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SWIMMING: Urlando closes Tyr Pro Swim Clovis with third win, but Pickrem wins four; World Junior Record for Regan Smith in Indy

By
Rich Perelman
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Why not smile? You're American Record holder Regan Smith!

The final day of the final leg of the 2019 Tyr Pro Swim Series saw 17-year-old star Luca Urlando score a dominant win in the 200 m Medley to finish with three wins and four medals, the best among the men.

But Canada’s Sydney Pickrem finished with four wins, also taking the 200 m Medley to go along with the victories in the 200 m Medley and 100 and 200 m Breaststroke events.

A total of eight swimmers picked two or more victories in the meet:

Men:
● Trey Freeman ~ 200-400 m Freestyles
● Arakam Mahmoud (EGY) ~ 800-1,500 m Freestyles
● Brandon Fischer ~ 50-100 m Breaststrokes
● Gianluca Urlando ~ 100-200 m Butterfly; 200 m Medley

Women:
● Sydney Pickrem (CAN) ~ 100-200 m Breaststrokes; 200-400 m Medley
● Leah Smith ~ 200-800 m Freestyles
● Erica Sullivan ~ 400-1,500 m Freestyles
● Isabelle Stadden ~ 100-200 m Backstrokes

Sullivan had the highlight of the final day, smashing her lifetime best in the 1,500 m Free at 15:55.25 and moving her to no. 4 on the 2019 world list. Her prior best had been 16:02.88 from the U.S. nationals in 2018.

At the first day of the final Mare Nostrum series meet, in Barcelona (ESP), Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu lowered her own world-leading mark in the women’s 400 m Medley to 4:32.52 from the 4:32.87 she swam in Monaco in the first leg of the series. She also won the 100 m Fly in a season best of 57.80.

Argentina’s Delfina Pignatiello won the women’s 1,500 m Free and moved to no. 3 on the year list at 15:51.68.

Two Americans scored wins in Barcelona: Michael Andrew took the 50 m Back in 24.67, and Carson Foster won the 200 m Back in 1:58.88.

At the Doc Counsilman Classic in Indianapolis (USA), 17-year-old Regan Smith of the U.S. won the 100 m Back in a World Junior Record of 58.55, tying her with Taylor Ruck of Canada as the second-fastest performer of 2019 and no. 8 all-time. The mark also moved Smith to no. 3 on the all-time U.S. list, behind only world-record holder Kathleen Baker (58.00) and 2012 Olympic champ Missy Franklin (58.33). Wow!

Summaries from Clovis:

USA Swimming/Tyr Pro Swim Series
Clovis, California (USA) ~ 12-15 June 2019
(Full results here; all U.S. unless otherwise indicated)

Men

50 m Freestyle: 1. Bradley Tandy (RSA), 22.17; 2. Michael Chadwick, 22.28; 3. Gabe Castano (MEX), 22.35.

100 m Free: 1. Chadwick, 48.70; 2. Cristian Quintero (VEN), 49.43; 3. Peter Holoda (HUN), 49.46.

200 m Free: 1. Trey Freeman, 1:47.86; 2. Townley Haas, 1:48.02; 3. Gianluca Urlando, 1:48.58.

400 m Free: 1. Freeman, 3:49.16; 2. Akaram Mahmoud (EGY), 3:53.94; 3. Chris Wieser, 3:54.81.

800 m Free: 1. Mahmoud (EGY), 8:00.86; 2. Wieser, 8:01.98; 3. Ricardo Vargas Jacobo (MEX), 8:09.75.

1,500 m Free: 1. Mahmoud (EGY), 15:26.12; 2. Wieser, 15:29.67; 3. Sawyer Grimes, 15:38.38.

50 m Backstroke: 1. Justin Ress, 25.05; 2. Matt Grevers, 25.21; 3. Chris Staka, 25.57.

100 m Back: 1. Grevers, 53.59; 2. Ress, 54.25; 3. Markus Thormeyer (CAN), 54.50.

200 m Back: 1. Thormeyer (CAN), 1:59.24; 2. Andy Song (MEX), 2:02.73; 3. Harrison Lierz, 2:02.95.

50 m Breaststroke: 1. Brandon Fischer, 27.26; 2. Pavel Romanov (RUS), 27.71; 3. Youssef Elkamash (EGY), 27.89.

100 m Breast: 1. Fischer, 59.86; 2. Devon Nowicki, 1:00.97; 3. Miguel de Lara Ojeda (MEX), 1:01.15.

200 m Breast: 1. Daniel Roy, 2:10.43; 2. A.J. Pouch, 2:11.06; 3. Fischer, 2:11.91.

50 m Butterfly: 1. Holoda (HUN), 23.78; 2. Giles Smith, 23.95; 3. Ryan Coetzee (RSA), 24.14.

100 m Fly: 1. Urlando, 52.20; 2. G. Smith, 52.63; 3. Coetzee (RSA), 53.57.

200 m Fly: 1. Urlando, 1:53.84; 2. Justin Wright, 1:58.61; 3. Ben Miller, 2:00.41.

200 m Medley: 1. Urlando, 2:00.12; 2. Jarod Arroyo, 2:03.29; 3. Erick Gordillo (GUA), 2:05.22.

400 m Medley: 1. Arroyo, 4:21.65; 2. Gordillo (GUA), 4:27.00; 3. Brodie Young (CAN), 4:28.18.

Women

50 m Freestyle: 1. Catie DeLoof, 24.99; 2. Julie Meynen (LUX), 25.08; 3. Mallory Comerford, 25.21.

100 m Free: 1. Comerford, 53.90; 2. Kelsi Dahlia, 54.56; 3. Meynen (LUX), 54.63.

200 m Free: 1. Leah Smith, 1:57.40; 2. Comerford, 1:57.93; 3. Emily Overholt (CAN), 1:57.97.

400 m Free: 1. Erica Sullivan, 4:10.36; 2. Evie Pfeifer, 4:11.77; 3. Claire Tuggle, 3:14.37.

800 m Free: 1. L. Smith, 8:22.87; 2. Sullivan, 8:27.06; 3. Megan Dalke (CAN), 8:56.43.

1,500 m Free: 1. Sullivan, 15:55.25; 2. Mackenzie Paddington (CAN), 16:56.58; 3. Ayumi Macias (MEX), 16:56.76.

50 m Backstroke: 1. Ali DeLoof, 28.05; 2. Amy Bilquist, 28.44; 3. Isabelle Stadden, 28.64.

100 m Back: 1. Stadden, 59.71; 2. A. DeLoof, 1:00.59; 3. C. DeLoof, 1:01.60.

200 m Back: 1. Stadden, 2:08.67; 2. Pickrem (CAN), 2:13.17; 3. Taylor McCoy, 2:14.46.

50 m Breaststroke: 1. Alia Atkinson (JAM), 30.69; 2. Danielle Herrmann, 31.55; 3. Melissa Rodriguez (MEX), 31.86.

100 m Breast: 1. Sydney Pickrem (CAN), 1:07.20; 2. Rodriguez (MEX), 1:07.32; 3. Atkinson (JAM), 1:08.00.

200 m Breast: 1. Pickrem (CAN), 2:25.52; 2. Rodriguez (MEX), 2:25.54; 3. Esther Gonzalez (MEX), 2:29.44.

50 m Butterfly: 1. Kendyl Stewart, 26.35; 2. Dahlia, 26.38; 3. Hansson (SWE), 26.54.

100 m Fly: 1. Louise Hansson (SWE), 57.36; 2. Dahlia, 57.45; 3. Stewart, 58.35.

200 m Fly: 1. Dahlia, 2:10.69; 2. Remedy Rule, 2:11.56; 3. Lauren Case, 2:12.13.

200 m Medley: 1. Pickrem (CAN), 2:11.78; 2. Overholt (CAN), 2:13.45; 3. Monika Gonzalez-Hermosillo (MEX), 2:14.54.

400 m Medley: 1. Pickrem (CAN), 4:40.64; 2. Overholt (CAN), 4:44.23; 3. Evie Pfeifer, 4:44.51.

ATHLETICS Preview: Which Juan of the stars will shine brightest in Rabat on Sunday? It won’t be Caster the ghost …

By
Rich Perelman
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The confused IAAF Diamond League schedule started off with about one meet every two weeks, but now finished a stretch of three in 10 days, and then another two weeks off. Sunday’s meet is in Rabat (MAR) for the Meeting International Mohammed VI d’Athletisme, the only Diamond League stop in Africa.

The event received some unwanted attention when South African star Caster Semenya’s lawyers accused the organizers of not allowing her to run since the IAAF’s female eligibility regulations have been suspended by the Swiss Federal Tribunal. Since then, she was invited to run in the women’s 800 m … and declined! So now we can get back to considering who will be running; some of the headline events:

● Men/200 m: Canada’s Andre De Grasse has been trying to get back on track, but has a best of 20.20 this season, Turkey’s World Champion Ramil Guliyev (19.99) has been good when healthy, but this race is a test for newcomer Kenny Bednarek, who ran 19.82 to win the National Junior College title in the U.S. We’ll know more about his possibilities after this race.

● Men/800 m: Botswana’s Nijel Amos has been terrific in 2019, standing no. 2 on the world list at 1:43.65. He’s the favorite, ahead of a good field that include Kenyans Ferguson Rotich (1:44.11 in 2019), Emmanuel Korir (1:44.50) and Jonathan Kitilit (1:44.97) and American Clayton Murphy (1:44.59), coming off a strong mile performance in Oslo.

● Men/3,000 m Steeple: Home favorite Soufiane El Bakkali was the world leader at 8:07.22 until the Rome Diamond League, when Benjamin Kigen (8:06.13) and Getnet Wale (ETH: 8:06.83) passed him. All three are racing Sunday, along with American Hillary Bor (8:08.41) and Leonard Bett (KEN: 8:08.61), who were 2-3 behind El Bakkali in Doha.

● Men/110 m hurdles: Jamaica’s Olympic Champion Omar McLeod sits third on the world list for 2019 (13.12), behind Americans Grant Holloway (12.98) and Daniel Roberts (13.000> he’s like to change that in Rabat and will be pushed by 2015 World Champion Sergey Shubenkov (RUS: 13.26 this season) and Britain’s Andrew Pozzi (13.29).

● Men/Long Jump: A very strong field with Olympic champ and 2019 world leader Jeff Henderson (USA: 8.38 m/27-6), World Champion Luvo Manyonga (RSA: 8.35 m/27-4 3/4 in 2019) and 2017 Worlds bronze medalist Ruswahl Samaai (RSA: 8.21 m/26-11 1/4) all in. But all eyes will be on the erratic Juan-Miguel Echevarria (CUB), whose three outdoor meets have been 8.92 mw/29-3 1/4w (!!!), 7.95 m/26-1 and 8.12mw/26-7 3/4w for second in Stockholm. Which Juan shows up?

● Men/Discus: An all-star field with 2015 World Champion Piotr Malachowski (POL), 2016 Olympic Champion Christoph Harting (GER), 2017 World Champion Andrius Gudzius (LTU) and the top three on the world list for 2019, but the question is how far will Daniel Stahl (SWE) throw? His first two meets this season were wins in 70.56 m (231-6) in Doha and 69.57 m (228-3) in Stockholm, with a foul at almost 73 m (239-6). But then he had three fouls at the Nurmi Games in Turku (FIN). Is this the day he unleashes one for the ages?

● Women/100 m: This event has suddenly exploded, with Sha’Carri Richardson at 10.75, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (JAM) at 10.88 and Elaine Thompson (JAM) at 10.89. Marie-Josee Ta Lou (CIV: 11.14 in 2019), Dafne Schippers (NED: 11.06) and Blessing Okagbare (11.07) know now is the time to start running a lot faster.

● Women/400 m: Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser sits no. 2 on the world list and is undefeated in four meets this season at 400 m. Reigning World Champion Phyllis Francis (50.85 in 2019) is the best bet to do something about that, along with former USC star Kendall Ellis (51.75 in 2019).

● Women/1,500 m: Eight runners who have finished under 4:02 this season are entered, headed by 2019 world leader Genzebe Dibaba (ETH: 3:56.28), who won the race of the year (so far) in Rome. Countrywoman Gudaf Tsegay won in Nanjing (CHN) in 3:59.57 and then there are Axumawit Embaye (ETH: 4:00.17), Sifan Hassan (NED: 4:00.53), home favorite Rabab Arafi (MAR), American Jenny Simpson (4:01.18) and more.

● Women/Pole Vault: World and Olympic champ Katerina Stefanidi (GRE) leads this field, with World Indoor champ Sandi Morris (USA) challenging and both trying to better the current world-leading mark of 4.91 m (16-1 1/4) by Jenn Suhr of the U.S. American Katie Nageotte moved up to third on the 2019 list on Thursday in Prague, clearing 4.81 m (15-9 1/4).

● Women/Discus: Even though the world leader (and 2015 World Champion) Denia Caballero of Cuba is in the field (68.46 m/224-7), much of the focus will be on Croatia’s Sandra Perkovic, who threw poorly at the Bauhaus Galan in Stockholm (SWE), finishing fifth. Bad day at the office, or something more? We’ll find out in Rabat.

U.S. TV coverage from Rabat is only available on the NBC Sports Gold online program; NBC will be showing the adidas Boost Boston Games on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time. Look for Rabat results here.

The adidas Boost Boston Games will have some strong fields, especially in the oddball sprints scheduled to be run on an elevated track on Boylston Street in the downtown area. Look for record tries in:

● Men/150 m: (World best: 14.35, Usain Bolt (JAM), 2009) ~ Noah Lyles of the U.S., Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake (GBR) and Jereem Richards (TTO).

● Women/150 m: (World best: 16.10, Florence Griffith-Joyner (USA), 1988) ~ Shaunae Miller-Uibo (BAH), Michelle-Lee Ahye (CIV) and Shania Collins (USA).

● Women/200 m hurdles: (World best: 24.8h, Yadisleidis Pedroso (ITA), 2013) ~ Shamier Little (USA) and Cassandra Tate (USA).

In the more traditional events, 2017 World Champion Tori Bowie is scheduled to run the women’s 100 m, an event she hasn’t run since winning the Pre Classic last May and suffering an injury. Now would be a good time to show some fitness and she will have Murielle Ahoure (CIV) and American Aleia Hobbs (11.03 in 2019) to push her.

In the men’s 200 m on the straight, Steven Gardiner (BAH) has already run 20.04 around the turn in 2019 and will be pushed by Britain’s Zharnel Hughes (9.97 for 100 m in 2019) and possibly 32-year-old LaShawn Merritt, who just opened his 2019 season with a second in 20.51 in a low-key meet in Florida on 8 June.

As noted above, the meet will be shown on NBC; look for results here.

HEARD AFTER HALFTIME: Not so fast on Australia for 2032, no racing at all for Caster Semenya and a Freddy Mercury look-alike?

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

● Games of the XXVth Olympiad ● International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach (GER) told reporters during a Friday teleconference that the possibility of an award of the 2032 Olympic Games next year – as suggested by Australian IOC member John Coates in Brisbane on Thursday – is premature.

“First of all we have to get approval from the IOC Session for these reforms and then we can start to get a clearer picture on the timing. Then it always takes two to tango,” Bach was quoted by the Around the Rings news site.

“We have not started any candidature procedure. We are many years ahead of 2032 … 13 years ahead. It’s too early to speak about favorites.

“Having said this, I was pretty impressed on my visit in Brisbane and Queensland. So if there would be a candidature from Brisbane and Queensland, given the hardware and infrastructure and the software, the love of the Aussies for sport and organizational skills, they would be a very strong candidate.”

Bach also noted that the reforms proposed do not indicate a plan to narrow the “election” of a host city/county to just a single candidate. “If the situation is coming that we see such a competition makes sense and the candidates appreciate this competition, then yes the door is open [to multiple candidates].

“On the other hand we have also the opportunity that the Executive Board upon recommendation of the [future host] commission then would propose only one candidate.”

● Athletics ● The IAAF Diamond League meet in Rabat (MAR) on Sunday has been drawn into controversy by denying South Africa’s Caster Semenya a spot in the women’s 800 m.

After the Swiss Federal Tribunal suspended the IAAF’s female eligibility regulations for events from the 400 m to the mile, Semenya applied to enter Sunday’s meet, but was refused. Her attorneys stated that “She was notified on June 11 that the president of the Moroccan Athletics Federation has denied her participation in the 800m in Rabat.

“Caster is currently seeking clarity on the specific reasons for that decision, and she urges the IAAF to ensure its member federations comply with the law and the Supreme Court’s orders of May 31 and June 12.”

In the meantime, the start lists for the meet are posted here.

● Athletics ● Not everyone was thrilled with the Bislett Games in Oslo on Thursday. Reader Ron Brumel of Los Angeles wrote in:

“To paraphrase Ronald Reagan: Here we go again.

“While the Oslo meet had many outstanding performances, one again the idiotic false start rule played a role in diminishing the overall quality of the event.

“Brianna Rollins’ false start, and the ensuing waste of time of the dramatic ‘presentation of the Red Card’ ceremony probably dismantled what should have been the most competitive event of the meet.

“As I’ve stated previously in this space, the one-and-out rule should be reserved for preliminary heats, dual meets, and the like. The high end events, such as championship finals on all levels, and major invitationals such as the Diamond League, should utilize the previous rule of one false start (flinch, twitch, imbalance, etc.) on the field and DQ on the second infraction.”

As you might guess, Brumel is a coach and not a television producer. Just sayin’ …

Winner Christina Clemons (12.69) said afterwards, “I’m pretty satisfied; the crowd was great and it’s amazing to come here to such great fans. Track and field is much bigger over here than in the States. It was really good fun.

“I had to focus after the false start, put it all out there and just be sharp. The start’s my strong point and execution is the most important thing, I felt good and I got the win. I’m definitely focused now on the USAs: making the team is no joke, so that’s all I can think about now, and then making sure I take a medal in Doha.”

● Badminton ● One of the finest badminton players in history, Malaysia’s Chong Wei Lee, announced his retirement on Thursday, ending a career that included three Olympic silver medals in men’s Singles from 2008-12-16 and four World Championships medals from 2005-15.

He tweeted, “I’m sorry that I couldn’t make it to Tokyo this time around. And I’m sorry I didn’t deliver an Olympic gold. But I know I’ve no regrets as I’ve tried my best. My very best. Thank you very much to all of you. Lee Chong Wei signing out.”

Lee, 36, was devastated by a diagnosis of nose cancer in 2018 and the condition was not revealed until last September. The treatment has been difficult and his physicians advised against his continuing to play.

In a sport dominated by Chinese stars, he was ranked no. 1 in the world for 199 consecutive weeks from 2008-12 and leaves the sport with 69 international titles.

● Biathlon ● The Russian TASS news agency reported that former Moscow Laboratory director and whistleblower Grigory Rodchenkov has been a significant source of information for the International Biathlon Union’s External Review Commission with regard to doping and cover-ups.

“Rodchenkov passed the information over to WADA that former President of the Russian Biathlon Union, four-time Olympic gold medalist Alexander Tikhonov was aware of the fact that the Russian side had transferred a large amount of money to former IBU head Anders Besseberg and Secretary General Nicole Resch, who possibly covered up the positive doping samples of Russian biathletes. These testimonies formed the backbone of the anti-corruption investigation launched by the Austrian police in 2018. Tikhonov himself blasted the statements made by Rodchenkov as false in an interview with TASS.”

The Commission’s most recent report noted that it is working in cooperation with Austrian and other authorities who are continuing to investigate doping in biathlon and other winter sports.

● Equestrian ● Tragedy in San Diego, where Robert Gage, a long-time star as a rider, trainer, coach and judge, died on Wednesday (12th), possibly a suicide. Gage was accused of sexual misconduct and was sanctioned – effective 1 February of this year – by the U.S. Center for SafeSport, which has raised considerable ire within the sport.

One rider, Markie Morrison, posted a social-media notice that included, “[U.S. Equestrian Federation] and SafeSport, I hope you take a good long look at what you’ve done. SafeSport is turning the entire equestrian community into a witch hunt. I’ve never felt so lucky to be female before and so worried for the future of the sport. Now an innocent man is gone and they are to blame. I’m expecting a statement, although nothing they can say will fix this.”

There’s sentiment on the other side, of course, but this is the second death possibly linked to a suspensions from the Center for SafeSport. Former figure skater John Coughlin committed suicide in January, a day after being suspended by SafeSport, reportedly for sexual misconduct.

● World Beach Games ● The Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) announced that the World Beach Games will be held in Qatar:

“The Qatar government has provided ANOC with financial guarantees and has a proven track-record in successfully hosting international events, including world championships in swimming, handball, gymnastics and cycling.”

The event, which ANOC removed from San Diego due to a lack of funding, will be held from 12-16 October.

● At the BuZZer ● Pretty sharp comment from @TrackSuperfan Jesse Squire:

I think he’s quite right about Henrik, the eldest of the three star Norwegian middle-distance runners. He’s coming off a pretty legendary performance of his own, setting a national record for 3,000 m (7:36.85) in fourth at Thursday’s Bislett Games.

SWIMMING: Urlando, 17, erases a Michael Phelps 200 m Fly record in Tyr Pro Swim in Clovis

By
Rich Perelman
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Teen butterfly star Luca Urlando (USA)

He’s only 17, but it’s worth remembering this name: Luca Urlando.

The teen from Sacramento, California confirmed his world-class status by winning his second event of the Tyr Pro Swim Series meet in Clovis, California, posting a lifetime best in the 200 m Butterfly in 1:53.84. That improves on his 1:54.35 win at the Mel Zajac Invitational in Vancouver (CAN) a couple of weeks back, which moved him to no. 3 on the 2019 world list.

Moreover, the 1:53.84 clocking lowered the U.S. National Age-Group Record for the 17-18 crowd, replacing the venerable 2003 mark for Michael Phelps of 1:53.93. Not too bad; the time leaves him at no. 3 for 2019.

The women’s racing produced a triple winner – with one day to go – in Canada’s Sydney Pickem, who added the 200 m Breast to her Thursday wins in the 100 m Breast and 400 m Medley.

There was also a “family” double in the women’s 50 m Free and 50 m Back, as Catie DeLoof (22) set a lifetime best at 24.99 and older sister Ali (24) won the 50 m Back in 28.05.

One more day to go; summaries so far:

USA Swimming/Tyr Pro Swim Series
Clovis, California (USA) ~ 12-15 June 2019
(Full results here; all U.S. unless otherwise noted)

Men

50 m Freestyle: 1. Bradley Tandy (RSA), 22.17; 2. Michael Chadwick, 22.28; 3. Gabe Castano (MEX), 22.35.

200 m Free: 1. Trey Freeman, 1:47.86; 2. Townley Haas, 1:48.02; 3. Gianluca Urlando, 1:48.58.

400 m Free: 1. Freeman, 3:49.16; 2. Akaram Mahmoud (EGY), 3:53.94; 3. Chris Wieser, 3:54.81.

800 m Free: 1. Mahmoud (EGY), 8:00.86; 2. Wieser, 8:01.98; 3. Ricardo Vargas Jacobo (MEX), 8:09.75.

50 m Backstroke: 1. Justin Ress, 25.05; 2. Matt Grevers, 25.21; 3. Chris Staka, 25.57.

100 m Back: 1. Grevers, 53.59; 2. Ress, 54.25; 3. Markus Thormeyer (CAN), 54.50.

100 m Breast: 1. Brandon Fischer, 59.86; 2. Devon Nowicki, 1:00.97; 3. Miguel de Lara Ojeda (MEX), 1:01.15.

200 m Breast: 1. Daniel Roy, 2:10.43; 2. A.J. Pouch, 2:11.06; 3. Fischer, 2:11.91.

50 m Butterfly: 1. Peter Holoda (HUN), 23.78; 2. Giles Smith, 23.95; 3. Ryan Coetzee (RSA), 24.14.

100 m Fly: 1. Urlando, 52.20; 2. G. Smith, 52.63; 3. Coetzee (RSA), 53.57.

200 m Fly: 1. Urlando, 1:53.84; 2. Justin Wright, 1:58.61; 3. Ben Miller, 2:00.41.

400 m Medley: 1. Jarod Arroyo, 4:21.65; 2. Erick Gordillo (GUA), 4:27.00; 3. Brodie Young (CAN), 4:28.18.

Women

50 m Freestyle: 1. Catie DeLoof, 24.99; 2. Julie Meynen (LUX), 25.08; 3. Mallory Comerford, 25.21.

200 m Free: 1. Leah Smith, 1:57.40; 2. Comerford, 1:57.93; 3. Emily Overholt (CAN), 1:57.97.

400 m Free: 1. Erica Sullivan, 4:10.36; 2. Evie Pfeifer, 4:11.77; 3. Claire Tuggle, 3:14.37.

800 m Free: 1. L. Smith, 8:22.87; 2. Sullivan, 8:27.06; 3. Megan Dalke (CAN), 8:56.43.

50 m Backstroke: 1. Ali DeLoof, 28.05; 2. Amy Bilquist, 28.44; 3. Isabelle Stadden, 28.64.

100 m Back: 1. Stadden, 59.71; 2. A. DeLoof, 1:00.59; 3. C. DeLoof, 1:01.60.

100 m Breast: 1. Sydney Pickrem (CAN), 1:07.20; 2. Melissa Rodroguez (MEX), 1:07.32; 3. Alia Atkinson (JAM), 1:08.00.

200 m Breast: 1. Pickrem (CAN), 2:25.52; 2. Rodriguez (MEX), 2:25.54; 3. Esther Gonzalez (MEX), 2:29.44.

50 m Butterfly: 1. Kendyl Stewart, 26.35; 2. Kelsi Dahlia, 26.38; 3. Hansson (SWE), 26.54.

100 m Fly: 1. Louise Hansson (SWE), 57.36; 2. Dahlia, 57.45; 3. Stewart, 58.35.

200 m Fly: 1. Dahlia, 2:10.69; 2. Remedy Rule, 2:11.56; 3. Lauren Case, 2:12.13.

400 m Medley: 1. Pickrem (CAN), 4:40.64; 2. Overholt (CAN), 4:44.23; 3. Evie Pfeifer, 4:44.51.

WRESTLING Preview: Final Final X in Lincoln to select last 15 U.S. team members for 2019 Worlds

By
Rich Perelman
-
London 2012 Olympic wrestling champion Jordan Burroughs (USA)

The final chapter in the long process to select the U.S. team for the 2019 World Championships comes Saturday in the final Final X matches, at the Devaney Center at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. There are 15 matches scheduled, with five each in men’s and women’s Freestyle and men’s Greco-Roman. Thumbnail sketches on each match:

Men/Freestyle

● 57 kg: Daton Fix vs. Tom Gilman

These two faced off in the U.S. Open final, with Fix winning, 8-4. That reversed the results of the 2018 Final X bouts, where Gilman won and advanced to the World Championships, where he finished fifth. Fix was the 2017 World Junior Champion; Gilman won the World Junior bronze back in 2014. This figures to be close, very close.

● 61 kg: Joe Colon vs. Tyler Graff

Colon won the 2018 Worlds bronze in this class and advanced directly to Final X . He won the 2018 national title and the 2018 and 2019 Pan American championship. Graff was only fourth at the U.S. Open, but rebounded to take the Team Trials Challenge Tournament

● 70 kg: Ryan Deakin vs. James Green

This is a re-match of the U.S. Open final, where Deaken surprised Green, 8-5. Green came in as the 2017 Worlds silver medalist and 2015 bronze medalist, but had to work his way back through the World Team Trials Challenge process. Deaken was the 2017 World Junior silver medalist; can he repeat his Open win?

● 74 kg: Jordan Burroughs vs. Isaiah Martinez

The final match of the night will feature the legendary Burroughs, a two-time NCAA champ for Nebraska, the 2012 Olympic champ and world champion in 2011-13-15-17. He won a Worlds bronze in 2018, so here he is in Final X against Martinez, who won the U.S. Open and the Team Trials Challenge tourney for the second straight year. But beating Burroughs would be a substantial upset.

● 97 kg: Kyle Snyder vs. Kyven Gadson

Snyder won the World title in 2015 and 2017 and the Olympic gold medal in 2016, but lost in the World Championships final in 2018. Gadson won the 2017 and 2019 U.S. Open titles but has not yet found a way around Snyder. Last year at Final X, Snyder defeated Gadson in two matches, 9-0 and 10-2.

Men/Greco-Roman

● 60 kg: Leslie Fuenffinger vs. Ildar Hafizov

Fuenffinger has worked his way up the ladder, from fifth at the 2012 U.S. Open to second in 2018 and to the top step in 2019, defeating Hafizov, 6-4, in the final. Hafizov, who was a 2008 Olympian for Uzbekistan, was a 2017 Worlds team member for the U.S. and won the World Team Trails Challenge to get another shot at representing the U.S.

● 63 kg: Ryan Mango vs. Xavier Johnson

Mango was second at the 2017 U.S. Open and national champion in 2018 and 2019. Johnson moved up from sixth at the U.S. Open this year to take the World Team Trials Challenge tournament.

● 72 kg: Raymond Bunker vs. Alex Mossing

Bunker won his first national title this year, with a surprising 4-3 win over RaVaughn Perkins. Mossing has been wrestling at the U-23 level, but won the World Team Trials Challenge tourney to get a shot at the U.S. team heading to Kazakhstan.

● 97 kg: G’Angelo Hancock vs. Lucas Sheridan

Hancock is a two-time U.S. champ in 2017 and 2019 and defeated Sheridan in the 2019 Open final, 9-0. Sheridan has been third and second at the 2018 and 2019 nationals; can he overcome Hancock to make the U.S. Worlds team?

● 130 kg: Adam Coon vs. Cohlton Schultz

Coon is exceptionally versatile, as the Worlds silver medalist in this event in 2018, but also winning the 2018 and 2019 U.S. Open titles at 125 kg in Freestyle. He ended up second in the World Team Trials Challenge event in Freestyle, but he’s defending his team spot in Greco against Schultz, the 2018 World Junior bronze medalist, who won the Trials Challenge event in his first as a senior.

Women/Freestyle

● 53 kg: Sarah Hildebrandt vs. Katherine Shai

The Worlds silver medalist in 2018, Hildebrandt was also the 2018 national champion. Shai lost to Tiare Ikei at the 2019 U.S. Open, 14-4, but came back to win the World Team Trials Challenge tourney. She’s been close to making the U.S. team: second at the World Team Trials in 2014 and third in the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Trials. But beating Hildebrandt will be a tall order.

● 55 kg: Jacarra Winchester vs. Dominique Parrish

Winchester has won the last two U.S. Opens and was fifth at the 2018 World Champs. She won her 2019 title with a 10-0 technical fall over Arena Villaescusa, while Parrish finished third with her own technical fall over. Alisha Houk (10-0). Parrish has some international experience as well, as a three-time member of the U.S. U-23 Worlds team the last three years, so this should be interesting.

● 59 kg: Alli Ragan vs. Lauren Louive

Ragan is a two-time Worlds silver medalist from 2016 and 2017 and defeated Abigail Nette by 10-0 to win the U.S. Open in April, her third national title. Louive came back through the World Team Trials Challenge tournament to get to Final X; she was the U.S. Open runner-up in 2018.

● 62 kg: Mallory Velte vs. Kayla Miracle

Velte won a bronze medal at the 2018 World Championships and qualified directly to Final X. Miracle is the three-time defending U.S. Open champion and the two were head-to-head at Final X last year and went to three matches. Miracle won the first match, 4-2; Velte won the second by 4-2 and in the decider, Velte managed a 7-1 victory to make the U.S. team. This match should be just as close.

● 76 kg: Adeline Gray vs. Precious Bell

Gray is the dominant women’s heavyweight, winning four World titles in 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2018 (after taking a year off). Bell won the 2019 U.S. Open by pinfall and won the World Team Trials Challenge, but beating Gray would count as a stunner.

The matches are being shown only on FloWrestling, a subscription site. Look for results here.

SWIMMING Panorama: Australian trials finish with three world leaders and a powerful Worlds team

By
Rich Perelman
-

The Australian Trials for the 2019 FINA World Championships finished on Friday, with more excellent marks:

● Women/100 m Free: Cate Campbell continued her rampage with a win in 22.05, ahead of sister Bronte (24.17) and Emma McKeon (24.25).

Cate has been faster in 2019 (22.00), but her winning time in Brisbane would rank second otherwise. Bronte moves to no. 4 on the 2019 year list and McKeon to no. 5.

● Women/200 m Back: Kaylee McKeown won in 2:06.35, making her no. 3 on the year list and Minna Atherton was second in 2:06.82, now no. 6.

There was a lot of great swimming at the Aussie Trials, including three world-leading times:

● Men/100 m Free: 47.35, Kyle Chalmers (AUS)
● Men/200 m Medley: 1:55.72, Mitch Larkin (AUS)
● Women/100 m Free: 52.12, Cate Campbell (AUS)

Swimming Australia announced its Worlds team, with 27 athletes and eight coaches. It’s a superb team that will be looking to improve on its dismal showing at the 2017 Worlds, where Australia won just 10 medals, compared to 16 in 2015, 13 in 2013 and 13 in 2011.

SPEED READ: Headlines from The Sports Examiner for Friday, 14 June 2019

By
Rich Perelman
-

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

LANE ONE

Wednesday: After some reversals in Federal court, the NCAA has formed a working group to figure out how to reform its rules to allow collegiate athletes to be paid for the use of their name and likeness. There’s a good idea here, but let’s not kid ourselves. This will likely create just as problems as it purports to solve.

Friday: Australian Olympic insider John Coates, a close advisor to International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach, says the Games of the XXV Olympiad could be awarded as early as 2020 (!) and that Australia is in a prime position to get the event!

THE BIG PICTURE

Monday: The IAAF Council decided to keep Russia on suspension and the federation’s task force is well aware of some shenanigans going on with a doping violation cover-up and some suspended coaches showing up in the wrong place. The head of the Russian Olympic Committee was not amused. The IAAF also decided to change its name and logo, both of which are dumb moves.

HEARD AFTER HALFTIME

Thursday: Another doping positive from the London 2012 Games, this time in canoeing … sad news of the passing of U.S. distance star Gabe Grunewald … LSU frosh Sha’Carri Richardson turns pro … Calgary’s 2026 Winter Games bid effort and vote cost half as much as expected … and more.

ARCHERY

Monday: The 50th World Archery World Championships are underway in the Netherlands and Brady Ellison leads a strong U.S. presence among 30 prior Olympic or Worlds medal winners in Recurve and Compound. And there is Olympic qualifying the line.

ATHLETICS

Thursday: Sold-out Bislett Games in Oslo saw six world-leading marks, including 9.85 for U.S. star Christian Coleman in the 100 m, but the race of the day was teen Sydney McLaughlin rocketing down the straight to fly by Rio Olympic champ Dalilah Muhammad in the women’s 400 m hurdles! Wow!

BEACH VOLLEYBALL

Tuesday: The last major tune-up for the World Championships is in Warsaw (POL), with many of the top teams in the world looking for medals. Can anyone stop Norway’s Anders Mol and Christian Sorum from winning their fourth major tourney is a row?

CYCLING

Thursday: The final tune-up for the Tour de France is the Tour de Suisse that starts this weekend, with an excellent field and the return of Colombian star Egon Bernal from a broken collarbone.

FOOTBALL

Tuesday: The United States women’s National Team pummeled Thailand by 13-0 in the FIFA Women’s World Cup, a new record for the most goals in a World Cup game. Alex Morgan had five alone – tying the record – but our exclusive look at the first round of matches shows this tournament is all about Europe … so far.

Thursday: The 15th edition of the CONCACAF Gold Cup starts Saturday, with matches in the U.S., Costa Rica and Jamaica. Mexico is the hot favorite, and what about the U.S, losers of its last two friendlies, to Jamaica and Venezuela?

RUGBY

Thursday: New Zealand can win its fifth World Rugby Sevens Series title in the final leg of the season this weekend in France, while the U.S. women can clinch their highest finish ever and a spot in the Tokyo 2020 tournament!

SWIMMING

Wednesday: Modest fields for the final Tyr Pro Swim Series meet in Clovis this week, but perhaps a new star to look for in 2020?

Wednesday: Strong marks at the Australian World Championships Trials, as Emma McKeon and Ariarne Titmus going 1-2 in the 400 m Freestyle in the second and third-fastest times of the season. Plus American Michael Andrew moving to no. 3 for 2019 in the 50 m Back at the Mare Nostrum series in France, and the dozen swimmers who earned $50,000 or more at the FINA Champions Swim Series.

Thursday: Cate Campbell swam the sixth-fastest women’s 100 m Free in history at the Australian World Championships Trials, and three more Aussie stars weren’t far behind. Plus another win for Mitch Larkin, his third at the Trials.

PREVIEWS

Canoe-Kayak: Slalom World Cup season begins at the London 2012 venue.
Cycling: Tour de France warm-up, the Criterium du Dauphine in France.
Cycling: Another Tour de France warm-up, the Tour de Suisse in the Swiss Alps.
Table Tennis: Best in the world lined up for the Japan Open in Hokkaido!

UPCOMING

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

● Athletics: The IAAF Diamond League is in Rabat (MAR) for another meet on Sunday!

● Football: The Women’s World Cup continues and the CONCACAF Gold Cup begins!

● Wrestling: USA Wrestling’s final Final X showdown comes Saturday in Lincoln.

And, don’t look now, but the IOC will soon select the host for the 2026 Winter Games.

SWIMMING: Smith and Pickrem win two each in Tyr Pro Swim at Clovis

By
Rich Perelman
-
Canadian World Championships medal winner Sydney Pickrem

The final leg of the Tyr Pro Swim Series has started well for American distance star Leah Smith and Canada’s Sydney Pickrem, each of whom won two events on Thursday evening at the Clovis North Aquatic Center.

Smith won the 800 m Free easily on Wednesday and came back on Thursday at take the 200 m Free in a season’s best of 1:57.40, beating U.S. sprint star Mallory Comerford (1:57.93).

Pickrem, the 2017 Worlds bronze medalist in the 400 m Medley, won her specialty in 4:40.64 and took the 100 m Breast in 1:07.20.

The most impressive swim on Thursday may have been from Sweden’s Louise Hansson, who raced to a speedy win in the 100 m Butterfly in 57.36, just ahead of American star Kelsi Dahlia (57.45). Hansson has swum 57.35 this season and ranks fourth in the world list in 2019; her time on Thursday would also place her there. Dahlia’s mark was a season’s best by 0.10 and moves her to no. 5 on the world list.

The meet continues on Friday and Saturday. Summaries so far:

USA Swimming/Tyr Pro Swim Series
Clovis, California (USA) ~ 12-15 June 2019
(Full results here)

Men

200 m Free: 1. Trey Freeman, 1:47.86; 2. Townley Haas, 1:48.02; 3. Gianluca Urlando, 1:48.58.

800 m Free: 1. Akaram Mahmoud (EGY), 8:00.86; 2. Chris Wieser, 8:01.98; 3. Ricardo Vargas Jacobo (MEX), 8:09.75.

50 m Backstroke: 1. Justin Ress, 25.05; 2. Matt Grevers, 25.21; 3. Chris Staka, 25.57.

100 m Breast: 1. Brandon Fischer, 59.86; 2. Devon Nowicki, 1:00.97; 3. Miguel de Lara Ojeda (MEX), 1:01.15.

100 m Fly: 1. Urlando, 52.20; 2. Giles Smith, 52.63; 3. Ryan Coetzee (RSA), 53.57.

400 m Medley: 1. Jarod Arroyo, 4:21.65; 2. Erick Gordillo (GUA), 4:27.00; 3. Brodie Young (CAN), 4:28.18.

Women

200 m Free: 1. Leah Smith, 1:57.40; 2. Mallory Comerford, 1:57.93; 3. Emily Overholt (CAN), 1:57.97.

800 m Free: 1. L. Smith, 8:22.87; 2. Erica Sullivan, 8:27.06; 3. Megan Dalke (CAN), 8:56.43.

50 m Backstroke: 1. Ali Deloof, 28.05; 2. Amy Bilquist, 28.44; 3. Isabelle Stadden, 28.64.

100 m Breast: 1. Sydney Pickrem (CAN), 1:07.20; 2. Melissa Rodroguez (MEX), 1:07.32; 3. Alia Atkinson (JAM), 1:08.00.

100 m Fly: 1. Louise Hansson (SWE), 57.36; 2. Kelsi Dahlia, 57.45; 3. Kendyl Stewart, 58.35.

400 m Medley: 1. Pickrem (CAN), 4:40.64; 2. Overholt (CAN), 4:44.23; 3. Evie Pfeifer, 4:44.51.

LANE ONE: IOC heavyweight John Coates says the 2032 Olympic Games be awarded next year, and possibly to Australia

By
Rich Perelman
-
International Olympic Committee memberJohn Coates (AUS) addressing the Future Tourism Forum in Brisbane on Thursday (Photo: Australian Olympic Committee)

When Australia’s John Coates speaks about the Olympic Games, it’s worth the time to listen. A senior vice-president of the Sydney Olympic Organizing Committee for the 2000 Games, he was elected to membership in the International Olympic Committee in 2001, was a vice president from 20013-17 and has been a key advisor to current president Thomas Bach (GER).

In an address to a Thursday luncheon audience in Brisbane concerning tourism, Coates gripped the audience with these comments:

“The election by the IOC of the host for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games would normally be taken ‘seven years before’ that is, in 2025; however, if proposed changes to the Games host election process are approved in 12 days’ time and there is a candidate ready to put its hand up, this election could be as early as the IOC Session in Tokyo next year before the opening of the Games on 24 July.”

and

“The 2032 Olympic Games is there to win. I hope you will give it serious consideration.”

Coming from Coates, 69, this is a signal that he believes – as an ultimate insider – the Games of the XXXV Olympiad can be acquired quickly, inexpensively and before anyone else can get organized, as soon as next year. And his speech has already been making the rounds of Olympic news site and those in other cities and countries fantasizing about the 2032 Games.

Coates made a number of important points in his remarks worth further scrutiny:

● Costs

Coates said this; read it slowly (and the math does add up):

“The Tokyo 2020 Games has an operational budget of USD 5.6 billion and will pay for themselves, with USD 1.6 billion contributed by the IOC, USD 800 million revenue from ticketing, USD 100 million from licensing and USD 3.1 billion from national sponsors, to date.”

and

“We’re [the IOC] reducing the costs for cities to bid: the average budget for the 2026 Olympic Winter candidates is over 75% lower than for the 2018 and 2022 candidates, and when I shortly explain the proposed future election process, you will appreciate that the budget for bidding for 2032 could be minimal.”

● Modifications in the bidding process

Coates went on to explain that the IOC’s new working group – of which he is the chair, which was not disclosed in the speech – has proposed for approval later this month a plan for a “ permanent, ongoing dialogue to explore and create interest among cities/regions/countries and NOCs for Olympic Games” and that the IOC should be able to “react to various developments and opportunities” in naming future hosts, without any set time frame.

● Revenue assurance through 2032

He also was clear why it is possible to think of a 2032 award now instead of the future: money. This is important:

“The U.S. Broadcast Rightsholder, NBC has contracted to pay, for the territory of America alone, around USD 2.3 billion per Olympic quadrennium including the current, through to 2032.

“This is by far the largest of all Olympic broadcast rights payments and constitutes around 40% of total Olympic revenue. It is because of this revenue and the long-term contracts the IOC has with its worldwide Olympic sponsor partners, that President Bach was able to inform Councillor Adrian Shrinner, as Chair of the Council of Mayors of SEQ, and Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk when he met with them here in Queensland early last month, that any candidature for 2032 can be assured of a USD 1.8 billion contribution from the IOC towards its operational budget.”

For anyone who thinks the IOC is somehow asleep, here is the proof to the contrary. NBC’s contract is the bedrock on which the Olympic Movement stands today. He did not mention the comparatively tiny agreements for broadcasters in Brazil and Korea; it’s the U.S. market that powers the Games and all of the surrounding programs.

In truth, the IOC should be contributing more than $1.8 billion for 2032, as that’s the amount it is contributing to Los Angeles for 2028.

As Coates noted, there has already been significant discussion in Australia and especially in South East Queensland (SEQ) about a future Olympic Games, propelled by the success of the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast. The SEQ area includes Brisbane – site of the luncheon – which hosted an excellent Commonwealth Games in 1982 and the Goodwill Games in 2001.

He also brought his own view – again, from someone who knows – that the area can meet the IOC’s base requirements to be a successful candidate:

“On the basis that SEQ is the only significant region, and Queensland the only State in Australia with all three of the requisite climate, population and sporting infrastructure to host a summer Games in July/August, the AOC gave its in-principle support for a Games in SEQ and for a feasibility study into hosting them.”

The July-August timing is key because that’s when NBC and the large European broadcasters want the Games to take place, away from the crowded national sports schedules of the fall and winter months in those countries.

To his credit, Coates was clear that his view that a 2032 Games in South East Queensland would be financially feasible extends to the “operational” budget of the Games, which does NOT include the construction of any new venues or supporting facilities (such as Olympic Villages) or the required governmental support for security and visa control at a minimum. That’s a different issue and not a small one for the country or region to consider.

Coates’s speech is being read and re-read with great interest in many countries which have talked publicly about a 2032 bid: China, Germany, India, Indonesia and a joint North-South Korea bid. The rush will now start in those countries to be ready with their own plans on the assumption that Australia will move ahead.

Will the IOC actually award the 2032 Games in 2020? It’s not likely today, but the idea will be widely discussed when the membership meets at the IOC Session from 24-26 June in Lausanne (SUI).

And Coates and Bach will asked about it now, repeatedly. The bidding and organizing process of an Olympic Games is often described as a marathon; Coates has essentially grabbed the starter’s pistol for 2032. What is yet to be determined is whether he actually started the race, or if he was only testing the timing system.

Rich Perelman
Editor

FOOTBALL: CONCACAF Gold Cup starts on Saturday, with Mexico favored for an 11th title

By
Rich Perelman
-

The 15th edition of the men’s championship of the North American, Central American and Caribbean region – the CONCACAF Gold Cup – starts Saturday with a new format and new hosts, but wide worries about the United States men’s team.

For the first time, the tournament has 16 teams (vs. 12) and will be played in three countries during the first round: Costa Rica (two games), Jamaica (two games) and the U.S. (the rest).

The teams are divided into four pools, with the top two in each group advancing to the quarterfinals beginning on 29 June. The pools (and FIFA World Rankings):

● Pool A: Mexico (18), Canada (78), Cuba (174), Martinique (not ranked)
● Pool B: Costa Rica (38), Haiti (100), Nicaragua (129), Bermuda (175-tie)
● Pool C: Honduras (61), Jamaica (56), El Salvador (71), Curacao (82)
● Pool D: United States (24), Panama (74), Trinidad & Tobago (93), Guyana (175-tie)

The first-round matches will be played in double-headers, with the opening matches in Pool B in San Jose (CRC) and the openers in Pool C in Kingston (JAM).

Mexico is the clear favorite and has won the CONCACAF title 10 times (including the pre-Gold Cup championship tournament), and the U.S. has won six Gold Cups, including two of the last three in 2013 and 2017. Canada has also won once, in 2000.

The U.S. is expected to be a contender, but has played so poorly in its last two friendlies – losses to Jamaica (1-0) and Venezuela (3-0) – that no one knows what to expect. Of the 23 players on the U.S. team, 13 have 10 or less appearances with the national team, but there are veterans such as Michael Bradley, Jozy Altidore, Omar Gonzalez and star midfielder Christian Pulisic on the roster.

In the 15 editions of the Gold Cup – which started in 1991 – the U.S. has failed to make the semifinals only once, in 2000. Mexico has missed thrice, in 2000-02-05.

The quarterfinals will be played on 29-30 June, the semis on 2-3 July and the final on 7 July in Chicago.

The TV broadcast schedule is here; Fox Sports and Univision have rights in the U.S. Look for match schedules, results and report here.

RUGBY Preview: New Zealand can clinch title, U.S. a Tokyo qualifier in final Womens Sevens Series tourney in France

By
Rich Perelman
-
The team captains ahead of the World Rugby Women's Seven Series finale in Biarritz (FRA). (Photo: World Rugby)

The final leg of the 2018-19 World Rugby Sevens Series for women comes this weekend in Biarritz (FRA), with New Zealand’s Black Ferns trying to clinch their fifth series title in the seven years it has been played. The standings:

1. 92 New Zealand
2. 80 United States
3. 78 Canada
4. 74 Australia
5. 60 France
6. 47 England
7. 42 Russia
8. 40 Ireland

The top four finishers in the standings will qualify for the Tokyo Sevens tournament. Like the men’s team which finished second, the U.S. Eagles are flying higher than ever before. The best previous finish for the U.S. women was fourth in 2012-13, but they sit second now and are almost assured of finishing in the top four. Canada, sitting third, has finished as high as second once, in 2014-15. Scoring is 20-18-16-14-12 for the top five places.

The pools for Biarritz:

● Pool A: New Zealand, England, Russia, Scotland
● Pool B: Australia, Canada, Spain, Ireland
● Pool C: United States, France, Fiji, China

Pool play will start on Saturday at the Stade Aguilera, with the final pool matches and playoffs on Sunday.

The seasonal scoring title will also be decided, with Canada’s Ghislaine Landry leading the parade with 185 total points, followed by Tyla Nathan-Wong (NZL: 173) and Ireland’s Aimee-Leigh Murphy (155). The tries leader is Murphy (31), ahead of Bianca Farella (CAN: 28) and Michaela Blyde (NZL: 24).

Look for match results here.

CYCLING Preview: Final warm-up for the Tour de France is the 83rd Tour de Suisse, starting Saturday

By
Rich Perelman
-

The final race on the UCI World Tour schedule prior to the Tour de France in July is the annual Tour de Suisse, as usual an arduous climb through the Swiss Alps, punctuated by two time trials.

The nine-stage program begins Saturday:

15 June: Stage 1 (9.5 km time trial): Langnau im Emmental (flat)
16 June: Stage 2 (159.6 km): Langnau im Emmental to Langnau im Emmental (hilly)
17 June: Stage 3 (162,3 km): Flamatt to Murten (hilly)
18 June: Stage 4 (163.9 km): Murten to Arlesheim (hilly)
19 June: Stage 5 (177.0 km): Münchenstein to Einsiedeln (mountains)
20 June: Stage 6 (120.2 km): Einsiedeln to Flumserberg (mountain finish)
21 June: Stage 7 (216.6 km): Unterterzen to St. Gotthard (mountain finish)
22 June: Stage 8 (19.2 km time trial): Goms to Goms (flat)
23 June: Stage 9 (144.4 km): Goms (mountains)

The strong field includes five former medal winners:

● Rui Costa (POR) ~ Winner in 2012-13-14
● Roman Kreuziger (CZE) ~ Winner in 2008
● Simon Spilak (SLO) ~ Winner in 2017
● Mathias Frank (SUI) ~ Second in 2014
● Geraint Thomas (GBR) ~ Second in 2015

Costa’s three wins are the second-most all-time to the four by Pasquale Fornara (ITA) in 1952-54-57-58. Speaking of winners: even though he has never finished higher than 30th overall, Slovakian star sprinter Peter Sagan enters the race with a remarkable 16 stage wins in the Tour de Suisse.

There are plenty of other contenders, but much attention will be focused on the return of Colombian star Egon Bernal, who last raced in March, but suffered a broken collarbone in training and has been out since.

Italian star Elia Viviani, already a winner on the World Tour this season, is entered, as is Rio Olympic champion Greg van Avermaet (BEL) and sprinters Matteo Trentin (ITA), Niklas Arndt (GER), John Degenkolb (GER) and many other quality riders. A strong showing in the Tour de Suisse is always looked at as a preview of what might happen in the Tour de France.

In that regard, Britain’s reigning Tour de France champ Geraint Thomas will be watched closely. He did not finish the Tirreno-Adriatico in March, was 40th in the Itzulia Basque Country race in April and third in the Tour de Romandie in May. He and Bernal – who are on the same team, Ineos – will not have four-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome with them for the Tour de France as he suffered a severe crash – with multiple fractures, and requiring surgery – prior to the fourth stage of the ongoing Criterium du Dauphine in France.

There have been Tour de Suisse and Tour de France doublers, but the last to win both in the same year as Lance Armstrong (USA) in 2001 and he was later disqualified for doping. Prior to him, Belgian legend Eddy Merckx was the last, way back in 1974.

Look for results here.

ATHLETICS: World lead for Coleman, McLaughlin runs down Muhammad in 400 m hurdles in Oslo Diamond League

By
Rich Perelman
-
Did I just win the Bislett Games? Yes you did, Sydney McLaughlin (Photo: IAAF)

There was a buzz about this year’s Bislett Games, in front of a sold-out crowd at Oslo’s famed Bislett Stadium … and it was American teen Sydney McLaughlin whizzing down the final straightaway in the 400 m hurdles.

This was the much-anticipated showdown between the 19-year-old McLaughlin, the world leader from 2018, and Rio Olympic champ Dalilah Muhammad, who had dominated the event this season and had the world lead at 53.61.

Muhammad looked great from the start, running away from the gun and well ahead by halfway. She had the lead after the 10th hurdle as well, but McLaughlin was closing like a rocket and ran Muhammad down in the final 5 m, winning in 54.16 to 54.35 for Muhammad.

Said McLaughlin afterwards, “I didn’t get out well, I hit the first hurdle with my knee but recovered well by fighting back. I’ve got to work on my first half of the race, the second half is always my strongest.

“It was a really great field and exciting to be a part of. It wasn’t the cleanest race for me but I came back strong and that shows me where I am fitness-wise. It was a sloppy race but I pulled through.”

Muhammad was disappointed. “It was not my day, I lost and did not run under 54 seconds. I was not surprised by Sydney, I felt her for the whole race. In my previous races I did not run well the first half of the race, today I tried, but it did not work like I wanted.”

A few minutes later, co-world 100 m leader Christian Coleman raced against a field he should beat easily … and did. He got out well, then accelerated away from the pack and won going away in a new world-leading time of 9.85, 0.01 faster than he and Noah Lyles ran in Shanghai.

“I’m pretty excited about it, it was a good run and a pretty good time,” said Coleman. “Now I’ll look back at the video and critique it. It wasn’t ideal conditions but the crowd made it exciting and I came out for the victory. I executed better than in the last race. I’m just focusing on myself and to peak at the right time.”

Those were only some of the highlights on a great day of track & field:

● Poland’s Marcin Lewandowski ran down the field in the final 80 m to take the Oslo “Deam Mile” in 3:52.34, a world-leading time. The U.S. finished 4-5 with Johnny Gregorek (3:52.94) and Clayton Murphy (3:52.97) both running well.

● Norway’s Karsten Warholm got the home crowd into a frenzy with a brilliant 47.33 national record victory in the 400 m hurdles, moving him to no. 2 on the world list for 2019.

● American Sam Kendricks was the only one to clear 5.91 m (19-4 3/4) in the pole vault, finishing ahead of Poland’s Piotr Lisek, American Cole Walsh and Swede Mondo Duplantis, all at 5.81 (19-0 3/4). For Walsh, that was a lifetime best!

● In the women’s Steeple, world-record holder Beatrice Chepkoech held the lead and looked like a winner until her shadow, fellow Kenyan Norah Jeruto exploded off the final hurdle and took an upset win, 9:03.71-9:04.30. American Emma Coburn ran well in her season debut in the event, finishing fourth in 9:08.42, the no. 10 performance in U.S. history.

● The women’s 100 m hurdles started badly when Rio Olympic champ Brianna McNeal was disqualified for a false start. Off the gun, Christina Clemons of the U.S. got stronger and stronger as the race progressed and won by 1.69-12.74 over fellow American Sharika Nelvis.

● American Keturah Orji was on her first European trip and it looked for a while that the 2016 Olympic fourth-placer was going to pull a big upset in Oslo. But Olympic gold medalist Caterine Ibarguen (COL) took the lead in the fifth round at 14.79 m (48-6 1/4), and Orji had to settle for a very good second at 14.53 m (47-8).

The meet had six world-leading marks:

● Men/100 m: 9.85, Christian Coleman (USA)
● Men/Mile: 3:52.34, Marcin Lewandowski (POL)
● Men/3000 m: 7:32.17, Selemon Barega (ETH)
● Women/3,000 m Steeple: 9:03.71, Norah Jeruto (KEN)
● Women/High Jump: 2.01 m (6-7), Mariya Lasitskene (RUS)
● Women/Triple Jump: 14.79 m (48-6 1/4), Caterine Ibarguen (COL)

The Diamond League continues this weekend, with the Meeting Mohammad VI in Rabat (MAR) on Sunday (16th). Summaries from Oslo:

IAAF Diamond League/Bislett Games
Oslo (NOR) ~ 13 June 2019
(Full results here)

Men

100 m (wind: +0.9 m/s): 1. Christian Coleman (USA), 9.85; 2. Zhenye Xie (CHN), 10.01; 3. Michael Rodgers (USA), 10.04.

800 m (non-Diamond League): 1. Ryan Sanchez (PUR), 1:46.34; 2. Cornelius Tuwei (KEN), 1:46.52; 3. Michal Rozmys (POL), 1:46.71.

Mile: 1. Marcin Lewandowski (POL), 3:52.34; 2. Vincent Kibet (KEN), 3:52.38; 3. Ayanleh Souleiman (DJI), 3:52.66. Also: 4. John Gregorek (USA), 3:52. 94; 5. Clayton Murphy (USA), 3:52.97.

3,000 m: 1. Selemon Barega (ETH), 7:32.17; 2. Joshua Cheptegei (UGA), 7:33.26; 3. Nicholas Kemeli (KEN), 7:34.85. Also: 7. Drew Hunter (USA), 7:39.85; 8. Ben True (USA), 7:40.49.

400 m hurdles: 1. Karsten Warholm (NOR), 47.33; 2. Thomas Barr (IRL), 49.11; 3. Kyron McMaster (IVB), 49.12. Also: 4. David Kendziera (USA), 49.27; … 7. T.J. Holmes (USA), 50.60.

Pole Vault: 1. Sam Kendricks (USA), 5.91 m (19-4 3/4); 2. Piotr Lisek (POL), 5.81 m (19-0 3/4); 3. Cole Walsh (USA), 5.81 m (19-0 3/4). Also: 4. Mondo Duplantis (SWE), 5.81 m (19-03/4).

Javelin: 1. Johannes Vetter (GER), 85.27 m (279-9); 2. Magnus Kirt (EST), 84.74 m (278-0); 3. Chao-Tsun Cheng (TPE), 84.30 m (276-7).

Women

200 m (-0.7 m/s): 1. Dafne Schippers (NED), 22.56; 2. Crystal Emanuel (CAN), 22.89; 3. Jenna Prandini (USA), 23.10. Also: 4. Gabby Thomas (USA), 23.11; … 6. Kyra Jefferson (USA), 23.23.

800 m (non-Diamond League): 1. Halimah Nakaayi (UGA), 2:01.93; 2. Selina Buchel (SUI), 2:02.32; 3. Diribe Welteji (ETH), 2:02.85.

3,000 m Steeple: 1. Norah Jeruto (KEN), 9:03.71; 2. Beatrice Chepkoech (KEN), 9:04.30; 3. Hyvin Kiyeng (KEN), 9:07.56;. Also: 4. Emma Coburn (USA), 9:08.42; … 13. Mel Lawrence (USA), 9:29.81.

100 m hurdles (+1.1): 1. Christina Clemons (USA), 12.69; 2. Sharika Nelvis (USA), 12.74; 3. Elvira Herman (BLR), 12.84.

400 m hurdles: 1. Sydney McLaughlin (USA), 54.16; 2. Dalilah Muhammad (USA), 54.35; 3. Shamier Little (USA), 54.92. Also: 4. Kori Carter (USA), 54.67.

High Jump: 1. Mariya Lasitskene (RUS), 2.01 m (6-7); 2. Erika Kinsey (SWE), 1.96 m (6-5); 3. Mirela Demireva (BUL), 1.94 m (6-4 1/4).

Triple Jump: 1. Caterine Ibarguen (COL), 14.79 m (48-6 1/4); 2. Keturah Orji (USA), 14.53 m (47-8); 3. Shanieka Ricketts (JAM), 14.41 m (47-3 1/2). Also: 9. Tori Franklin (USA), 13.68 m (44-10 3/4).

Shot Put: 1. Lijiao Gong (CHN), 19.51 m (64-0 1/4); 2. Chase Ealey (USA), 19.20 m (63-0); 3. Fanny Roos (SWE), 18.75 m (61-6 1/4); Also: 7. Jessica Ramsey (USA), 18.39 m (60-4); 8. Michelle Carter (USA), 18.28 m (59-11 3/4); … 10. Maggie Ewen (USA), 17.30 m (56-9 1/4).

Javelin (non-Diamond League): 1. Kathryn Mitchell (AUS), 56.07 m (183-11); 2. Ane Dahlen (NOR), 52.79 m (173-2); 3. Maria Jensen (NOR), 51.27 m (168-2).

SWIMMING Panorama: World-leading 52.12 for Cate Campbell in Australian 100 m Free Trials

By
Rich Perelman
-
Australia's superstar sprinter Cate Campbell

Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom dominated the sprint events at the FINA Champions Swim Series, but she did lose one race, the 50 m Free in Guangzhou, to Australia’s Cate Campbell.

Campbell wants to keep it that way, screaming to a 52.12 world-leading win on the fifth night of the Australian World Championships Swim Trials in Brisbane (AUS).

“I am really pleased that I held my nerve and swam my own race,” Campbell said afterwards.

“Traditionally I usually like to be out quickest and then just hold on but I have been really working on cruising on the way out and using all the training that I have been doing – cause I have been doing a lot of it – to help me get home.

“It is a tenth off my personal best so I am really pleased with that and I will now go back and do a ten day training block and then taper again for worlds, that worked really well in the lead up to Pan Pacs so we are hoping to emulate that again.”

Here’s how good the race was: her 52.12 is the no. 6 performance in history – she has three of the six, to Sjostrom’s two – and behind her came:

2. Emma McKeon, 52.41, passing Sjostrom for no. 2 on the 2019 world list and now the no. 6 performer in history;

3. Bronte Campbell at 52.84, no. 4 on the 2019 world list, and

4. Shayna Jack at 53.18, no. 5 on the 2019 world list and equal-20th all-time.

In the understatement of the day, Campbell added, “To have three girls to go under the 53 second barrier and Shayna go 53.1, we are going to be a tough relay team to beat and it is really exciting to be a part of it.”

Australia won the women’s 4×100 m Free in Rio in 2016 with McKeon, Brittany Elmslie, Bronte and Cate Campbell in a world-record 3:30.65, with the U.S. well behind at 3:31.89.

In the men’s 200 m Backstroke, Mitch Larkin ran away from the field in 1:55.03, winning by 2.63 seconds and moving to no. 2 on the world list for 2019. It was his third win of the Trials after taking the 100 m Back and 200 m Medley.

The Australian Trials continue through Friday; the live timing site is here.

HEARD AFTER HALFTIME: Still more London doping, Gabe Grunewald passes and Sha’Carri Richardson goes pro

By
Rich Perelman
-

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

● Games of the XXX Olympiad: London 2012 ● The International Olympic Committee announced yet another doping re-test positive on Wednesday, disqualifying Canoe Sprint C-1 silver medalist Jevgeniy Shuklin of Lithuania.

The re-testing process resulted in “a positive test for the prohibited substances Dehydrochlormethyltestosterone (oral turinabol).” The new silver medalist will be Russia’s Ivan Shytl and the new bronze winner will be Spain’s Alfonso Benavides.

The IOC’s tally sheet now shows 67 positives in London – nine during the Games and 58 from the re-testing – second only to the 72 from Beijing 2008 (7+65). And the re-testing goes on.

● Athletics ● Sad news that former Minnesota 1,500 m All-American and 2014 USATF Indoor 3,000 m champion Gabe Grunewald passed away on Tuesday (11th) after a 10-year battle against cancer.

Grunewald was diagnosed with adenoid cystic carcinoma in 2009 and had multiple surgeries to try and arrest the disease, but finally succumbed at age 32.

On the track, she was fourth in the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials at 1,500 m and 12th in the 2016 Trials final. Off the track, she was an inspiration for everyone fighting a disease and made the #BraveLikeGabe hashtag a universal call for hope. Sports Illustrated’s Tim Layden posted a moving story on Grunewald here. She is survived by her husband Justin.

● Athletics ● To the surprise of almost no one, LSU frosh Sha’Carri Richardson – the NCAA 100 m champ in a stunning 10.75 – announced that she was turning professional after one year of collegiate competition. She noted on Twitter that “after talking to family and praying for guidance with this decision, I would like to announce that I have decided to pursue my life long dream and become a professional athlete.”

She’ll be a hot commodity for endorsements, not only because of her speed, but also style. Since her NCAA run to stardom, she has been posting multiple photos of Florence Griffith Joyner, including:

https://twitter.com/itskerrii/status/1138463301044776960

It’s worth remembering that FloJo finished her senior year at UCLA in 1983, then won the Olympic silver medal in the 200 m in 1984 and didn’t break into superstardom until 1988.

For Richardson, who one year ago had just graduated from Dallas Carter High School, the future is now.

● Athletics ● If this seems like a busy time on and off the track, it is. More world-leading marks came in smaller meets in the last few days:

In Rehlingen (GER), home favorite Andreas Hofmann took the javelin lead at 89.65 m (294-1) while Ukraine’s Iryna Herashchenko cleared 1.99 m (6-6 1/4) for the women’s high jump lead.

In a closely-watched 2,000 m race in Montreuil (FRA) on Tuesday, South Africa’s Caster Semenya won the 2,000 m in 5:38.19, best of the year. While not a world leader, Christian Taylor of the U.S. showed he is warming up, winning the triple jump at 17.41 m (57-1 1/2).

On Wednesday, Poland’s Wojciech Nowicki, the 2018 world leader in the hammer, reached 80.26 m (263-4) at the Irena Szewinska Memorial in Bydgoszcz (POL), to take the world lead for 2019.

There was also an excellent IAAF World Challenge meet – the Paavo Nurmi Games – in Turku (FIN) on Tuesday, headlined by Mike Rodgers edging World Champion Justin Gatlin in the 100 m final, 10.00-10.01 (wind: +1/3 m/s). American Christina Clemons jumped to no. 4 on the world list with a 12.58 win in her heat in the 100 m hurdles; she won the final in 12.85. Shot putter Chase Ealey of the U.S. got out to 19.38 m (63-7) to win the shot put.

More coming in Oslo on Thursday, no doubt!

● Football ● Commenting on the U.S. women’s 13-0 rout of Thailand, long-time international sports observer Rene Henry noted:

“All of the critics of the USA team for scoring should put their energy to getting FIFA to have a mercy rule like softball. With a certain lead, let there be as many substitutions as the coach wants. Also remember FIFA counts scoring differential as part of the championship.”

These are actual suggestions to address the continued U.S. scoring, even into stoppage time. The question of celebrations is another matter.

● At the BuZZer ● Some good news for the City of Calgary on the referendum that rejected the city’s idea to bid on the 2026 Olympic Winter Games: the effort came in under budget.

The Calgary Herald reported that “Having budgeted $14.637 million for an Olympic Games bid, the city said it spent a total of $6,994,566.

“The city set aside $9.5 million as a contribution toward bid development costs, with another $3.337 million to fund the work of the city secretariat in 2018 and $1.8 million to fund the work of the secretariat in 2019.”

City Council member Evan Woolley even thought there were some legacy benefits to the project. “[T]he money that we spent, while it might seem frivolous and unnecessary, a lot of that work was detailed engineering reports of our infrastructure, getting a better knowledge and understanding of sport in the city, and a whole bunch of other things. To say that we didn’t get any value of the dollars that we invested is not true.”

ATHLETICS Preview: Coleman vs. Gatlin and Muhammad vs. McLaughlin highlight sold-out Bislett Games

By
Rich Perelman
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Oslo's Bislett Stadium will be full for Thursday's Bislett Games!

You knew track & field was in trouble a couple of years ago when the stands were hardly filled at the Bislett Games in Oslo (NOR), one of the showpiece events in the sport.

So last Friday’s announcement was welcome news:

“For the first time in our 54-year history there is no tickets left for spectators, one week prior to Oslo Bislett Games, meeting director Steinar Hoen announced today.

“- Which means that 14,200 spectators will fill the stadium next Thursday.

“- This is primarily thanks to the super generation of Norwegian Athletes such as the Ingebrigtsen brothers and Karsten Warholm, as well as the fantastic starting lists that we have published today, he continues.

“- For us as an organizer it is extra motivating to see such a response from the audience at Bislett Stadium , and for the athletes nothing is better than full stands and the atmosphere we know it generates, he says.”

The meet will be held in the newer Bislett Stadium, built in 2005 on the same site as the old facility, which was demolished in 2004. And it should be a great one, with terrific match-ups in almost every event:

● Men/100 m: We’ll get to see what kind of shape Christian Coleman is in. After his world-leading 9.86 in Shanghai where he lost in a photo finish to Noah Lyles, he’s been training and waiting. He says he is healthy and focused on the USATF Championships. So what will be do against World Champion Justin Gatlin (USA), Michael Rodgers (USA), Reece Prescod (GBR) and others? Rodgers just beat Gatlin, 10.00-10.01 at the Nurmi Games in Finland on Tuesday; was that a one-off or the start of a trend?

● Men/Mile: If we’re in Oslo, the question has to be, how many Ingebrigtsens are running? In this race, there will be Filip (3:53.23 lifetime best ‘17) and Jakob (3:52.28 ‘18), and they will likely be chasing Vincent Kibet (KEN: 3:33.21 1,500 m this season), Bethwell Birgen (KEN: 3:33.12 1,500 m this season), Ethiopia’s Aman Wote (3:48.60 mile best ‘14) and Ayanleh Souleiman (DJI: 3:47.32 ‘14). Americans Clayton Murphy (3:51.99 ‘17) and Johnny Gregorek (3:54.53 ‘18, but 3:49.98 indoors ‘19) could be surprises here.

● Men/400 m hurdles: A chance for Norwegian fans to cheer World Champion Karsten Warholm, who will be challenged by Kyron McMaster (IVB: 47.54 ‘18), Ireland’s Thomas Barr (47.97 ‘16) and Americans David Kendzeira (48.99 this season) and T.J. Holmes (49.25). Warholm has run 47.85 this season, but is eyeing another national record; he currently owns it at 47.64.

● Men/Pole Vault: Last week, the NCAA Championships in Austin, this week the Bislett Games in Oslo. Former LSU vaulter Mondo Duplantis is now a professional and is the world leader at 6.00 m (19-8 1/2). He’ll be facing the usual suspects: World Champion Sam Kendricks (5.91 m/19-4 3/4 in 2019) and Polish stars Piotr Lisek (2017 Worlds silver) and 2011 World Champion Pawel Wojciechowski. By the way, Kendricks leads Duplantis, 10-1, in their all-time meetings.

● Men/Javelin: Estonia’s Magnus Kirt was the world leader at 89.33 m (293-1) until last Sunday when German Andreas Hofmann took over at 89.65 m (294-1). World champ Johannes Vetter (GER) and Olympic gold medalist Thomas Rohler (GER) are also in, as is emerging star – and Asian Champion – Chao-Tsun Cheng (TPE). Wow!

● Women/200 m: World Champion Dafne Schippers (NED) is looking to stay healthy and for some faster times. She won’t have to deal with any Caribbean sprinters in Oslo, but Americans Jenna Prandini (22.53 this season), Gabby Thomas (22.78) and Kyra Jefferson (23.00) will give her an argument.

● Women/3,000 m Steeple: The field is too big – as usual – with 17 runners, but they include world-record holder Beatrice Chepkoech (KEN: 8:44.32 ‘18) and World Champion Emma Coburn of the U.S. The latter will be looking – once again – to break 8:00 and regain the American Record and she should have familiar company from Kenyans Hyvin Kiyeng (9:00.01 lifetime best, in 2016), Celliphone Chespol (8:58.78 ‘17) and Norah Jeruto (8:59.62 ‘18).

● Women/400 m Hurdles: This is the match-up everyone has been waiting for. Rio Olympic champ Dalilah Muhammad is the world leader at 53.61 and Sydney McLaughlin was the 2018 world leader at 52.75. Muhammad has dominated the Diamond League, winning in Doha and Rome and McLaughlin has run the event once (54.14 ~ no. 2 in 2019) in a low-key meet in May. Reigning World Champion Kori Carter (USA) and 2015 Worlds silver winner Shamier Little (USA) are ready to bounce if either fails, but this should be a highlight.

● Women/High Jump: Russia’s Mariya Lasitskene isn’t even the world outdoor leader, as Ukraine’s Iryna Herashchenko rose to the top of the list at 1.99 m (6-6 1/4) in Rehlingen (GER) on 9 June. So the reigning World Champion will be looking to take over the top spot, but will also be challenged by Herashchenko’s teammate, 2017 Worlds silver medalist Yuliya Levchenko and Bulgaria’s Mirela Demireva.

● Women/Triple Jump: The world leader is Jamaica’s Shanieka Ricketts at 14.76 m (48-5 1/4) from way back in February, but that should fall on Thursday. Olympic champ Caterine Ibarguen (COL) leads the field, but will have company from Ricketts, Ukraine’s 2011 World Champion, Olha Saladukha (14.99/49-2 1/4 ‘12) and the American pair of Keturah Orji – in her European debut – and American Record holder Tori Franklin (14.84 m/48-8 1/4 ‘18).

● Women/Shot Put: American Chase Ealey has been the revelation of the early season, getting out to 19.67 m (64-6 1/2) and scoring a win over 2017 World Champion Lijiao Gong of China at the Shanghai Diamond League meet. Gong struck back a few days later in Nanjing and took the world lead at 19.84 m (65-1 1/4) and now they meet again. Can anyone challenge, or are these the gold and silver medalists in Doha? The best bet is Jamaica’s Danniel Thomas-Dodd, out to a lifetime best 19.48 m (63-11) this season.

NBCSN has coverage from Oslo on Thursday, beginning at 2 p.m. Eastern time. Look for the live results here.

TABLE TENNIS Preview: Best in the world lined up in Hokkaido for the Japan Open

By
Rich Perelman
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China's top-ranked Zhendong Fan.

One of the prestige tournaments on the ITTF World Tour is the Japan Open and this year’s edition – the 31st – at the Hokkaido Sports Center has attracted the top seven in the men’s world rankings and the top 16 women. The top seeds:

● Men/Singles:
1. Zhendong Fan (CHN: 1)
2. Gaoyuan Lin (CHN: 2)
3. Xin Xu (CHN: 3)

● Men/Doubles:
1. Cheng-Ting Liao/Yun-Ju Lin (TPE)
2. Siu Hang Lam/Chun Ting Wong (HKG)
3. Jingkun Liang/Gaoyuan Lin (CHN)

● Women/Singles:
1. Ning Ding (CHN: 1)
2. Meng Chen (CHN: 2)
3. Manyu Wang (CHN: 3)

● Women/Doubles:
1. Yingsha Sun/Manyu Wang (CHN)
2. Hoi Kem Doo/Wai Yam Minnie Soo (HKG)
3. Ho Ching Lee/Wing Nam Ng (HKG)

● Mixed Doubles:
1. Sangsu Lee/Jihee Jeon (KOR)
2. Chun Ting Wong/Hoi Kem Doo (HKG)
3. Kwan Kit Ho/Ho-Ching Lee (HKG)

In the men’s Singles, defending champion Tomokazu Harimoto (JPN) is seeded fourth and 2017 winner Long Ma (CHN) is seeded fifth. Top-seed Fan won this tournament in 2016 and Xu was the winner in 2015.

Among the women, defending champ Mima Ito (JPN), is seeded seventh; 2017 winner Shiwen Liu (CHN) is seeded fourth and second-seed Chen won in 2015.

Look for results here.

CANOE-KAYAK Preview: Opening Slalom World Cup returns to London’s Olympic venue

By
Rich Perelman
-
Australia's Slalom star Jessica Fox

The Canoe Slalom course at Lee Valley near London, site of the 2012 Olympic competition, welcomes back the first World Cup of the 2019 season this weekend, with competition from Thursday through Saturday.

The fields are tremendous, with multiple 2012 medalists competing, along with most of the Olympic medal winners from Rio:

Men:
● Sideris Tasiadis (GER) ~ 2012 Olympic C-1 silver
● Michal Martikan (SVK) ~ 2012 Olympic C-1 bronze; 2017 Worlds C-1 bronze
● David Florence (GBR) ~ 2015 C-1 World Champion
● Hannes Aigner (GER) ~ 2012 Olympic K-1 bronze; 2018 World Champion
● Joe Clarke (GBR) ~ 2016 K-1 Olympic gold medalist
● Peter Kauzer (SLO) ~ 2016 Olympic K-1 silver; 2017 Worlds bronze medalist
● Jiri Prskevic (CZE) ~ 2016 Olympic K-1 bronze; 2018 Worlds silver medalist
● Pavel Eigel (RUS) ~ 2018 World Championships K-1 bronze medalist
● Vit Prindis (CZE) ~ 2017 World Championships silver medalist
● Denis Gargaud Chanut (FRA) ~ 2016 Olympic C-1 gold medalist
● Vavrinec Hradilek (CZE) ~ 2012 Olympic K-1 silver medalist
● Matej Benus (CZE) ~ 2016 Olympic C-1 silver medalist
● Franz Anton (GER) ~ 2018 C-1 World Champion
● Ryan Westley (GBR) ~ 2018 C-1 Worlds silver medalist
● Benjamin Savsek (SLO) ~ 2017 C-1 World Champion
● Alexander Slafkovsky (SVK) ~ 2017 C-1 Worlds silver medalist

Women:
● Jessica Fox (AUS) ~ 2018 World C-1 Champion; 2012 Olympic K-1 silver; ‘16 K-1 bronze
● Maialen Chourraut (FRA) ~ 2016 Olympic K-1 gold; 2012 Olympic K-1 bronze
● Luka Jones (NZL) ~ 2016 Olympic K-1 silver medalist
● Mallory Franklin (GBR) ~ 2017 C-1 World Champion; 2018 Worlds C-1 silver
● Ana Satila (BRA) ~ 2017 Worlds C-1 bronze medalist
● Tereza Fiserova (CZE) ~ 2017 Worlds C-1 silver; 2018 Worlds C-1 bronze

Australia’s Fox won all five races in the women’s C-1 World Cup last season and won both the C-1 and K-1 races in the first three World Cups! She’ll be trying to extend her streak into 2019.

Look for results here.

SWIMMING Panorama: World leaders for Chalmers and Larkin in Aussie Worlds Trials

By
Rich Perelman
-
Rio Olympic 100 m Free champ Kyle Chalmers (AUS)

More hot swimming from Brisbane at the Australian World Championships Trials with two new world-leading marks:

● Men/100 m Freestyle

Rio Olympic champ Kyle Chalmers blistered the field with a win in 47.35, taking the world lead away from Russia’s Vladislav Grinev (47.48). Chalmers had been second at 47.48 from the Australian Nationals back in April.

● Men/200 m Medley

Sensational swimming from 2015 World 100-200 m Backstroke champ Mitch Larkin, who is now a medal favorite in the 200 m Medley, winning by more than three seconds in Australian-record time of 1:55.72. That’s not only the world’s fastest time this season – it was Duncan Scott (GBR) at 1:56.65 – but moves Larkin to no. 8 on the all-time list!

Not to be overlooked with an excellent swim from teen distance star Ariarne Titmus, who won the 800 m Free in 8:18.23, moving up to no. 4 on the world list for 2019. Katie Ledecky of the U.S. remains the leader at 8:10.70.

The Australian Trials continue through Friday; the live timing site is here.

At the second Mare Nostrum meeting in France, Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu won the women’s 400 m Medley in 4:33.77, the third-fastest time in the world in 2019, behind her own world leader of 4:32.87 and Yui Ohashi (JPN) and her 4:33.02 in April. American Madisyn Cox scored another lifetime best in second at 4:37.23, moving to no. 7 on the world list for 2019.

The U.S. got wins in the 100 m Back from Michael Andrew (54.11) and Phoebe Bacon (59.92).

The series moves on to its third and final stop in Barcelona (ESP) on the weekend.

LANE ONE: The NCAA is on the way to creating a new 1%: collegiate stars who can get paid before they turn pro

By
Rich Perelman
-

After losing some rounds in court battles that did not deliver any clear decisions, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has formed “a working group to examine issues highlighted in recently proposed federal and state legislation related to student-athlete name, image and likeness.”

What does that mean?

U.S. District Court judge Claudia Wilken ruled in 2014 allowed NCAA athletes to receive income for their name and likeness, but the holding was overturned (background here). A 2018 commission report to the NCAA about abuses in college basketball brought up the same issue; chair Condoleeza Rice said, “”For the life of me, I don’t understand the difference between Olympic [medal bonus] payments and participation in Dancing With the Stars, which are allowed, and what can’t be allowed.”

Earlier this year, Wilken decided another case the same way, leading to an Aspen Institute symposium on how collegiate athletes might be paid. Some of the ideas included:

(1) The Olympic model, based on the current Olympic movement which abandoned amateurism. The model allows for outside income from other entities, including commercials, speaking appearances and autographs.

(2) Direct pay for performance without restriction by the NCAA would allow students to secure agent representation and negotiate payment or benefits in excess of the cost of attendance.

(3) Scholarships equaling and not exceeding cost-of-attendance only, which is the current model.

The NCAA is appealing Wilken’s 2019 ruling, so there is more to be considered if and when the appeal is heard. The association is also dead-set against idea (2) above, to have direct, pay-for-play contracts; Ohio State’s Gene Smith stated “the group’s work will not result in paying students as employees. That structure is contrary to the NCAA’s educational mission and will not be a part of this discussion.”

There is a very good case to be made against paying athletes salaries to play college sports, and the current system – at the largest schools – already provides scholarship athletes with the “full cost of attendance,” which includes some money above that for tuition, books, room and board.

So we’re left with personal appearances, personal endorsements, autographs, sponsorships and the like. The Oregon football analysis site FishDuck.com considered the possibilities:

● Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert – and his offensive line – filming a commercial for a nearby casino;

● An endorsement such as “Hi, we’re the University of Colorado ski team and we don’t ski on any boards not made by K2.“

And so on. What will that look like?

If it’s going to look like the Olympic model, then college athletes had better be ready to be disappointed. Because the “Olympic model” makes a very few people winners and there are a lot of non-winners, i.e., those who get essentially nothing.

How many Olympic athletes are sponsored or supported in a meaningful-enough way to make a real living at their sport? Not too many. There are a few who make millions and they are the well-known stars like Usain Bolt – and not many others – who can drive attention, and hopefully, sales of products or services.

But stars like Bolt are once in a generation, if that. How many college athletes can drive such interest? And for how long?

What you will get is a few stars at a few schools who will get most of the attention and most of the money. There may be some money available for others for local promotions, but many of these will be one-off programs or personal appearances or local commercials.

Should this be allowed? It makes perfect sense to do so, and referenced to an individual’s right of publicity – owning your own likeness – is the right thing to do legally.

But let’s not expect this to change the lives of the vast majority – as in 99% – of college athletes. What these reforms will do is create a 1% class who are “compensated” for their celebrity thanks to being covered by local and national news media – especially ESPN and a few online sites – and whose status will recede if they do not continue their success at the professional level.

And these folks will get to the professional level faster and faster because of the ability to market themselves. From just this past weekend’s NCAA Track & Field Championships, hurdle stars Grant Holloway (Florida) and Daniel Roberts (Kentucky) declared that they would become professionals immediately, skipping their senior seasons. LSU’s Mondo Duplantis just finished his freshman season, but posted on his Twitter account that he was turning pro and has reached an agreement to be sponsored by Puma.

There is a school of thought that if allowed to have personal sponsors and own their likeness, collegiate athletes would stay in school longer. That’s not the case with Olympic athletes, whose goal is to eliminate every possible distraction – like school and work – in order to chase the Games and medals.

The superstars can write their own ticket. Allyson Felix skipped collegiate track, but adidas paid for her to attend USC, which she did (she’s now sponsored by Nike). Other stars-in-the-making need college programs to assure coaching, medical support and some structure in their lives after high school. The rest are thrilled to get a scholarship and a free education.

The NCAA is moving in the right direction in reforming its rules to allow greater earning abilities for collegiate athletes in the name and likeness areas. But let’s be clear that such measures will not solve many more problems than they will create.

And in fact, some of the losers in this process will be actual Olympic athletes, whose own earning opportunities will be eliminated in favor of collegiate athletes in higher-profile sports such as basketball and football.

The NCAA’s rules should be loosened. But let’s not kid ourselves into thinking that this is anything more than – for the most part – helping those who were going to get rich anyway get rich sooner.

Rich Perelman
Editor

SWIMMING Panorama: Strong marks at Australian Trials and Mare Nostrum in France

By
Rich Perelman
-
Australian swimming star Emma McKeon.

With the FINA World Championships coming quickly, swimmers are ramping up to top form, both at the Australian World Championships Trials and at the second of the three legs of the Mare Nostrum series, this time in France:

● Australian World Championships Trials

More outstanding freestyle swimming in Brisbane as the women’s 200 m Free final was a battle between world leader Ariarne Ttitmus (1:54.20) and veteran star Emma McKeon. This time it was McKeon who came out on top, clocking 1:54.55 for the no. 2 spot on the world list for 2019, with Titmus second in 1:55.09, still faster than anyone else this year!

In the women’s 1,500 m Free, Madeleine Gough stopped the lock in 15:56.39 for no. 3 on the year list, with Kiah Melverton close behind (and no. 4) at 15:56.46. American Katie Ledecky continues as the world leader at 15:45.59.

Mitch Larkin posted an excellent 52.38 mark to win the men’s 100 m Back, no. 2 in the world this year and just 0.11 behind Jiayu Xu’s 52.27 from the Chinese Nationals back in May.

The World Trials continue through Friday; the live timing site is here.

● Mare Nostrum/Canet-et-Roussillon

The second of the three legs of the Mare Nostrum series is on Tuesday and Wednesday in France, with some excellent marks on the opening day.

In the men’s 50 m Back, American Michael Andrew won in a speedy 24.53, moving him to no. 3 for 2019.

Top-five marks also came in the 100 m Breast, where British stars Adam Peaty (58.78) and James Wilby (58.99) went 1-2. Both have been faster, but absent their earlier performances, both marks would be in the top five on the world list.

Same for Japan’s Daiya Seto, who won the 400 m Medley in the second-fastest time of the year in 4:09.62. Only he is faster with an earlier 4:09.25.

Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu similar won the women’s 200 m Medley in 2:08.57; only she has been faster this year, at 2:08.50 in the FINA Champions Swim Series.

The Canet-et-Roussillon leg finished on Wednesday; the live timing site is here.

You don’t always have to qualify for the World Championships, as FINA showed by inviting Brazilian star Nicholas Santos to swim in Gwangju (KOR) in July.

Currently the world leader in the 50 m Fly, Santos – swimming brilliantly at age 39 – was left off the Brazilian team for the Worlds as it is concentrating on swimmers competing in Olympic events. The 50 m Free is contested at the Olympic Games, but not the other 50 m events in Backstroke, Breaststroke and Butterfly. Santos was the silver medalist in the 50 m Fly at the last two World Championships (2015 and 2017).

Swimming World Magazine reported that FINA’s invitation came from Executive Director Cornel Marculescu (ROU) and includes payment for his travel to Korea.

FINA has confirmed the prize money distributed at the FINA Champions Swim Series, with 18 swimmers listed as money winners. There were a dozen who earned $50,000 or more:

1. $148,000 Sarah Sjostrom (SWE)
2. $124,500 Katinka Hosszu (HUN)
3. $106,000 Michael Andrew (USA)
4. $61,500 Vladimir Morozov (RUS)
5. $61,000 Danas Rapsys (LTU)
6. $60,500 Yuliya Efimova (RUS)
7. $57,000 Ranomi Kromowidjojo (NED)
8. $53,500 Molly Hannis (USA)
9. $53,000 Kelsi Dahlia (USA)
10. $52,000 Anton Chupkov (RUS)
11. $51,000 Pernille Blume (DEN)
12. $50,000 Chad Le Clos (RSA)

The complete list of money winners is here.

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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.

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