examiner for Friday, 7 June 2019

By
Rich Perelman
-

Welcome to The Sports Examiner SPEED READ, a 100 mph (44.7 m/s) review of what happened this week in Olympic sport:

LANE ONE

Wednesday: It’s about time that an expert panel talked about the opportunities to sponsor Olympic-sport athletes, and the first L.A. Sports Summit is going to do just that. The panel will be led by four-time Olympic swimming gold medalist John Naber and be held at the Omni Hotel on 24-25 June. We have all the details; this is long overdue.

Friday: The FIFA Women’s World Cup is finally here, so let’s take a deep look at the top contenders and how the elimination round will shake out. The U.S. and France are co-favored, but the U.S. has a weakness and France won’t have enough left in the tank at the end to win. Our pick: Germany, for a third World Cup win.

HEARD AFTER HALFTIME

Monday: Caster Semenya wins a round at the Swiss Federal Tribunal as the IAAF’s women’s eligibility rules are suspended for now; a new world leader in the women’s hammer; the number of cases filed against USA Gymnastics in the Nassar affair is revealed; no 2036 Olympics for Berlin and how about a 73-year-old surfing Olympian!

Thursday: World-leading 13.06 for Kentucky’s Daniel Roberts at NCAAs, the IAAF has a hot reply to the Swiss Tribunal, possible new NCAA women’s sports in Acro and Wrestling, and Denver voters require a vote for a future Games there … which they really need to have anyway.

ATHLETICS

Thursday: Just a sensational meet at the IAAF Diamond League stop in Rome, with Americans Michael Norman and Noah Lyles staging an epic battle in the 200 m, won by Norman in 19.70-19.72. At just 21, he’s the third best 200/400 man in history! Check out the other two and full results of a meet with eight – count ‘em! – eight world-leading marks.

Friday: Fabulous NCAA men’s final in Austin, with Florida’s Grant Holloway breaking Renaldo Nehemiah’s 40-year-old collegiate record with a 12.98-13.00 win over Kentucky’s Daniel Roberts. Plus a 9.86/19.73 double for Texas Tech’s Divine Oduduru (NGR), a 44.23 victory for Houston’s Kahmari Montgomery and a world-leading 2:59.05 4×400 m win for Texas A&M! Wow!

FOOTBALL

Wednesday: A concise preview of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in France, with the pertinent facts and figures and not a lot of other stuff. (The other stuff is in Friday’s Lane One!)

Wednesday: While the U.S. women are getting ready to play for the World Cup title, the U.S. men lost to Jamaica, in a lackluster 1-0 friendly in Washington, D.C. Oy.

SPORT CLIMBING

Wednesday: Ever heard of Slovenia’s Janja Garnbret? You will; she’s the favorite for the first-ever women’s Olympic competition in Tokyo next year. This week she’s in Vail, Colorado to try and complete a perfect season in Bouldering: can she go six-for-six?

TRIATHLON

Wednesday: The fourth ITU World Series race is in Leeds (GBR), with double Olympic champ Alistair Brownlee returning to the starting line and American Katie Zaferes trying to keep her season perfect; she’s won the first three races this year!

VOLLEYBALL

Monday: The United States women’s national team is one of four with a 5-1 record at the top of the Nations League standings. This week, the Nations League comes to Lincoln, Nebraska for Korea, Germany and Brazil.

WATER POLO

Friday: The U.S. and Italy are the only undefeated teams left, heading into the semifinals of the FINA World League Super Final in Hungary, with the winner qualifying for the 2020 Tokyo tournament. So far, the U.S. is 4-0 and outscored its opponents, 60-26!

WRESTLING

Friday: The first of two Final X tournaments will select (finally) the U.S. team for the 2019 World Championships. Saturday’s show in Piscataway, New Jersey featires 92 kg World Champion J’Den Cox and Worlds medalists Nick Gwiazdowski and Tamyra Mensah-Stock, among others. A match-by-match preview.

PREVIEWS

Cycling: UCI BMX Supercross in a special stadium in Saint Quentin (FRA)
Cycling: UCI Mountain Bike Downhill in Leogang (AUT): another Rachel Atherton win?
Shooting: U.S. Shotgun Championships underway with Trap competitions this week
Swimming: FINA Marathon Swimming World Cup has smaller fields this week in Setubal
Taekwondo: Seventeen World Champions in the Rome Grand Prix this weekend!

UPCOMING

Highlights of the coming week, with previews in the coming days on TheSportsExaminer.com:

● Athletics: The IAAF Diamond League continues in track-mad Oslo!

● Football: The FIFA Women’s World Cup continues in France!

● Wrestling: Final stop of the Final X tournaments, in Lincoln.

And many more events in what is already a frantic worldwide summer of sports!

WRESTLING Preview: First Final X matches set for Rutgers to determine half of U.S. Worlds team

By
Rich Perelman
-

Not only has USA Wrestling seen an uptick in its performance on the mat, especially in the two Freestyle disciplines, but it has partnered with FloWrestling to make something close to a full season out of its qualification process for the World Championships.

That’s a good thing and create drama for the sport. The final, winner-makes-the-team matches are the end of a road which begins with the U.S. Open, then a World Team Trials Challenge tournament and than the Final X matches.

American wrestlers who win World Championships medals are allowed to go all the way to Final X and skip the other steps, but in most cases, it’s a lengthy battle that sees re-matches and upsets along the way.

Saturday’s line-up at Rutgers – in Piscataway, New Jersey – has 14 matches scheduled, but 13 will be held. Thumbnails:

Men/Freestyle:

● 65 km: Yianni Diakomihalis vs. Zain Retherford

This should be great: Diakomihalis defeated Retherford in the final of the U.S. Open, 6-4, in an upset very few saw coming. But Retherford made his way back to Final X. A three-time NCAA champ for Penn State, he was a member of the 2017 U.S. Worlds Team and third at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials. Diakomihalis was a two-time NCAA title winner for Cornell (2018-19) and a Cadet World Champion way back in 2015-16. Another upset?

● 92 kg: J’den Cox vs. Bo Nickal

Cox was something of a surprise in winning the 2018 World Championships at the new weight of 92 kg. But he had won Olympic bronze at 86 kg and a Worlds bronze at that weight in 2018. Nickal was a three-time NCAA champ for Penn State and won both the U.S. Open and the World Team Trials Challenge tourneys.

● 125 kg: Nick Gwiazdowski vs. Gable Steveson

The 2017 and 2018 Worlds bronze medalist, Gwiazdowski has owned this division in the U.S. for three years. Steveson was the 2017 World Junior Champion, but had to win the Team Trials Challenge tournament to get to Final X after skipping the U.S. Open.

Men/Greco-Roman:

● 55 kg: Max Nowry vs. Brady Koontz

Nowry has won the U.S. Open in both 2018 and 2019 and won the Pan Am Champs earlier this year. Koontz won the Team Trials Challenge event; he was a member of the 2018 U.S. World Juniors team.

● 67 kg: Ellis Coleman vs. Jamel Johnson

Coleman has been a three-time U.S. Worlds Team member, in 2013-17-18 and owns five U.S. Open titles, from 2013 and in 2016-17-18-19. Johnson was third at the Open in 2018 and 2019, and won the Team Trials Challenge tourney.

● 77 kg: Kamal Bey vs. Pat Smith

Bey has won four U.S. Opens in a row and was seventh in the 2018 World Championships. He defeated Smith, 7-5, in the U.S. Open final, but Smith was a 2017 World Team Member and a three-time Pan American Champion.

● 82 kg: Kendrick Sanders vs. John Stefanowicz

Sanders won the 2014 and 2019 U.S. Opens, but Stefanowicz was only fifth at the 2019 Open. He came back to win the Team Trials Challenge tourney.

● 87 kg: Joe Rau vs. Greg Provisor

Provisor has been the top American in this class, as a 2012-16 Olympian and on 2017 World Champs team. But Rau won the U.S. Open title in 2019 – his second career national title – and forced Provisor to work through the World Team Trials Challenge to get a chance to make the U.S. team.

Women/Freestyle:

● 57 kg: Becka Leathers vs. Jenna Burkert

Leathers won a World Championships bronze in 2017 and on the 2019 U.S. Open and Pan American Championship. Burkert got to Final X last year by winning the Team Trials Challenge tourney and did it again in 2019. In the 2019 U.S. Open final, Leathers won a tight one from Burkert, 7-5.

● 59 kg: Whitney Conder vs. Victoria Anthony

Lots of experience on both sides: a six-time U.S. Open champ (Conder) and a two-time national champ (Anthony) Conder won the U.S. Open this year, with Anthony third. Conder was a three-time World Team Member, and Anthony won two World Junior titles in 2009 and 2010.

● 65 kg: Forrest Molinari vs. Maya Nelson

Another decorated U.S. veteran, Molinari was fifth at the 2018 Worlds and won the 2019 U.S. Open. Nelson was the 2017 World Junior Champion, but Molinari won their match-up in the U.S. Open final, 5-1.

● 67 kg: Tamyra Mensah-Stock vs. Alexandria Glaude

Mensah-Stock is the biggest favorite of the night, tearing up not only the U.S. scene, but winning three international tournaments this year. She was the 2018 World Championships bronze medalist. Glaude was third at the U.S. Open, then came back to win the Team Trials Challenge tournament.

● 72 kg: Alyvia Fiske vs. Victoria Francis

Fiske is the U.S. Open champ and beat Francis in the final, 5-4, and then Francis worked her way back to a rematch by taking the Team Trials Challenge event. Francis was a member of the National Team in 2017; Fiske was a World Junior Team member in 2018.

In the men’s Freestyle 86 kg division, 2018 World Champion David Taylor was supposed to wrestle Pat Downey in Final X, but suffered an injury and withdrew. That hands the Worlds spot to Downey, who won both the U.S. Open and World Team Trials Challenge.

The remaining classes will be determined next week in Lincoln, Nebraska; the World Championships will be in Nur-Sultan (KAZ) from 14-22 September.

Final X will be shown only online by FloWrestling; look for results here.

ATHLETICS Panorama: Holloway beats Roberts at NCAAs in collegiate record 12.98! Oduduru 9.86! Montgomery 44.23!

By
Rich Perelman
-
Wold 110 m hurdles leader Grant Holloway (Photo: jenaragon94 via Wikimedia)

It was supposed to be great, and it was. Florida’s Grant Holloway and Kentucky’s Daniel Roberts had been dueling through the SEC Championships and NCAA Regionals and now the NCAA Championships at Mike Myers Stadium at the University of Texas.

They were not only the world leaders – Roberts in 13.06 and Holloway in 13.07 – but between them had the top four times in the world and seven of the top eight. But that was just a warm-up.

In a sensational final. Holloway started strong and used excellent technique to run smoothly, edging Roberts in the fastest time in the world for 2019 and a U.S. collegiate record in 12.98, to 13.00 for Roberts.

Roberts showed remarkable resilience despite whacking hurdles two, six and nine and closed on Holloway on the run-in, but it was Holloway’s third-straight NCAA title in the race.

The 12.98 (wind: +0.8 m/s) also moved Holloway into a tie for 18th on the all-time world list; he’s the 21st athletes in history (and 12th American) to ever break 13 seconds. The mark erases a 40-year-old collegiate record – a world record at the time – by Renaldo Nehemiah (USA) from 1979.

The final day of the men’s competition was special from the start:

● Men/4×100 m:

Another world leader, but it won’t be listed that way due to the multi-national team running for Florida that won in a collegiate record of 37.97, ahead of Florida State (38.08). The winners included Raymond Evekwo (NGR), Abdul Hakim Sani Brown (JPN), Holloway and Ryan Clark (USA), who ran faster than every national team at the IAAF World Relays!

● Men/100 m:

Nigeria’s Divine Oduduru – running for Texas Tech – won impressively with a good start and a strong drive phase in 9.86 (wind: +0.8, equaling the fastest time in the world this year (with Noah Lyles and Christian Coleman of the U.S.).

Oduduru was followed by the not-enough-noticed Cravon Gillespie (USA) of Oregon, who set another lifetime best and moved to no. 4 in the world this year at 9.93. Japan’s Hakim Sani Brown, running for Florida, was third with another Japanese national record, at 9.97.

● Men/400 m:

The came the 400 m, with 2018 USATF champ Kahmari Montgomery of Houston running down Trevor Stewart (USA) of North Carolina AT&T at the tape, 44.23-44.25, lifetime bests for both and the nos. 2-3 times in the world for 2019 behind superstar Michael Norman (43.45).

● Men/800 m:

Kansas’ Bryce Hoppel (USA) was a 1:48.52 runner two years ago. He improved to 1:45.67 last season, but he waited for Devin Dixon (USA/Texas A&M) to lead the 800 m final and then blew by on the final curve to win in a lifetime best 1:44.41, moving him to no. 6 in the world for 2019.

Dixon was second in 1:44.84.

● Men/400 m hurdles:

Texas Tech’s Norman Grimes (USA) led most of the way, but then South Carolina’s Quincy Hall charged down the straight and won in 48.48, making him no. 4 on the world list for 2019. He told ESPN right after the race, “I’m not that good of a hurdler, but I’m pretty fast.”

The top four in the race (after a disqualification) all got lifetime bests and ran under 49 seconds; Grimes held on for second in 48.71.

● Men/200 m:

Oduduru started brilliantly and then turned on the burners at about 160 m to run away from the field, finishing in a fabulous 19.73, 0.03 better than his prior best this season and keeping him at no. 3 in the world in 2019. The wind was legal at +0.8 m/s.

Behind him was another huge lifetime best for Gillespie, who ran 19.93, whose lifetime best had been 20.17!

● Men/4×400 m:

Of course the meet finished with another world leader, the fourth event with the fastest or equal-fastest time in the world, as the Texas A&M team of Bryce Deadmon, Robert Grant, Ilozo Izu and Devin Dixon ran away from the field in 2:59.05, the second-fastest time in collegiate history and the world leader by a long way, replacing Trinidad & Tobago’s 3:00.81.

In fact, the top four teams – A&M, Florida, Houston and Iowa – all ran faster than Trinidad & Tobago. Florida’s Holloway finished by bringing his team from fourth to second with a 43.75 carry (in 2:59.60) and Dixon anchored for A&M in 44.12. North Carolina A&T’s Stewart ran the third leg in 44.14!

Quite a meet, although it doesn’t count much in the IAAF World Rankings … whose meet values were done by a group of Hungarian statisticians. That needs to change, but not this meet!

The women will finish tomorrow; the meet will be shown on ESPN at 6:30 p.m. Eastern time. The full results are here.

CYCLING Preview: Kimman tries to keep winning in BMX; Pierron & Atherton defending titles in Mountain Bike Downhill in Austria

By
Rich Perelman
-
The unique BMX Stadium at Saint Quentin (FRA)

The UCI BMX Supercross World Cup series reaches the halfway mark with a two-race series at the national velodrome at Saint Quentin (FRA) this weekend. So far:

● Men:
1. 500 Niek Kimmann (NED) ~ Two wins at Papendal and a silver at Manchester
2. 435 Joris Daudet (FRA) ~ One win, one second this season
3. 365 Sylvain Andre (FRA) ~ Two bronzes, one fourth
4. 360 David Graf (SUI) ~ Two fourths so far this season
5. 350 Jeremy Rencurrel (FRA) ~ One second, one third this season

Kimmann and Andre were the World Cup seasonal champs in 2018 and 2017, respectively, and Daudat was second last season.

● Women:
1. 445 Judy Baauw (NED) ~ One win at Papendal, one second at Manchester this season
2. 420 Alise Willoughby (USA) ~ Second in both races at Papendal
3. 390 Laura Smulders (NED) ~ Third and first at Papendal
4. 370 Manon Valentino (FRA) ~ One win at Manchester
5. 355 Simone Christensen (DEN) ~ Won at Manchester, fourth at Papendal

Baauw emerged last season with a seasonal bronze, but Smulders is looking for her fourth seasonal World Cup title in a row. Willoughby (nee Post) and Christensen are trying to vault past their third-place finishes in 2012-15 (Willoughby) and 2016-17 (Christensen).

Look for those at the top to stay there. In 2018, Kimmann and Daudet won the two races at Saint Quentin for the men, with France’s Romain Mahieu second in both. Smulders won both Saint Quentin races, with Natalia Afremova (RUS) second in the first race and Australia Saka Sakakibara the runner-up in the second.

Scoring is 150-130-115-100-90-80-75-70-65-60 for the top 10 places. The venue is the unique national BMX Stadium in Saint Quentin, opened in 2015 and pictured above.

There is prize money for the top three finishers: €1,200-1,000-500 for both men and women. Look for results here.

The Mountain Bike World Cup Downhill tour is in Leogang (AUT) this week for the third of eight stops, known as the Out of Bounds Festival.

The first two events have produced familiar faces on the podium:

Men:
● Loic Bruni (FRA) ~ Won at Maribor
● Danny Hart (GBR) ~ Second at Maribor
● Troy Brosnan (AUS) ~ Third at Maribor, second at Ft. William
● Amaury Pierron (FRA) ~ Won at Ft. William; defending St. Quentin champ
● Loris Vergier (FRA) ~ Third at Ft. William

Women:
● Rachel Atherton (GBR) ~ Second at Maribor; won at Ft. William; defending champ
● Tahnee Seahgrave (GBR) ~ Won at Maribor
● Tracey Hannah (AUS) ~ Third at Maribor; second at Ft. William
● Nina Hoffmann (GER) ~ Third at Ft. William

All of these stars are entered; also entered is five-time World Cup champ Aaron Gwin (USA), who has won three times at Leogang. Atherton, 31, is trying for her seventh seasonal title, having completed her comeback from a bad crash in 2017.

Look for results here.

WATER POLO: U.S. and Italy still undefeated and into World League Super Final semis

By
Rich Perelman
-

The U.S. women have won five straight editions of the FINA Women’s World League and are into the semifinals of the Super Final after a 3-0 mark in group play and a 21-6 win over China in the quarterfinals.

Italy is the only other undefeated team, winning its three games in Group A and its quarterfinal over Canada.

Playing at the Duna Arena in Budapest (HUN), the U.S. defeated Hungary, 12-9; Canada, 15-4 and Russia, 12-7, in its three matches for a cumulative score of 39-20. In the quarterfinal, the U.S. piled up a 12-2 halftime lead and finished with a 21-6 win over China.

The Italians – 2016 Rio Olympic silver medalists – edged Australia, 11-9; squeaked by the Netherlands, 8-7 and cruised past China, 10-7. Italy defeated Canada, 14-10, in its quarter.

The final group rankings:

● Group A: 1. Italy 9 (3-0), 2. Netherlands 6 (2-1), 3. Australia 3 (1-2), China 0 (0-3).

● Group B: United States 9 (3-0), 3. Russia 5 (1-1 + overtime win), 3. Hungary 3 (1-2); 4. Canada 1 (0-2 + overtime loss).

Maddie Musselman led the U.S. in scoring with eight goals, followed by Maggie Steffens (5) and Rachel Fattal (4) and Stephania Haralabidis (4).

In the quarterfinals:

● Upper bracket: Russia 9, Australia 8; Italy 14, Canada 10
● Lower bracket: Netherlands 12, Hungary 10; United States 21, China 6

The semifinals will be played on Saturday and the medal matches on Sunday. The winner of the tournament gets a $50,000 team prize and qualifies for the Tokyo 2020 women’s water polo tournament.

Look for results here.

LANE ONE: Is the FIFA Women’s World Cup really going to be decided in the U.S.-France quarterfinal? No; it’s probably going to be Germany

By
Rich Perelman
-
The FIFA Women's World Cup trophy

The long-awaited 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France starts on Friday in Paris, with the host and co-favorites France facing South Korea at the Parc de Prices. The tournament will unfold over a month, but the favorites are pretty clear, both according to the betting odds and the results on the field in 2019.

The U.S. is the defending champion and has played in the semifinals in each and every one of the seven prior editions, dating back to 1991, and beating Japan, 5-2 in the final in 2015. England won the bronze four years ago, beating Germany, 1-0, in extra time.

Now, the U.S., England and Germany are among the big favorites, along with the hosts. So what happens starting Friday?

There are loads of ways to analyze the tournament, but looking at games played between World Cup teams this year, there is a fair gap between the top teams and those which barely made it into the tournament. So let’s dive into the results, since what happens on the field actually counts, vs. all the analysis of who plays what formation and so on. Here’s what the top teams have actually done in 2019 (records shown as win-loss-ties):

United States: Co-favorites at 7/2
(2019 record: 7-1-2)
● 19 Jan.: Lost at France, 3-1
● 22 Jan: Won at Spain, 1-0
● 27 Feb.: Tied Japan, 2-2
● 02 Mar.: Tied England, 2-2
● 05 Mar.: Beat Brazil, 1-0
● 04 Apr.: Beat Australia, 5-3
● 07 Apr.: Beat Belgium, 6-0
● 12 May: Beat South Africa, 3-0
● 16 May: Beat New Zealand, 5-0
● 26 May: Beat Mexico, 3-0

The U.S. is a powerhouse, with outstanding depth at almost every position, although there are questions about the left side of its defense, and whether keeper Alyssa Naeher – who is rarely challenged in most games – will be up to the task in crucial moments.

But one aspect of the American domination in world football is hidden because the U.S. plays nearly all of its games at home. There are good reasons for this, primarily attendance and television exposure, but when the American women are on the road, they have been vulnerable. Since the last major tournament, the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, the U.S. women have played seven road games out of 40, winning five, losing one and tying one with a combined score of just 7-4.That’s right, the powerful U.S. averages one goal a game away from home; in fact, all five wins have been by 1-0 scores. If the U.S. is to win a fourth World Cup, that has to change.

France: Co-favorites at 7/2
(2019 record: 6-1-0)
● 19 Jan.: Beat U.S., 3-1
● 28 Feb.: Lost to Germany, 1-0
● 04 Mar.: Beat Uruguay, 6-0
● 04 Apr.: Beat Japan, 3-1
● 08 Apr.: Beat Denmark, 4-0
● 25 May: Beat Thailand, 3-0
● 31 May: Beat China, 2-1

Unlike the U.S., France will be playing at home and the French drubbed the Americans, 3-1, way back in January. The French have strong scoring from Eugenie Le Sommer (74 career goals), Gaetane Thiney (58) and Elise Bussaglia (30) and an energetic midfield that can dominate possession. But there’s that loss to Germany in February against them, and in its last major event – the 2017 European Championship – Les Bleues lost to England, 1-0, in the quarterfinals. If the French get by the U.S. in the quarterfinals, they will likely play England in the semis.

Germany: Third choice at 11/2
(2019 record: 3-0-1)
● 28 Feb.: Won at France, 1-0
● 06 Apr.: Won at Sweden, 2-1
● 09 Apr.: Tied Japan, 2-2
● 30 May: Beat Chile, 2-0

Germany’s women won the World Cup in 2003 and 2007, beating Sweden and Brazil in the finals. This time, they appear to have the best path to the final, with possibly Netherlands or Sweden in the quarters and Canada or Australia in the semis. The Germans have beaten the French – at Laval – in January and the Swedes in Stockholm in April. And with only four matches played in 2019, they can hardly be tired from travel.

England: Fourth choice at 6/1
(2019 record: 4-2-1)
● 27 Feb.: Beat Brazil, 2-1 in SheBelieves Cup (Chester, Pennsylvania)
● 02 Mar.: Tied U.S., 2-2 in SheBelieves Cup (Nashville, Tennessee)
● 05 Mar.: Beat Japan, 3-0 in SheBelieves Cup (Tampa, Florida)
● 05 Apr.: Lost to Canada, 1-0
● 09 Apr.: Beat Spain, 2-1
● 25 May: Beat Denmark, 2-0
● 01 Jun.: Lost to New Zealand, 1-0

The Lionesses tied the U.S. during a time when the American squad was struggling with its confidence and lost to Canada and New Zealand. They are matched with Japan in Group D and beat the Japanese convincingly at the SheBelieves Cup in March. If they win their group, they could be on a path to the semis, but will likely have to beat New Zealand in the Round of 16.

Netherlands: Fifth choice at 14/1
(2019 record: 5-2-0)

Japan: Sixth choice at 14/1
(2019 record: 1-2-3)

Australia: Seventh choice at 14/1
(2019 record: 3-3-0)

Spain: Eighth choice at 25/1
(2019 record: 4-3-3)

All four of these teams are capable, but all have flaws. The Dutch lost to Spain in February, but beat Australia at home; the other three have been inconsistent. Projected playoff pairings:

Upper bracket:
● Round of 16: Norway vs. Brazil; England vs. New Zealand
● Round of 16: France vs. Italy; U.S. vs. Spain

Lower bracket:
● Round of 16: Australia vs. Korea; Canada vs. Japan
● Round of 16: Germany vs. Scotland; Netherlands vs. Sweden

Quarterfinals:
● Norway vs. England; France vs. United States
● Australia vs. Canada; Germany vs. Netherlands

Semifinals:
● England vs. France; Australia vs. Germany

Final:
● Germany over England

Why? The Germans are in a competitive group with China and Spain that will make them work, and get sharp quickly. The French will expend so much energy and emotion in the quarterfinal against the U.S. that they will fall to England in the semis. That puts the Lionesses in the final – vs. the bronze-medal match four years ago – but this time the Germans should win, and raise the trophy for the third time.

This is probably all wrong, but we get to see what happens starting Friday on FS1!

Rich Perelman
Editor

ATHLETICS: Sensational Rome Diamond League has eight world leaders and Norman over Lyles, 19.70-19.72!

By
Rich Perelman
-
Noah Lyles (l) and Michael Norman, two of the expected stars of the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials next June. (Photo: IAAF)

One of the best meets held in Rome since antiquity – ok, maybe since the 1987 IAAF World Championships – had eight world-leading marks, headlined by the showdown between reigning Diamond League 200 m champ Noah Lyles of the U.S. and countryman Michael Norman, the world leader in the 400 m with his stunning 43.45 earlier in the year.

The race came near the end of the program and Norman, ever disciplined, got out hard around the turn and had a lead coming into the straightaway. But the lead increased substantially in the straight, but Lyles turned on the afterburners and cut a nearly one-meter deficit to almost nothing at the tape.

But Norman got there first in 19.70, moving him to no. 12 on the all-time list. “I’m really happy with the time,” said Norman. “There was a good flow, it was amazing. I didn’t have any expectations coming into this race. I just want to improve myself and not chase a time.

“I changed a few things race-pattern-wise. I was a lot stronger today and I tried to hold the composure. I am just happy now if I am progressing like this.”

Lyles, who lost to Norman for the first time after three wins in their previous meetings, was still enthusiastic. “This race didn’t really go as expected,” he noted. “Winning is what is always expected, but I ran faster than in the last race so I can feel great things will happen.”

How impressive is Norman? Consider this: at age 21, he now ranks third on the all-time combined 200/400 m list:

1. 62.50 ~ Michael Johnson (USA: 19.32 + 43.18)
2. 62.87 ~ Wayde van Niekerk (RSA: 19.84 + 43.03) = active
3. 63.15 ~ Michael Norman (USA: 19.70 + 43.45) = active
4. 63.39 ~ LaShawn Merritt (USA: 19.74 + 43.65) = active
5. 63.49 ~ Isaac Makwala (BOT: 19.77 + 43.72) = active
6. 63.62 ~ Steven Gardiner (BAH: 19.75 + 43.87) = active
7. 63.64 ~ Jeremy Wariner (USA: 20.19 + 43.45)
8. 63.75 ~ Butch Reynolds (USA: 20.46 + 43.29)
8. 63.75 ~ Akeem Bloomfield (JAM: 19.81 + 43.94) = active
10. 63.89 ~ Danny Everett (USA: 20.08 + 43.81)
11. 63.94 ~ Fred Kerley (USA : 20.24 + 43.70) = active
12. 64.00 ~ Quincy Watts (USA: 20.50 + 43.50)

That wasn’t all! The meet had eight world-leading marks:

● Men/200 m: 19.70, Michael Norman (USA)
● Men/800 m: 1:43.63, Donavan Brazier (USA)
● Men/3,000 m Steeple: 8:06.13, Benjamin Kigen (KEN)
● Men/5,000 m: 12:52.98, Telahun Haile Bekele (ETH)
● Men/High Jump: 2.31 m (7-7), Bohdan Bondarenko (UKR), equals world leader

● Women/100 m: 10.89, Elaine Thompson (JAM)
● Women/1,500 m: 3:56.28, Genzebe Dibaba (ETH)
● Women/Long Jump: 7.07 m (23-2 1/2), Malaika Mihambo (GER)

Some of the event highlights:

● Brazier’s win in the 800 m was a come-from-behind effort, as he needed to overtake Botswana’s front-running Nijel Amos right at the line, but he was rewarded with his second-fastest time ever, in 1:43.63.

● The men’s 5,000 came down to a last-lap sprint and it looked like reigning Diamond League champ Selemon Barega (ETH) would win it, but he was passed in the final meters by unheralded Telahun Haile Bekele (ETH) for a 12:52.98-12:53.04 as six men broke 13 minutes.

● Jamaica’s Thompson showed speed she hadn’t seen since 2017 by winning the women’s 100 m in 10.89, beating Britain’s red-hot Dina Asher-Smith by 0.05.

● The women’s 1,500 m was decided when Ethiopia’s Dibaba ran to the lead after 1,000 m and Britain’s Laura Muir couldn’t catch her on the final straight. Dibaba’s 3:56.28 was good enough to win by 0.45.

● Germany’s Malaika Mihambo finally for the 7 m long jump she was looking for and reached 7.07 m (23-2 1/2) for the win, the longest jump in the world in two years!

The U.S. went 1-2 in both 400 m hurdle races impressively, with Dalilah Muhammad out fast as usual and finishing well clear of an excellent field, winning in 53.65 over fellow American Shamier Little (54.40). Rai Benjamin won the men’s race over David Kendziera, 47.58-48.99.

Much more to digest in the coming days; summaries:

IAAF Diamond League/Golden Gala Pietro Mennea
Rome (ITA) ~ 6 June 2019
(Full results here)

Men

200 m (wind +0.7 m/s): 1. Michael Norman (USA), 19.70; 2. Noah Lyles (USA), 19.72; 3. Alex Quinonez (ECU), 20.17.

800 m: 1. Donavan Brazier (USA), 1:43.63; 2. Nijel Amos (BOT), 1:43.65; 3. Brandon McBride (CAN), 1:43.90. Also: 5. Clayton Murphy (USA), 1:44.59.

3,000 m Steeple (non-Diamond League): 1. Benjamin Kigen (KEN), 8:06.13; 2. Getnet Wale (ETH), 8:06.83; 3. Chala Beyo (RTH), 8:09.95. Also: 6. Andrew Bayer (USA), 8:16.52.

5,000 m: 1. Telahun Haile Bekele (ETH), 12:52.98; 2. Selemon Barega (ETH), 12:53.04; 3. Hagos Gebrhiwet (ETH), 12:54.92. Also: 11. Ben True (USA), 13:09.13:09.81.

110 m hurdles (+0.4): 1. Sergey Shubenkov (RUS), 13.26; 2. Andrew Pozzi (GBR), 13.29; 3. Antonio Alkana (RSA), 13.30.

400 m hurdles (non-Diamond League): 1. Rai Benjamin (USA), 47.58; 2. David Kendziera (USA), 48.99; 3. Takatoshi Abe (JPN), 49.57. Also: 5. Ken Selmon (USA), 49.83.

High Jump: 1. Bohdan Bondarenko (UKR), 2.31 m (7-7); 2. Majd Eddin Ghazal (SYR), 2.28 m (7-5 3/4); 3. Maksim Nedsekau (BLR), 2.28 (7-5 3/4).

Triple Jump: 1. Omar Craddock (USA), 17.50 m (57-5); 2. Pedro Pablo Pichardo (POR), 17.47 m (57-3 3/4); 3. Donald Scott (USA), 17.43 m (57-2 1/4). Also: 7. Chris Benard (USA), 16.88 m (55-4 3/4).

Shot Put: 1. Konrad Bukowiecki (POL), 21.97 m (72-1); 2. Darrell Hill (USA), 21.71 m (71-2 3/4); 3. Darlan Romani (BRA), 21.68 m (71-1 1/2). Also: 4. Joe Kovacs (USA), 21.46 m (70-5); … 9. Curtis Jensen (USA), 19.84 m (65-1 1/4).

Women

100 m (+0.6): 1. Elaine Thompson (JAM), 10.89; 2. Dina Asher-Smith (GBR), 10.94; 3. Aleia Hobbs (USA), 11.12. Also: 5. Jenna Prandini (USA), 11.17; … 9. English Gardner (USA), 11.42.

400 m: 1. Salwa Eid Naser (BRN), 50.26; 2. Shericka Jackson (JAM), 51.05; 3. Stephenie Ann McPherson (JAM), 51.39. Also: 4. Jessica Beard (USA), 51.55; … 6. Kendall Ellis (USA), 52.09; … 8. Courtney Okolo (USA), 52.17.

1,500 m: 1. Genzebe Dibaba (ETH), 3:56.28; 2. Laura Muir (GBR), 3:56.73; 3. Gudaf Tsegay (ETH), 3:59.96. Also: 4. Jenny Simpson (USA), 4:01.18; … 7. Elinor Purrier (USA), 4:02.34.

400 m hurdles: 1. Dalilah Muhammad (USA), 53.67; 2. Shamier Little (USA), 54.40; 3. Zuzana Hejnova (CZE), 54.82. Also: 4. Kori Carter (USA), 55.09.

Pole Vault: 1. Angelica Bengtsson (SWE), 4.76 m (15-7 1/4); 2. Sandi Morris (USA), 4.66 m (15-3 1/2); 3. Robeilys Peinado (VEN), 4.66 m (15-3 1/2). Also: 5. Katie Nageotte (USA), 4.66 m (15-3 1/2).

Long Jump: 1. Malaika Mihambo (GER), 7.07 m (23-2 1/2); 2. Caterine Ibarguen (COL), 6.87 m (22-6 1.2); 3. Brittney Reese (USA), 6.76 m (22-2 1/4).

Javelin: 1. Huihiui Liu (CHN), 66.47 m (218-1); 2. Eda Tugsuz (TUR), 64.51 m (211-7); 3. Lina Muze (LAT), 63.72 m (209-1). Also: 4. Kara Winger (USA), 63.11 m (207-0).

HEARD AFTER HALFTIME: World-leading 13.06 for Roberts at NCAAs, IAAF replies to the Swiss Tribunal and Denver voters require a vote for a Games there

By
Rich Perelman
-

News, views and noise from the non-stop, worldwide circus of Olympic sport:

● Athletics ● The first day of the NCAA Division I Championships in Austin, Texas (USA) showed once again why – except in the opinion of the IAAF World Rankings compilers – this is one of the best meets in the world each year. Because a lot happened:

Men/100 m:
Texas Tech’s Divine Oduduru (NGR) and Florida’s Hakim Sani Brown (JPN) both ran wind-aided 9.96s (+2.4 m/s) in heat three, but Houston’s Mario Burke (BAR) joined the sub-10 club with a legal 9.98 win in heat two. He as a 10.17 man in 2017, then down to 10.03 in 2018 and now sub-10. The final is Friday.

Men/200 m:
Oduduru is already the world leader in the 200 m at 19.76, and he won his semi easily in 19.97. Burke got another personal best, running 20.08 to win heat three; Coppin State’s Joseph Amoah (GHA) also 20.08, a lifetime best.

Men/110 m hurdles:
The world’s two fastest hurdlers demonstrated their prowess again, as Daniel Roberts (USA) of Kentucky took the world lead at 13.06 in winning heat one with a legal +0.9 m/s wind. Florida’s Grant Holloway won the second heat easily at 13.16 (+1.8), and they will clash again on Friday for the national title.

Men/4×400 m:
Texas A&M’s all-American quartet of Bryce Deadmon, Robert Grant, Ilolo Izu and Devin Dixon won heat one in 3:01.26! That’s the second-fastest time in the world in 2019, behind only Trinidad & Tobago’s winner at the IAAF World Relays! Iowa was second in 3:01.99, with a mixed-nationality team and North Carolina AT&T was third, with Trevor Stewart (USA) running a 44.05 third leg, fastest of the day.

Men/Pole Vault:
Everyone assumed that LSU’s Mondo Duplantis (SWE), the world leader at 6.00 m (19-8 1/4) would win, as he did in his three other collegiate outdoor appearances. But South Dakota State junior and defending champion Chris Nilsen (USA) had other ideas. Both cleared 5.80 m (19-0 1/4), but then Nilsen cleared 5.90 m (19-4 1/4) on his first try and Duplantis missed. Nilsen cleared 5.95 m (19-6 1/4) on his first try and Duplantis, using his last two attempts at this height, missed twice. Nilsen missed three times at a world-leading 6.01 m (19-8 1/2), but moved to no. 2 on the world list for 2019 and no. 9 on the all-time U.S. list. Wow!

Men/Javelin:
Grenada’s Anderson Peters, throwing for Mississippi State, set another national record and moved to no. 5 on the world list for 2019, winning at 86.62 m (284-2). He led an MSU sweep of the top three places and with it, 24 points and the first-day lead in the team standings.

To follow the NCAA meet’s live timing site, click here.

● Athletics ● The IAAF issued a strong response to the suspension of its female-eligibility rules by the Swiss Federal Tribunal, noting that the motion made by attorneys for Caster Semenya (RSA) was made without the IAAF being able to respond to it.

The IAAF further stated:

“The IAAF fully respects each individual’s personal dignity and supports the social movement to have people accepted in society based on their chosen legal sex and/or gender identity.

“However, the IAAF is convinced there are some contexts, sport being one of them, where biology has to trump identity.

“The IAAF also believes the right to participate in sport does not translate to a right to self-identify into a competition category or an event, or to insist on inclusion in a preferred event, or to win in a particular event, without regard to the legitimate rules of the sport or the criteria for entry. It is legitimate for all sport in general, and for the IAAF in particular, to create a protected category for females and to base eligibility for this category on biology and not on gender identity. This crucial point was accepted and emphasized by the CAS in its 30 April 2019 decision to uphold the DSD Regulations. To define the category based on something other than biology would be category defeating and would deter many girls around the world from choosing competitive and elite sport after puberty.

“The IAAF considers that the DSD Regulations are a necessary, reasonable and proportionate means of protecting fair and meaningful competition in elite female athletics, and the CAS agreed.

“The IAAF will seek a swift reversion of the superprovisional order moving forwards so that the DSD Regulations apply to all affected athletes in order (among other things) to avoid serious confusion amongst athletes and event organisers and to protect the integrity of the sport.”

The IAAF notice also indicated that the ruling applies only to Semenya personally, and that it is valid only until 25 June, by which time the IAAF is required to respond to the court.

● Gymnastics & Wrestling ● The NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics recommended that all three NCAA divisions add women’s acrobatics and tumbling and women’s wrestling to the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program. If the measure is adopted – each division will vote on each sport – both sports would join the program on 1 August 2020.

At present, 31 NCAA schools have Acrobatics & Tumbling teams, and 23 have women’s wrestling teams. Once approved as emerging sports, both could become NCAA championship sports if they pick up enough new teams.

● Olympic Winter Games ● Voters in Denver, Colorado overwhelmingly passed Ordinance 302 on Tuesday’s ballot, amending “the municipal code to prohibit the city and county from using public funds in connection with future Olympic Games unless a majority of voters approve such funds at a general or special municipal election.”

With 100% of precincts reporting, the vote was 118,075-30,872 (79.3-20.7%).

≡ REAX ≡ With Denver having returned the 1976 Winter Games to the IOC, it will need a public referendum ever have any credibility in any future bid. So, this measure ensures there will be one.

● At the BuZZer ● Add South Korea to Brazil and the United States as countries for which the television rights to the Olympic Games have been sold for 2026-2028-2030-2032. The International Olympic Committee announced that broadcaster JTBC won the rights in an auction process.

≡ REAX ≡ The rights package also includes North Korea as well, but it’s not likely much of the rights fee was based on any commercial opportunities there!

TRIATHLON Preview: Alistair Brownlee returns as Zaferes tries to stay perfect in Leeds

By
Rich Perelman
-
An ITU World Series title coming for American Katie Zaferes? (Photo: ITU)

The fourth stage of the 2019 ITU World Series is in Leeds (GBR) on Sunday, with the return of a double Olympic champion on the men’s side and American Katie Zaferes trying to extend her perfect season.

While the men’s division looked like it would continue to be the private property of Spain’s Mario Mola after his win in the season opener in Abu Dhabi (UAE), he has faded in the last two races and now stands ninth after finishing 26th in Hamilton (BER) and 29th in Yokohama (JPN). The current leaders:

1. 2,523 Vincent Luis (FRA)
2. 2,069 Fernando Alarza (ESP)
3. 1,887 Henri Schoeman (RSA)
4. 1,769 Bence Bicsak (HUN)
5. 1,716 Javier Gomez Noya (ESP)

Now back in the picture – for this week, anyway – is 2012 and 2016 Olympic Champion Alistair Brownlee, who won his fourth European Championships last week and will be the favorite of the home crowd in Leeds.

Brownlee, whose brother Jonathon – the 2016 Olympic silver medalist – is 28th in the World Series standings in 2019, has said he has not decided whether to try for a third Olympic gold in 2020, or move up to the Ironman distance and seek new fame there.

In the meantime, no one in the men’s division has won more than one medal this season and the three races have had three different winners in Mola, Dorian Coninx (FRA) and Luis (FRA).

The women’s races have been dominated by the U.S. and especially by Zaferes, the former Syracuse track star, who is three-for-three in 2019. She led a U.S. 1-2 with Taylor Spivey in Abu Dhabi, edged Jessica Learmonth (GBR) in Bermuda and then led a U.S. sweep, ahead of Summer Rappaport and Spivey in Yokohama. The standings:

1. 3,000 Katie Zaferes (USA)
2. 2,458 Jessics Learmonth (GBR)
2. 2,458 Taylor Spivey (USA)
4. 2,000 Georgia Taylor-Brown (GBR)
5. 1,715 Lotte Miller (NOR)

Last year in Leeds, South Africa’s Richard Murray won the men’s race, ahead of Mola and Luis. British star Vicky Holland won the women’s event over teammate Taylor-Brown, with Zaferes third.

Alistair Brownlee won at Leeds in 2016-17, with brother Jonathan second in 2016. Look for results here.

FOOTBALL: U.S. men lose to Jamaica, 1-0, in friendly in Washington, D.C.

By
Rich Perelman
-
Shamar Nicholson (11) celebrates his winning goal in Jamaica's 1-0 win over the U.S. (Photo: Jamaican Football Federation)

This wasn’t what was hoped for.

The U.S. men, who had compiled a 3-0-1 record in 2019, were held scoreless while Jamaican substitute striker Shamar Nicholson scored on a takeaway from American defender Christian Roldan in the 60th minute at Audi Field in Washington, D.C.

The U.S. had some chances, especially by Josh Sargent in the 71st minute that was wide of the Jamaican goal.

It’s the first time the U.S. men had been shut out this year, and under new coach Gregg Berhalter; the U.S. lost to Italy, 1-0, last November in Belgium.

The U.S. last lost to Jamaica in the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinal in Atlanta, 2-1, and now has an all-time mark of 15-3-8 against the Reggae Boyz. It’s only the second time the U.S. has lost to Jamaica on U.S. soil, now with a 12-2-3 record in home matches vs. Jamaica.

A disaster? It’s a friendly, and there is another one coming on Sunday against Venezuela in Cincinnati. But this is not encouraging.

SWIMMING Preview: Smaller fields at Setubal Marathon World Series just a month before Worlds

By
Rich Perelman
-
Brazil's distance swimming superstar Ana Marcela Cunha (Photo: Satiro Sodre)

With just over a month to go before the World Aquatics Championships in Korea, the FINA Marathon World Series has two more events before taking a break:

● 08 June in Setubal (POR)
● 15 June in Balatonfured (HUN)

This week’s 10 km race in Portugal – no. 3 in the seasonal series – will be held in the Albarquel Urban Park in Setubal on a 2,000 m course, with an interior finishing straight of 820 m.

Because of the close proximity of the Worlds, the entry lists are short; the top swimmers to look for include:

Men:
● Andreas Waschburger (GER) ~ Eighth at the 2012 Olympic 10 km race

Women:
● Ana Marcela Cunha (BRA) ~ Three-time 25 km World Champion; 2013 10 km silver
● Rachele Bruni (ITA) ~ 2016 Olympic silver; 2016 European 10 km Champion
● Arianna Bridi (ITA) ~ 2017 Worlds 10 km and 25 km bronze medalist

Cunha won the World Series opener this season in Doha; Bridi out-touched Cunha in the race at the Seychelles.

Prize money is available to the top eight places: $3,500-3,000-2,500-1,700-1,500-1,200-950-650. Look for results here.

SHOOTING: U.S. Shotgun Champs underway with Trap in Colorado Springs and Skeet to follow

By
Rich Perelman
-
USA Shooting Trap star Ashley Carroll (Photo: USA Shooting)

The annual USA Shooting National Championships have started in Colorado Springs, Colorado with the Trap competitions, to be followed by Skeet:

● 04-08 June: Men’s and Women’s Trap
● 16-19 June: Men’s and Women’s Skeet

The Trap Nationals include 250 shots over four days: 75-50-75-50 through Friday. The Mixed Team Nationals, with 75 targets and a final, are on Saturday.

The top-ranked U.S. Trap shooters in the ISSF World Rankings include:

● Men:
43. Glenn Eller ~ 2008 Olympic Double Trap Champion
52. Brian Burrows ~ Three-time National Champion
81. Joshua Richmond (tied)
81. Derrick Mein (tied)
81. Derek Haldeman (tied)

The defending national champ is Caleb Lindsey, who finished ahead of Roe Reynolds.

● Women:
9. Ashley Carroll ~ 2015-16-17 National Champion
27. Aeriel Skinner ~ Defending National Champion
41. Rachel Tozier
67. Carey Garrison
81. Alicia Gough (tied)

Emma Williams was the Nationals silver medalist in 2018, and Kayle Browning was runner-up to Carroll in 2015-16-17. Two-time Olympic bronze medalist Corey Cogdell-Unrein returns to the Nationals after maternity.

Look for results here.

TAEKWONDO Preview: Seventeen World Champions competing in eight classes at Rome Grand Prix!

By
Rich Perelman
-

The first World Taekwondo Grand Prix of the season is on in Rome (ITA) at the Foro Italico Arena, with excellent fields ready to compete. The top-ranked entries in each of the eight weight classes, and the 2019 World Champions (if not in the top three):

Men

● -58 kg:
1. Tae-hun Kim (KOR: 1) ~ 2017 World 54 kg Champion
2. Jesus Tortosa Cabrera (ESP: 2) ~ 2017 World bronze medalist
3. Mikhail Artamonov (RUS: 3) ~ 2017 World silver medalist
+ Jun Jang (KOR: 5) ~ 2019 World Champion

● -68 kg:
1. Dae-Hoon Lee (KOR: 1) ~ 2019 World bronze medalist; 2017 World Champion
2. Jaouad Achab (BEL: 2) ~ 2019 World 63 kg bronze medalist
3. Lovre Brecic (CRO: 5)
+ Bradly Sinden (GBR: 7) ~ 2019 World Champion
+ Shuai Zhao (CHN: 10) ~ 2019 World 63 kg Champion

● -80 kg:
1. Maksim Khramtcov (RUS: 1) ~ 2017 World 74 kg Champion
2. Cheick Sallah Cisse (CIV: 2)
3. Nikita Rafalovich (UZB: 4) ~ 2017 World 74 kg silver medalist
+ Simone Alessio (ITA) ~ 2019 World 74 kg Champion

● +80 kg:
1. Vladislav Larin (RUS: 1) ~ 2019 World Champion
2. Kyo-Don In (KOR: 2) ~ 2017 World 87 kg bronze medalist
3. Mahama Cho (GBR: 5) ~ 2017 World silver medalist
+ Rafael Alba (CUB: 35) ~ 2019 World +87 kg Champion

Women

● -49 kg:
1. So-Hui Kim (KOR: 2)
2. Tijana Bogdanovic (SRB: 3)
3. Jae-Young Sim (KOR: 4) ~ 2017-19 World 46 kg Champion

● –57 kg:
1. Ah-Reum Lee (KOR: 2) ~ 2019 Worlds silver medalist; 2017 World Champion
2. Hatice Kubra Ilgun (TUR: 3) ~ 2017 World silver medalist
3. Tatiana Kudashova (RUS: 5) ~ 2017-19 World 53 kg silver medalist
+ Phannapa Harnsujin (THA: 28) ~ 2019 World 53 kg Champion

● -67 kg:
1. Hyeri Oh (KOR: 1) ~ 2019 World 73 kg silver medalist
2. Lauren Williams (GBR: 3)
3. Ruth Gbagbi (CIV: 4) ~ 2017 World 62 kg Champion
+ Mengyu Zhang (CHN: 7) ~ 2019 World Champion

● +67 kg:
1. Bianca Walkden (GBR: 1) ~ 2017-19 World Champion
2. Milica Mandic (SRB: 3) ~ 2017 World 73 kg Champion
3. Aleksandra Kowalczuk (POL: 4)
+ Da-Bin Lee (KOR: 6) ~ 2019 73 kg World Champion

The registrations show 255 fighters from 53 countries. There is prize money of $5,000-3,000-1,000 for the top three place winners. Look for results here.

SPORT CLIMBING Preview: Garnbret goes for a perfect season in Vail World Cup

By
Rich Perelman
-

When the climbing starts in Tokyo in 2020, there’s little doubt that the focus in the women’s competition will be on Slovenia’s Janja Garnbret. One of the reasons is that she’s out to make some history this week in Vail, Colorado, where the sixth and final installment of the Bouldering World Cup will take place.

What history? Garnbret is undefeated through the first five rounds and has already clinched the seasonal title, but can complete a perfect season with another win on Saturday. The standings:

● Men:
1. 284 Adam Ondra (CZE)
2. 260 Tomoa Narasaki (JPN)
3. 214 Aleksey Rubtsov (RUS)
4. 205 Anze Peharc (SLO)
5. 190 Kokoro Fujii (JPN)

● Women:
1. 500 Janja Garnbret (SLO)
2. 268 Fanny Gibert (SUI)
3. 240 Akiyo Noguchi (JPN)
4. 203 Jessica Pilz (AUT)
5. 180 Petra Klingler (SUI)

Scoring is 100-80-65-55-51-47-43-40-37-34 for the top 10 places, so the men’s title chase is fairly open, as is the race for second in the women’s event.

Ondra is going for his second seasonal World Cup title; he won previously in 2010 and was third in 2015. Narasaki won in 2016 and has been second the last two seasons.

Garnbret has clinched her Bouldering title, which is her first, to go along with three straight titles in lead. Gibert will try to win the seasonal silver after being third last season and Noguchi will try to win a season medal for the 11th time in the last 12 seasons (including four titles).

Look for results here.

FOOTBALL Preview: U.S. & France co-favorites to win the Women’s World Cup, which starts Friday

By
Rich Perelman
-

If you believe the oddsmakers – and they have been hard at work – then the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup will be decided … in the quarterfinals.

Host France and the United States are co-favored to win the tournament, and if both teams win their groups and their Round of 16 matches, they will meet in the quarterfinals on 28 June at the 48,583-seat Parc des Princes in Paris. The odds to win the tournament:

1. 7/2 United States
2. 7/2 France
3. 11/2 Germany
4. 6/1 England
5. 14/1 Netherlands
6. 14/1 Japan
7. 14/1 Australia
8. 25/1 Spain

The real long-shots are Jamaica and Cameroon at 1,000/1 and Thailand at 1,500/1. But that’s on paper. The groups for the actual games (with FIFA World Rankings):

● Group A: France (4), South Korea (14), Norway (12), Nigeria (38)
● Group B: Germany (2), China (16), Spain (13), South Africa (49)
● Group C: Australia (6), Italy (15), Brazil (10), Jamaica (53)
● Group D: England (3), Scotland (20), Argentina (37), Japan (7)
● Group E: Canada (5), Cameroon (46), New Zealand (19), Netherlands (8)
● Group F: United States (1), Thailand (34), Chile (39), Sweden (9)

In terms of geography, Africa has three teams; Asia has four; Europe has nine; North America and the Caribbean have three, Oceania has two and South America, three.

Group play commences on Friday with France hosting South Korea and continues through 20 June. The playoffs begin on 22 June and continue through the final on 7 July.

The two top teams in each group qualify to the knock-out round, along with the four “best” third-place teams. Based on this, and the playoff bracket already formed, we could see:

Upper bracket:
● Round of 16: Norway vs. Brazil; England vs. New Zealand
● Round of 16: France vs. Italy; U.S. vs. Spain

Lower bracket:
● Round of 16: Australia vs. Korea; Canada vs. Japan
● Round of 16: Germany vs. Scotland; Netherlands vs. Sweden

There are also odds on who the top scorer will be and Alex Morgan of the U.S. is the favorite at 6/1, followed by France’s Eugenie Le Sommer (7/1), Vivianne Miedema (NED) at 8/1, then Carli Lloyd of the U.S. at 8/1 and Australia’s Sam Kerr at 8/1.

This is the eighth Women’s World Cup, which started in 1991. The U.S. has won three of the first seven, in 1991-99-2015 (and lost in the 2011 final). Germany won in 2003-07, and Norway (1995) and Japan (2011) have won once each. Worth noting: the U.S. has made it to the semifinals in all seven prior World Cups; next best are Germany (5), Norway (4) and Sweden (3). A team from Africa or Oceania has not yet played in a semi.

Fox has coverage of the Women’s World Cup in the U.S. on both Fox and FS1. The FIFA schedule can be set to show the U.S. channel and your own time zone here.

This should be a great show; we’ll have a deeper look at the tournament in Lane One for Friday. look for results here.

LANE ONE: Finally, it’s time to talk about sponsoring Olympic-sport athletes

By
Rich Perelman
-

 

If you’re an athlete in one of the four major professional sports in the U.S. – baseball, basketball, football or ice hockey – you earn a minimum annual salary of $495-680,000. If you’re in a mainline Olympic sport such as track & field, swimming or gymnastics, you earn a lot less.

A whole lot less. Sometimes, almost nothing.

Which is why, if you chat with an Olympic-sport athlete for any length of time, you’re hear about sponsors.

Companies which hire athletes as spokespersons, to model or use their gear – think of shoes, swords, guns – or make personal appearances for internal or external promotions, are literally the lifeblood of many U.S. Olympic-sport sports careers.

So it’s about time that someone is actually going to talk about the opportunities and pitfalls of Olympic-sport athlete sponsorship. It’s going to take place as part of the first Los Angeles Sports Summit on 24-25 June at the Omni Los Angeles Hotel at California Plaza.

It’s the final topic of the two-day conference, to be moderated by someone who knows a lot about being an Olympic athlete and about creating a life after sport: 1976 swimming superstar – and four-time gold medalist – John Naber.

The panel itself is billed as a how-to session:

Once you reach an agreement to work with an Olympic or Paralympic athlete (or Olympic or Paralympic hopeful), here’s what you can do to get the most ”bang for your buck.” You’ll learn how to pick the right athlete to amplify your company’s message, how to negotiate for their services, and how to connect the Olympic ideals to your company’s brand. You will also learn about the pitfalls to avoid.

Naber has a good panel to work with, including all three sides of the program: the athlete, the sponsor and someone who puts them together:

● Lenny Krayzelburg, the four-time Olympic swimming gold medalist from 2000-04, and the founder of the SwimRight Academy, a year-round swimming program that uses a proprietary curriculum he created.

● Rahsaan Johnson, Director of Sponsorships & Brand Activation, United Airlines, working with a team of marketing professionals and two agency partners, and responsible for the company’s sports, entertainment and lifestyle sponsorship portfolio,

● Sheryl Shade, Principal of Shade Global, a brand-advocacy, representation and franchise-management consultancy. She understands the business from both the corporate point of view – for Hawaiian Tropic and Walt Disney Pictures – and as a representative for stars like figure skater Tara Lipinski, football great Mia Hamm, gymnasts Nastia Liukin and Laurie Hernandez, diver David Boudia and many others.

Naber has turned his own in-the-pool success into a career as a marketer, motivational speaker, published author and television broadcaster, and has helped many others navigate the frustrations of being a world-class athlete while also having to work for a living.

This is an area which does not get enough visibility, either for athletes – who are busy trying to be champions – or for companies, who could find unique promotional partners in athletes who travel the world as teenagers and in their 20s and have stories to tell that make an impact for a fraction of the cost of a player from one of the large U.S. team sports.

It’s one of 14 panels and programs over a busy day-and-a-half schedule, including an Olympic Day reception that will honor the 35th anniversary of the revolutionary 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, and the most comprehensive economic impact study ever undertaken on the sports industry in Los Angeles.

The Los Angeles Sports Council, in conjunction with the Southern California Committee for the Olympic Games, is presenting the conference – the first of its type in Los Angeles – and has enlisted the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC) to collate and evaluate data covering all area professional sports teams, NCAA Division I, II and III schools, and community colleges, stadiums, arenas and sports facilities in the greater Los Angeles area.

The findings will be announced on the first day of the Summit (24 June), and introduced by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti.

The Sports Council, a private-sector group created in 1988 to promote economic development through sports, has been surveying the impact of the sports industry since 1994, when the first such study pinned the total economic impact at $1.71 billion. That has grown considerably over the years, to $2.47 billion for 2000, a high of $5.12 billion for 2007 and $4.14 billion for 2012.

Since then, the return of the NFL and new teams such as the Los Angeles Football Club have created an even greater impact, which will be detailed at the Summit.

There are also panels on eSports, the future of live television, the impact of betting, emerging sports such as lacrosse and surfing and how innovative marketers like Vans find them and leverage them to their benefit before anyone else.

If you’re interested in joining, registration is available here. BUT, don’t pay the standard $595 fee! Instead, use the code LASummit250 and pay just $250 for the program, including the reception on the 24th and breakfast and lunch on the 25th.

The Summit Web site also has information on accommodations at the Omni Los Angeles if you wish to stay at the hotel for the program (ask about the Summit room block).

There are lots of conference about sports, but the Summit is happily unique in that its outlook does not stop at U.S. collegiate or professional sports and encompasses the entire panorama of sport in a city which will host the Olympic Games for the third time in 2028.

The Sports Examiner will be there; we hope to see you there too.

Rich Perelman
Editor

KARATE Preview: All 12 World Champions fighting at Fourth Premiere League in Shanghai

By
Rich Perelman
-
Reigning World Kata Champion Sandra Sanchez (ESP)

One of the best events of the year should be this week’s Karate 1 Premier League tournament in Shanghai (CHN), with 543 fighters from 76 countries, including all 12 reigning world champs! The top seeds:

Men

● Kata:
1. Ryo Kiyuna (JPN) ~ 2018 World Champion
2. Damian Quintero (ESP)
3. Ali Sofuoglu (TUR)

● Kumite -60 kg:
1. Angelo Crescenzo (ITA) ~ 2018 World Champion
2. Eray Samdan (TUR)
3. Darkhan Assadilov (KAZ)

● Kumite -67 kg:
1. Steven Dacosta (FRA) ~ 2018 World Champion
2. Vinicius Figueira (BRA)
3. Burak Uygur (TUR)

● Kumite -75 kg:
1. Raphael Aghayev (AZE)
2. Stanislav Horuna (UKR)
3. Luigi Busa (ITA)
4. Bahman Asgari (IRI) ~ 2018 World Champion

● Kumite -84 kg:
1. Ugur Aktas (TUR)
2. Ivan Kvesic (CRO) ~ 2018 World Champion
3. Zabiollah Poorshab (IRI)

● Kumite +84 kg:
1. Jonathan Horne (GER) ~ 2018 World Champion
2. Sajad Ganjzadeh (IRI)
3. Gogita Arkania (GEO)

Women

● Kata:
1. Sandra Sanchez (ESP) ~ 2018 World Champion
2. Viviana Bottaroi (ITA)
3. Mo Sheung Grace Lau (HKG)

● Kumite -50 kg:
1. Serap Ozcelik Arapoglu (TUR)
2. Miho Miyahara (JPN) ~ 2018 World Champion
3. Shara Hubrich (GER)

● Kumite -55 kg:
1. Anzhelika Terliuga (UKR)
2. Tzu-Yun Wen (TPE)
3. Valeria Kumizaki (BRA)
6. Dorota Banaszczyk (POL) ~ 2018 World Champion

● Kumite -61 kg:
1. Xiaoyan Yin (CHN)
2. Merve Coban (TUR)
3. Gwendoline Philippe (FRA)
6. Jovana Prekovic (CRO) ~ 2018 World Champion

● Kumite -68 kg:
1. Elena Quirici (SUI)
2. Irina Zaretska (AZE) ~ 2018 World Champion
3. Kayo Someya (JPN)

● Kumite +68 kg:
1. Ayumi Uekusa (JPN)
2. Titta Keinanen (FIN)
3. Eleni Chatziliadou (GRE) ~ 2018 World Champion

There is prize money, with 750-500-200 Euro for each of the top three placewinners. Look for results here.

SAILING Preview: World Sailing World Cup concludes at the 2024 Olympic site in Marseille

By
Rich Perelman
-
Australia's multi-time World 470 Champions Mat Belcher and Will Ryan

For the 325 registered sailors from 40 countries now racing in France, the hope is to do well this week during the World Sailing World Cup Final in 2019, but also in 2024.

Marseille (FRA) is the same venue for both, but the matter at hand is the completion of the 2019 World Cup schedule. Racing started on Tuesday and will conclude with the medal races on the weekend.

Racing in the 10 Olympic classes will have the 49er, 49erFX, Nacra 17 and RS:X fleets in medal races on Saturday. The 470s, Laser, Laser Radial and Finn will sail their medal races on Sunday.

Among the top entries racing this week are 20 reigning Olympic or World Champions:

Men/RS:X:
● Pierre Le Coq (FRA) ~ 2016 Olympic bronze medalist
● Louis Giard (FRA) ~ 2018 World Championships bronze medalist

Men/Laser: No 2016 Olympic or 2018 Worlds medalists

Men/470:
● Mat Belcher/Will Ryan (AUS) ~ 2016 Olympic silver; four 470 World Championships
● Kevin Peponnet/Jeremie Mion (FRA) ~ 2018 World Champions
● Tetsuya Isozaki/Akira Takayanagi (JPN) ~ 2018 Worlds silver medalists
● Jordi Xammar/Nicolas Rodriguez (ESP) ~ 2018 Worlds bronze medalists

Men/Finn:
● Max Salminen (SWE) ~ 2018 Worlds silver medalist

Men/49er:
● Sime Fantela/Movihil Fantela (CRO) ~ 2018 World Champions
● Mathieu Frei/Noel Delpech (FRA) ~ 2018 Worlds silver medalists

Women/RS:X:
● Charline Picon (FRA) ~ 2016 Olympic gold medalist; 2018 Worlds silver medalist
● Stefania Elfutina (RUS) ~ 2016 Olympic bronze medalist
● Lilian de Geus (NED) ~ 2018 World Champion

Women/Laser Radial: No 2016 Olympic or 2018 Worlds medalists

Women/470:
● Ai Kondo Yoshida/Miho Yoshioka (JPN) ~ 2018 World Champions
● Hannah Mills/Elidih McIntyre (GBR) ~ 2018 Worlds bronze medalists
● Camile Lecointre/Aloise Retornaz (FRA) ~ Lecointre: 2016 Olympic bronze
● Silvia Mas Depares/Patricia Cantero (ESP) ~ 2018 Worlds silver medalists

Women/49er FX:
● Tanja Frank/Lorena Abicht (AUT) ~ 2018 Worlds silver medalists

Mixed/Nacra 17:
● Santiago Lange/Cecilia Carranza Saroli (ARG) ~ 2016 Olympic gold; 2018 Worlds bronze
● Thomas Zajac/Barbara Matz (AUT) ~ Zajac: 2016 Olympic bronze
● Ruggero Tita/Caterina Banti (ITA) ~ 2018 World Champions

Look for results here.

ATHLETICS Preview: Famed Golden Gala meet in Rome features Noah Lyles vs. Michael Norman in sensational 200 m

By
Rich Perelman
-
U.S. sprint star Noah Lyles

The IAAF Diamond League meet in Rome is known as the Golden Gala Pietro Mennea, named for the Italian 200 m star of the 1970s, who held the world record at 19.72 from 1979 into 1996 and was the Olympic gold medalist in 1980.

So it’s fitting that the race of the meet on Thursday will be the men’s 200 m, where American Noah Lyles will make his season debut, after running 19.65 last season – no. 8 all-time – and winning the Shanghai Diamond League 100 m with a screaming finish over Christian Coleman, as both were timed in 9.86.

But Lyles won’t be alone, as 400 m star Michael Norman – no. 4 all-time in that event, at 43.45 at the Mt. SAC Relays – will be trying to improve on his 200 m best of 19.84, running in both 2018 and 2019.

Yes, Turkey’s reigning World Champion Ramil Guliyev is also running and hopefully in better health than in Stockholm, where he was unable to compete well, but the question has to be Lyles or Norman?

They met once last year, at the Athleissima meet in Lausanne (SUI), with Lyles winning a tight battle in 19.69, to 19.88 for Norman. Lyles also beat Norman in U.S. nationals races in 2015 (U.s. Junior Champs) and at the 2016 Olympic Trials (fourth and fifth place).

The ghost of Mennea will be present – he passed away in 2013 after battling cancer – and a nice crowd should be on hand for an excellent meet. Some of the expected highlight events:

● Men/800 m: Am amazing 11 runners have already reached the 1:44s so early this season and four are in this race: world leader Nijel Amos (BOT: 1:44.29), no. 2 Abubaker Abdalla (QAT: 1:44.33), plus Donavan Brazier of the U.S. (1:44.70) and Kenya’s Jonathan Kitilit. Add in six more with lifetime bests in the 1:42s or 1:43s and this should be a fabulous race. Look out for Poland’s Adam Kszczot (1:45.60 this year) and American Clayton Murphy (1:46.10) as possible challengers to the 1:44 boys.

● Men/5,000 m: Although the Diamond League meets are supposed to run 3,000 m races at the max, here’s another 5,000 m, as at Shanghai. The nos. 2-3-4 finishers are back for more in Rome: Selemon Barega (ETH: 13:04.71), Hagos Gebrhiwet (ETH: 13:04.83) and Birhanu Balew (BRN: 13:05.04). There are plenty of other quality runners, but will they be willing to start on a hard pace, as Kenya’s Rhonex Kipruto did so bravely in Stockholm on the way to a 26:50.16 shocker in the 10,000 m?

● Men/400 m hurdles: No Abderrahmane Samba of Qatar, but American Rai Benjamin leads a very good field, opposing Thomas Barr (IRL: 47.97 ‘16), Americans Kenny Selmon (48.12 ‘18) and David Kendziera (48.42 ‘18) and Estonia’s Rasmus Magi (48.40 ‘16).

● Men/Triple Jump: World leader Omar Craddock of the U.S. (17.68 m/58-0 1/4) leads this field, but everyone will be watching Portugal’s Pedro Pablo Pichardo as he makes his seasonal debut. He’s jumped 17.60 m (57-9) or better every year for the last five seasons! Pichardo’s last appearance in Rome resulted in a Diamond League win in 2015 in an impressive 17.94 m (58-10 1/4)!

● Women/100 m: Look for the season debuts of Dina Asher-Smith (GBR: 10.85 lifetime best, in 2018), Shania Collins (USA: 10.98 ‘18), English Gardner (USA: 10.74 ‘16) and Marie-Josee Ta Lou (CIV: 10.85 ‘18). Jamaica’s 2016 Rio champ Elaine Thompson (11.09 this season), will challenge, as well as Aleia Hobbs of the U.S. (11.03) and Jenna Prandini (11.10). Gardner made a nice comeback from leg surgery in February with a 7.10 60 m win (and PR) at the Millrose Games, but hasn’t run a 100 m since September of last year.

● Women/1,500 m: Not that often that seven sub-4 women are in the same race, but here they are, including 2011 World Champion Jenny Simpson (USA), 2015 World Champion Genzebe Dibaba (ETH), 2019 world leader Gudaf Tsegay (ETH: 3:59.57) and more. Can any of them handle Britain’s Laura Muir, who was dominant in winning the Stockholm 1,500 in 4:05.37 in polar conditions. It’s her second career appearance in Rome, finishing fourth in the 2015 Golden Gala in 2015.

● Women/400 m hurdles: Rio Olympic champ Dalilah Muhammad of the U.S. got out like a shot in the Doha Diamond League opener and ran away to a world-leading 53.61 and no one else has been close. This race has plenty of challengers, including 2013-15 World Champion Zuzana Hejnova (CZE), reigning World Champion Kori Carter of the U.S., American national champion Shamier Little, Commonwealth Games champ Janieve Russell (JAM) and more. Look for Muhammad to take it out hard again and force the others to try and catch her.

● Women/Pole Vault: All of the usual suspects are here: Greece’s Olympic champion, Katerina Stefanidi, 2012 Olympic Champion Jenn Suhr of the U.S., 2018 World Indoor Champion Sandi Morris (USA) and back-to-back U.S. indoor champ Katie Nageotte. Suhr is still the world leader from her 4.91 m (16-1 1/4) clearance at the Texas Relays in March!

● Women/Long Jump: The world leader is Chantal Malone (IVB), with her 6.90 m (22-7 3/4) winner in late April, but American Brittney Reese showed she is interested in a fifth world title with a wind-aided 7.01 m (23-0w) jump a week ago at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista. Both will have to contend with Serbia’s 2018 World Indoor Champion, Ivana Spanovic, who will make her outdoor debut, and 2018 World Cup long jump titlist Caterine Ibarguen (COL) of triple jump fame.

● Women/Javelin: The top seven on the 2019 world list are in, led by China’s Huihui Lyu at 67.72 m (222-2), but the question is what will Czech star – and two-time Olympic and three-time World Champion – Barbora Spotakova do?

Now 37, she took 2018 off for maternity (her second child) and has thrown once so far this season, a 63.85 m (209-5) win on 23 May, placing her ninth on the 2019 list. Is she in shape to do more? Much more?

There are several other events on the program of lesser quality, you can find the complete line-up here.

NBCSN has live coverage from Rome on Thursday at 2 p.m. Eastern time.

HEARD AFTER HALFTIME: IAAF’s women’s regs suspended by Swiss Court, so Semenya can run again (for now), and a 73-year old Olympic surfer?

By
Rich Perelman
-

News, views and noise from the non-stop, worldwide circus of Olympic sport:

● Athletics ● South Africa’s Caster Semenya won a round against the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and its regulations for women in the 400 m-Mile events on Monday.

The Swiss Federal Tribunal, acting on a request from Semenya’s attorneys, suspended the IAAF’s rules, but only while the case is being heard, on appeal from the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which upheld them.

The IAAF will have until 25 June to submit its brief to the Court to uphold the regulations, which dictate the allowable level of testosterone for an athlete to be allowed to compete in the women’s division in the 400-800-1,000-1,500 m and mile.

Semenya was planning to run a 2,000 m and 3,000 m race in June, events which are not impacted by the new rules. Now, she could run her favored events – 800 m and 1,500 m – right away. The IAAF’s Diamond League schedule has a 1,500 m in Rome on Thursday (6th), an 800 m in Rabat (MAR) on 16 June and Stanford (USA) on 30 June and a 1,500 m on 11 July in Monaco and 20 July in London (GBR).

● Athletics ● Beyond the Stockholm Diamond League meet last week, there was another world-leading mark, this time by an emerging American star in the throwing events.

At the Iron Wood Throws Classic in Rathdrum, Idaho on Saturday, Brooke Andersen won the hammer throw with a lifetime best of 76.75 m (251-9), adding more than five feet to her mark from the Mt. SAC Relays in April (75.05 m/246-2). She stands no. 3 on the all-time U.S. list, and the throw was the eighth-longest in U.S. history!

“Honestly, when I threw it, was I thinking, ‘oh my gosh, it’s 76 (meters),” said Andersen afterwards. “Everyone was saying that I was the U.S. No. 1 with that throw, and I couldn’t believe it. There was no way little ol’ me could be No. 1 in the nation.” Or no. 1 in the world?

Andersen, 23, was the NCAA runner-up the last two seasons for Northern Arizona, but has exploded in 2019, reaching more than eight feet beyond her pre-season lifetime best of 74.20 m (243-5).

● Athletics ● The United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) does an astonishing job of compiling, processing and reporting information about collegiate track & field and with the NCAA Division I Championships coming this week, it released its survey of where the 1,215 athletes (from 177 schools) are from.

Of course, the U.S. is first with 984 (81.0%) of all entries, followed by:

2. 42 Jamaica (3.5%)
3. 25 Canada (2.1%)
4. 17 Kenya (1.7%)
5. 15 Australia (1.2%)
6. 12 Great Britain (1.0%)

No other country had more than eight entries this week. A total of 56 countries had at least one entry in the NCAA meet.

● Gymnastics ● The dates by which claims had to be filed against USA Gymnastics at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Indiana has now passed for both individuals (back on 29 April, and for governmental claims on Monday (3 June).

With the passing of the governmental bar date, the case management firm appointed by the Court posted the total number of registered claims at 352.

That’s the number of cases that will be heard against USAG as the result of the Larry Nassar sex-abuse scandal.

● Swimming ● FINA posted multiple comments from athletes praising the inaugural FINA Champions Swim Series that closed in Indianapolis on Saturday. A sampling:

From Ukrainian Butterfly star Andrii Govorov:
“Honestly I am really happy that we have this new FINA Champions Swim Series because it is really the next level right now. It shows a big respect for high level athletes and I experienced really good competition in four lanes. It really is entertaining for people. I think FINA is listening to the athletes and we are going to make the Series even better for the next season. In Budapest, I saw a really nice new way of presenting the athletes’ entrance. The video background was great and the show was phenomenal.”

From American sprinter Michael Andrew:
“This competition is awesome and I agree with what Cody Miller said, it is a step in the right direction. I think the athletes still don’t understand how much value we bring to the table as competitors and entertainers. It is cool to see that FINA is starting to recognize that and gives us the opportunity to race for real money.”

From American Freestyle and Butterfly star Jack Conger:
“I think it is awesome. It is amazing that there is no prelims, no semis. You get to do it once, you only have to focus for one or two races depending on how many you have entered, it is awesome. The whole concept is super cool and unique. I think it is a great way to grow the sport. The Champions Swim Series is the first opportunity to show that there is more to swimming than just the Olympics. This is really a big deal and it is exciting.”

All true and good; as we noted in Monday’s Lane One, this was a good start, but there are still questions to be answered.

● Games of the XXXVIth Olympiad 2036 ● Give credit to German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer, 69, for having some common sense. Responding to a suggestion from Berlin’s State Minister of the Interior, Andreas Geisel, that the city should bid for the 2036 Olympic Games.

Said Seehofer, “It would be unthinkable. If we did that, we would bring on an unspeakable international discussion and harm the Olympic idea,” in an interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.

“How would people see it across the world? Germany celebrating the 100-year anniversary of the Nazi Olympics? That cannot happen.”

Seehofer added that “In the eyes of the public, the IOC has wandered too far from its original idea and into commercialism.” So that’s that … for now.

● At the BuZZer ● You can’t make this up. A 73-year-old Singaporean Olympian in swimming at the 1964 Games in Tokyo is now working toward competing in a second Tokyo Games in 2020 … in surfing!

Michael Eu retired as a flight captain at age 55 and has been surfing continuously since. He told the Singapore site TODAY that he is training to make the Singapore team for the 2019 South East Asian Games, to be held in the Philippines in December.

“All the competitions are held in medium-sized waves which are about 4ft. I’ve been competing in waves up to 10ft in Indonesia for the last 27 years, and I’ve been training consistently. So long as you have the skill and determination, anyone can do it.”

A black belt in Karate and Taekwondo, he added that “Being 73 is not an obstacle to me. I don’t look 73 and my physique is conditioned in the same way as a 30 or 40-year-old.”

If he somehow makes it to a second Olympic Games next year, surely he will be the only athlete to compete in both Tokyo Games!

VOLLEYBALL: U.S. one of four squads at 5-1 in Women’s Nations League as Lincoln hosts pool play

By
Rich Perelman
-
Leading U.S. Nations League scorer Andrea Drews (Photo: FIVB)

The FIVB Women’s Nations League comes to the United States this week, with Pinnacle Bank Arena hosting pool play:

● 4 June: Brazil (4-2) vs. Germany (1-5); U.S. (5-1) vs. Korea (1-5)
● 5 June: Korea vs. Brazil; U.S. vs. Germany
● 6 June: Germany vs. Korea; U.S. Brazil

Each team plays 15 matches in the 16-team round-robin, so the 2019 tournament will pass the halfway mark this weekend. The current leaders:

1. 15 points Turkey (5-1)
2. 15 points United States (5-1)
3. 15 points Italy (5-1)
4. 15 points Poland (5-1)
5. 12 points Brazil (4-2)
6. 12 points China (4-2)
7. 12 points Japan (4-2)
8. 9 points Serbia (3-3)

The U.S. will have three players back after long seasons abroad kept them out of play for the first two weeks of the Nations League: Outside Hitters Jordan Larson and Kelsey Robinson and Setter Carli Lloyd. Nevertheless, the American squad has lost only one, in a five-set thriller against the Dominican Republic.

The top five teams in the round-robin standings will join host China in the finals, to be held from 3-7 July. Look for scores here.

The men’s Nations League is beginning its second week of action, with only three of the 16 teams escaping the first week of play undefeated: Brazil, France and Iran.

The second week will see the U.S. in a group in Ufa (RUS):

● 7 June: U.S. (1-2) vs. Italy (2-1); Russia (2-1) vs. Portugal (1-2)
● 8 June: Italy vs. Portugal; Russia vs. U.S.
● 9 June: U.S. vs. Portugal; Russia vs. Italy

In its first week of action, the U.S. lost to Brazil (3-0) and Poland (3-2), but defeated Australia, 3-1. Because the U.S. is hosting the men’s Nations League finals this season – in Chicago – it is automatically qualified to the final round, along with the top-five finishers in the round robin.

The standings so far:

1. 9 points: Iran (3-0)
2. 9 points: France (3-0)
3. 8 points: Brazil (3-0)
4. 7 points: Argentina (2-1)
5. 7 points: Italy (2-1)
6. 7 points: Canada (2-1)
7. 7 points: Poland (2-1)
8. 7 points: Russia (2-1)

The U.S. sits ninth, with five points. Look for round 2 results here.

TABLE TENNIS Preview: Local favorites Ho and Wong look for second Hong Kong Open title

By
Rich Perelman
-

The ITTF World Tour is in Queen Elizabeth Stadium in Hong Kong this week for the second edition of the Hong Kong Open. The fields are quite good, as shown by the world rankings of the top-seed Singles entries:

● Men’s Singles:
1. Gaoyuan Lin (CHN: 2)
2. Tomokazu Harimoto (JPN: 4)
3. Jingkun Liang (CHN: 6)

● Men’s Doubles:
1. Kwan Kit Ho/Chun Ting Wong (HKG)
2. Cheng-Ting Liao/Yun-Ju Lin (TPE)
3. Woojin Jang/Jonghoon Lim (KOR)

● Women’s Singles:
1. Kasumi Ishikawa (JPN: 6)
2. Mima Ito (JPN: 7)
3. I-Ching Cheng (TPE: 8)

● Women’s Doubles:
1. Hoi Kem Doo/Ho-Ching Lee (HKG)
2. Wing Nam Ng/Wai Yam Minnie Soo (HKG)
3. Barbora Balazova (SVK)/Hana Matelova (CZE)

● Mixed Doubles:
1. Chun Ting Wong/Hoi Kem Doo (HKG)
2. Lubomir Pistej/Barbora Balazova (SVK)
3. Woojin Jang/Jihee Jeon (KOR)

Only one defending champion is back from the inaugural edition of the tournament in 2018, Hong Kong men’s Doubles stars Kwan Kit Ho and Chun Ting Wong, and they are top seeded.

Look for results here.

FOOTBALL Preview: U.S. men warm up for Gold Cup with friendlies vs. Jamaica and Venezuela

By
Rich Perelman
-

Remember the U.S. men’s National Team? The one with the new coach, Gregg Berhalter?

They’ve been invisible since their 1-1 tie against Chile on 26 March, but the men are back in action for two games this week before the CONCACAF Gold Cup begins in the middle of the monthly:

● 5 June: U.S. vs. Jamaica in Washington, D.C.: 7 p.m. Eastern on FS1/UniMas/UDN
● 9 June: U.S. vs. Venezuela in Cincinnati, Ohio: 2 p.m. Eastern time on Fox/UniMas

This will be the 26th meeting between the U.S. and Jamaica man, with the Americans holding a 15-2-8 lead in the series. However, the two sides have not played since the final of the 2017 Gold Cup, where the U.S. managed a 2-1 win on goals by Jozy Altidorre and Jordan Morris.

The U.S. is 3-0-1 under Berhalter in 2019. The Gold Cup rosters are due on Wednesday; the players selected for Wednesday’s friendly include familiar faces like midfielder Michael Bradley (145 caps) and Altidore – back on the squad for the first time in two years – with 110 appearances and defender Omar Gonzalez (49). But there is also a lot of youth, with 20 of the 29 players having less than 10 appearances for the national team.

Some of the young players who have already impressed in their short time for the U.S. include midfielders Sebastian Lletget and Wes McKinnie, defender Walker Zimmerman and striker Josh Sargent.

The U.S. will open Gold Cup play on 18 June, facing Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago and Panama in Group D; games will be played in the United States, Costa Rica and Jamaica.

BADMINTON Preview: Top-ranked Matsumoto and Hagahara headline Crown Group Australian Open in Sydney

By
Rich Perelman
-

The BWF World Tour has slowed down, with the Crown Group Australian Open in Sydney the only tourney scheduled for June. The fields are quite good; the top seeds:

● Men’s Singles:
1. Tien Chen Chou (TPE)
2. Anthony Sinisuka Ginting (INA)
3. Jonatan Christie (INA)

● Men’s Doubles:
1. Takeshi Kamura/Keigo Sonoda (JPN)
2. Junhui Lu/Yuchen Liu (CHN)
3. Mohamed Ahsan/Hendra Setiawan (INA)

● Women’s Singles:
1. Nozomi Okuhara (JPN)
2. Yufei Chen (CHN)
3. V. Sindhu Pusarla (IND)

● Women’s Doubles:
1. Mayu Matsumoto/Wakana Nagahara (JPN)
2. Yuki Fukushima/Sayaka Hirota (JPN)
3. Qingchen Chen/Yifan Jia (CHN)

● Mixed Doubles:
1. Yilyu Wang/Dongping Huang (CHN)
2. Yuta Watanabe/Arisa Higashino (JPN)
3. Peng Soon Chan/Liu Ying Goh (MAS)

The top-ranked entry is Japan’s no. 1-ranked women’s Doubles team of Matsumoto and Nagahara. Japanese teams have done well in Australian Open Doubles previously; the top-seeded men’s Doubles team of Kamura and Sonoda won the tournament in 2017.

Defending champs returning from 2018 include China’s Quangzu Lu in men’s Singles, Berry Angriawan and Hardianto Hardianto (INA) in men’s Doubles, Ayaka Sakuramoto and Yukiko Takahata (JPN) in the women’s Doubles and Seung-Jae Seo and YuJung Chae (KOR) in Mixed Doubles.

Look for results here.

1...585960...102Page 59 of 102
© 2017-2025 Perelman Pioneer & Company