*** The latest news from the USOC - May 11 ***
(Courtesy of United States Olympic Committee)
Salt Lake City, UT (My Sportsbook) - The following is a recap of events from the United States Olympic Committee.
Archery: (May 10) The Disney Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla. is hosting the 2005 Archery World Target Trials, May 12-15. More than 60 archers including Olympians and World Champions from around the country are expected to compete for a spot on the 2005 World Target Championship Team. For more information, log on to www.usarchery.org.
Basketball: (May 9) Saint Joseph's University (Pa.) head coach Phil Martelli will return to the USA Basketball sidelines this summer as the head coach of the 2005 USA Under-21 World Championship Team. Helping Martelli defend the USA's gold medal at the FIBA U-21 Worlds will be collegiate head coaches Dennis Felton of the University of Georgia and Drexel University's (Pa.) James "Bruiser" Flint. (May 9) USA Basketball World Championship for Young Women (2003) assistant coach Kathy Delaney-Smith of Harvard University (Mass.) was named head coach of the 2005 USA Basketball Women's World University Games Team. Assisting Delaney-Smith on the sidelines will be Pokey Chatman from Louisiana State University and Cathy Inglese of Boston College (Mass.). (May 10) With 57 top American players accepting invitations to the 2005 USA Basketball Women's National Team Trials, there will be no shortage of talent or players with USA Basketball experience. The Trials are set to take place May 19-22 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. For more information, log on to www.usabasketball.com.
Bowling: (May 6) United States Bowling Congress youth bowlers who are high school seniors or college students may apply by June 1 for one of five Earl Anthony Memorial Scholarships worth $5,000 each. Criteria for the award selection include community involvement and academic achievements in both high school and college. Financial need will also play a part in the evaluation process. (May 7) The bowling industry has been making an investment in bowling's future and it's paying off. Under the guidance of the USBC, a platform exists to expand bowling opportunities for high school bowlers while also achieving the goal of promoting the sport to younger bowlers. Initially, as a jointly funded program with USBC, High School Bowling USA was administered in Arlington, Texas under the supervision of the Bowling Proprietors' Association of America. Now, through mutual agreement, USBC High School is funded and administered through its headquarters in Greendale, Wis. (May 8) The "Wawbalomah III" team thought it bowled well but it wasn't until the next day it discovered how well. The team, composed of three Americans and two Canadians, is in first place in Division 4 (average 650 and under) at the Women's International Bowling Congress Championship Tournament. (May 9) The Linds On Track EP Team turned in the highest team score thus far at the WIBC Championship Tournament. The team shot a score of 2,905 to move into first place in the Classic Division (team average 946 and over). (May 10) Three pairs of doubles partners on one pair of lanes shook up the standings at the WIBC Championship Tournament. The doubles teams now stand in first, second and third place in the Classic Division (average 379 and over). The women, Sara Vargas, Clara Guerrero, Ruth Papa, Maggie Smith, Kristal Scott and Julie Locke, weren't finished, taking over the top three spots in all-events and the top two spots in singles. All of them are from the Wichita, Kan. area with the exception of Locke, who calls Allen, Texas home. For more information, log on to www.bowl.com.
Boxing: (May 9) Nine of the 16 U.S. boxers who traveled to compete in Hungary and Canada returned victorious after their May 6-8 bouts. Four boxers earned victories in Hungary, including featherweight Mark Davis (Cleveland, Ohio) and welterweight Demetrius Andrade (Providence, R.I.) Both Davis and Andrade earned two victories in Hungary and both were named an Outstanding Boxer of the Event. For more information, log on to www.usaboxing.org.
Diving: (May 6) The finest international talent the diving community has to offer will assemble at Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Complex for the Speedo/FINA Diving Grand Prix, May 12-15. For more information, log on to www.usdiving.org.
Equestrian: (May 4) After an illustrious career in judging and competition management, the well-respected Karen Homer-Brown (Carmel, Ind.) will be expanding her service to the sport horse industry yet again as she takes on the title of Assistant Executive Director of National Sport Programs at the United States Equestrian Federation. (May 5) As the only Western discipline approved for International Equestrian Federation (FEI) competition, reining is on the threshold of Olympic inclusion. While the threshold won't easily be traversed, reining received a substantial and very encouraging boost when the FEI, during its 2005 FEI General Assembly, proposed recommending the addition of a fourth equestrian discipline for future Olympic competitions to the International Olympic Committee. (May 5) With the notification that an equine animal residing on a single premise in Maricopa County, Ariz. has been diagnosed with vesicular stomatitis (VS), Kentucky's Administrative Regulation 302 KAR 20:115 will now prohibit the entry of all livestock (including horses), wild and exotic animals into Kentucky from the VS embargoed portions of Arizona identified as being Maricopa County. (May 5) It was a strong start for Cynthia Williams on the opening day of the Garden State Horse Show in Augusta, N.J. Williams and Quality Time topped the first three Green Conformation classes. (May 7) Lady riders completely dominated the first leg of the 2005 Samsung Super League Nations Cup Series in La Baule, France, where the all-girl American side won through ahead of the British. America's Schuyler Riley (Wellington, Fla.) and Britain's Ellen Whitaker produced the two double-clear performances of the day. (May 10) The USEF's High Performance Committee has finalized the list of four horse and rider teams which will represent the USEF in a Talent Tour at the Luhmühlen CCI **** in Luhmühlen, Germany, June 15-20. (May 10) At the end of the four days of competition at the Samsung Super League Nations Cup, it was the United States' youngest team member, Georgina Bloomberg (New York, N.Y.), who was the event's leading rider. For more information, log on to www.usef.org.
Figure Skating: (May 4) U.S. Figure Skating announced the selection of Hartford, Conn., as the host city for the 2006 Smart Ones Skate America in October 2006. The international figure skating event is the first of six stops on the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series. Competition will take place at the Hartford Civic Center with exact dates to be determined. (May 7) At the 2005 U.S. Figure Skating Governing Council Annual Meeting in Columbus, Ohio, Ron Hershberger (San Francisco, Calif.) was elected president of U.S. Figure Skating and the new ISU Judging System was passed. The system will be used as the official marking and result calculation system for U.S. Figure Skating qualifying competitions in singles, pairs, ice dancing and synchronized skating. For more information, log on to www.usfigureskating.org.
Hockey: The U.S. Men's National Team will face the Czech Republic May 12 in Vienna, Austria in quarterfinal play of the 2005 International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship. The U.S. assured its spot in the quarterfinals with a 1-1 tie against the Ukraine on May 9. The night before their tie with Ukraine, the U.S. scored a decisive 5-1 win over previously unbeaten Sweden. During the team's first qualification-round match for the U.S. on May 6, the Americans battled to a 4-4 tie with Finland. On May 5, the U.S. couldn't overcome Canadian goalie Martin Brodeur, who made 33 saves as Canada defeated the U.S., 3-1, in the final preliminary-round game for both teams. Forward Zach Parise (Faribault, Minn.), a two-time U.S. National Junior Team member, joined the squad on May 4. For more information, log on to www.usahockey.com.
Rowing: (May 6) The first 2005 National Selection Regatta got underway with heats in all four boat classes at Lake Mercer in West Windsor, N.J. In the women's single sculls, Nicole Sylvester (Dover, N.H.) clocked the fastest time of the evening. In the men's single sculls, Steve Tucker (Mooresville, Ind.) had the quickest finish, clocking an 8:08.62 to win the third and final heat. Julie Nichols (Livermore, Calif.) finished with the fastest time in the heats of the lightweight women's single sculls. In the first heat of the lightweight men's single sculls, Tom Paradiso (Blue Bell, Pa.) clocked an 8:14.25 to record the event's fastest time. (May 7) Finals are set in all four boat classes at the first 2005 NSR I following the semifinals at Lake Mercer. Lia Pernell (Seattle, Wash.) clocked the fastest time in the semifinals of the women's single sculls. In the men's single sculls, Wyatt Allen (Portland, Maine) won the first semifinal, clocking a 7:13.07. In the semifinals of the lightweight women's single sculls, Wendy Campanella (Needham, Mass.) clocked the fastest time with an 8:08.40. Mike Altman (Marin County, Calif.) clocked the fastest time in the semifinals of the lightweight men's single sculls, winning the first race in a 7:21.18. (May 8) Michelle Guerette (Bristol, Conn., single sculls), Wyatt Allen (single sculls), Julie Nichols (lightweight single sculls) and Rich Montgomery (Batavia, Ill., lightweight single sculls) were victorious in their events at the finals of the 2005 NSR I. (May 10) U.S. Rowing's Junior Women's National Team head coach Steve Hargis has invited 22 high school women to attend the "Junior A" National Team Development Camp and 19 high school women to attend the "Junior B" National Team Development Camp this summer. The development camps will be held June 18-July 24 at the United States Coast Guard Academy on the Thames River in New London, Conn. For more information, log on to www.usrowing.org.
Shooting: (May 9) Sarah Blakeslee (Colorado Springs, Colo.) was the top finisher for the U.S. Team in the 10m women's air rifle event at the ISSF World Cup USA. Blakeslee finished 13th, with a 394. (May 10) Staff Sgt. John Ennis (Simi Valley, Calif.), of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, was the top U.S. finisher in the men's 50m free pistol at the ISSF World Cup USA. Ennis finished 12th with a 561 total score. For more information, log on to www.usashooting.com.
Skiing: (May 9) World Cup and double Worlds champion Bode Miller (Franconia, N.H.), World Championships double medalists Daron Rahlves (Sugar Bowl, Calif.) and Julia Mancuso (Olympic Valley, Calif.), plus World Cup first-time winners Lindsey Kildow and Sarah Schleper (both of Vail, Colo.) are among 45 alpine athletes named to the U.S. Ski Team for the 2006 Olympic season. For more information, log on to www.usskiteam.com.
Soccer: (May 4) U.S. Soccer referees Brian Hall and Kevin Stott will lead all- U.S. Soccer referee crews in the CONCACAF Champion's Cup Final Series beginning May 4 at the Estadio Ricardo Saprissa in San Jose, Costa Rica. (May 5) U.S. Women's National Team head coach and technical director Greg Ryan has named Tim Schulz (Littleton, Colo.) as the new U.S. Under-20 Women's National Team head coach. (May 6) The U.S. Under-20 Men's National Team will begin a three-week training camp at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. on May 7, which will serve as preparation for the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship. (May 9) Tickets go on sale May 11 at 10 a.m. ET for the U.S. Men's National Team's World Cup qualifying match versus Trinidad & Tobago on Aug. 17 at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Conn. The match will kick off at 8 p.m. ET and be broadcast live on ESPN2. (May 9) The U.S. Men's National Team will host Mexico on Sept. 3 in Columbus Crew Stadium in their seventh of 10 final-round qualifying matches for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. (May 9) It has been almost eight years, 141 Women's National Team games, two World Cup tournaments, two Olympic Games, and three complete WUSA seasons since U.S. defender Kate Markgraf (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) last scored a goal in a competitive match. The streak is over. (May 9) Led by U.S. National Team players Hope Solo (Richland, Wash.), Danielle Slaton (San Jose, Calif.), Lorrie Fair (Los Altos, Calif.) and Christie Welsh (Massapequa, N.Y.), Olympic Lyonnaise has advanced to the championship game of the French Cup by virtue of a 4-2 win over Soyaux in the semifinal. (May 9) The U.S. Under-17 '88 and '89 Men's National Teams came away with victories over the University of Massachusetts and the Temple Terrace U-18s, respectively. For more information, log on to www.ussoccer.com.
Softball: (May 10) The Amateur Softball Association and USA Softball announced the 32 initial athletes invited to participate in the 2005 Women's National Team Selection Camp, June 13-17, at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif. The Women's Selection Committee will announce the remaining athletes invited to the selection camp on May 18. For more information, log on to www.usasoftball.com.
Swimming: (May 5) Bragging rights are at stake when the top U.S. swimmers take on their archrivals, the Australians, in a unique head-to-head match-up at the second Mutual of Omaha Duel in the Pool on Aug. 2 in Irvine, Calif. The event will boast a worldwide television audience, including three hours of coverage by NBC in the U.S. For more information, log on to www.usa-swimming.org.
Tennis: (May 9) Captain Patrick McEnroe (New York, N.Y.) and the U.S. Davis Cup Team will travel to Belgium Sept. 23-25 to play in the World Group play- offs. For more information, log on to www.usta.com.
Track and Field: (May 4) USA Track & Field announced Team USA's marathon representatives for the 2005 IAAF World Championships in Helsinki, Finland Aug. 6-14. Three team members, Jill Boaz (Los Osos, Calif.), Kelly Keane (The Woodlands, Texas) and Clint Verran (Rochester Hills, Mich.), have prior World Championships marathon experience, having been on the 2003 team that competed in Paris. The roster also includes 2001 USA men's champion Scott Larson (Boulder, Colo.). (May 4) Hurdler Anjanette Kirkland (Gainesville, Fla.) and sprinter Jason Smoots (Gadsden, Ala.) are the leaders in the Race for the Championship after the first stop of the 2005 Outdoor Visa Championship Series, USA vs. the World at Penn Relays. The Visa Championship Series moves to the Adidas Track Classic on May 22 in Carson, Calif. (May 6) Organizers announced that the June 11 stop on USA Track & Field's Visa Championship Series will be called the Reebok Grand Prix. The meet will be held on Randall's Island in New York City. (May 9) University of Oregon freshman Galen Rupp (Portland, Ore.) thrilled a crowd of 3,410 spectators at the Oregon Twilight Meet in Eugene, Ore. by setting a new American 10,000m junior record. Running on his own the last two miles, Rupp covered the final 5,000 meters in 13:58, hitting the tape in 28:15.51 to raze the record held by former Oregon Duck Rudy Chapa for 29 years. (May 9) Harvard freshman Lindsey Scherf (Scarsdale, N.Y.) ran her American 10,000m junior record of 32:51.20 in a much different way than Rupp. With no pace makers and little hype, Scherf took the lead from the start of the race with the goal of breaking the 26-year-old record held by Mary Shea (32:52.5). (May 9) 2004 World Junior Championships triple gold medalist LaShawn Merritt (Portsmouth, Va.) continued his winning ways at the 2005 Jamaica International Invitational in Kingston. Merritt won the men's 400 meters in 44.66 seconds, with 2004 Olympic relay gold medalist Andrew Rock (Stratford, Wis.) the runner-up in 44.75. Other U.S. winners in Kingston included Charlie Gruber (Lawrence, Kan.) in the 1,500 meters (3:41.70), and two-time Atlantic Coast Conference outdoor high jump champion Adam Shunk (Muncie, Ind.), who won the competition with a clearance of 2.28 meters/7 feet, 5.75 inches. In women's action, 2004 Team USA Olympic 4x400m relay gold medalists Sanya Richards (Austin, Texas) and Monique Hennagan (Stockbridge, Ga.) grabbed the top two spots in the 400 meters with Richards winning the event in 49.96 seconds, and Hennagan crossing the finish line in 50.83. (May 9) Maria Michta (Nesconset, N.Y.) set a new junior record in winning the silver medal at the 2005 Pan American Cup of Race Walking in Lima, Peru. Michta won the first international championship medal of her career by finishing in 48 minutes, 3 seconds. (May 9) Two-time Olympic gold medalist Jeremy Wariner (Grand Prairie, Texas) had little trouble in winning the men's 400 meters at the 2005 Coca-Cola Modesto Relays. Wariner looked strong in winning the race in 45.16 seconds, with Godfrey Herring (Pontiac, Mich.) the runner-up (46.29) and Mitch Potter (St. Michael, Minn.) third (46.31). Masters greats Bill Benson (86, Valley Stream, N.Y.) and Nadine O'Connor, 63, each added to their sizeable record collections. Benson demolished his own M85 American record in the mile, clocking 9 minutes, 18.42 seconds at the 35th Southeastern Masters Track and Field Meet at Duke University in Durham, N.C. His previous standard was 9:56.93, set in July 2004 at age 85. As she has done many times before, O'Connor set a women's masters age group pole vault record at the University of California at San Diego Team Thor Throws/Vault Meet, where she cleared 3.07 meters/10 feet, .75 inch. O'Connor was the recipient of the 2004 USATF Masters Women's Performance of the Year award for her record of 3.05m/10-0 at age 62. (May 10) Edward F. Sheehan Jr. (Silver Spring, Md.), a two-time Olympic Trials qualifier and the former head coach at the Boston Athletic Association, died on May 6. He was 47. (May 10) 2004 USA junior champion Zach Pollinger (Allendale, N.J.) set a new American junior record at the 2005 Pan American Cup of Race Walking. Pollinger finished 8th in the Junior Men's 10 km event in 44 minutes, 47 seconds. His 5 km split of 22:14 bettered the previous American record at that distance. (May 10) Former NFL wide receiver Willie Gault set a new American masters record in the 100 meters at the Occidental Invitational near Los Angeles, Calif. Gault, 44, finished the race in 10.73 seconds, bettering the previous record of 10.87 by 1972 Olympian Eddie Hart set in 1989. (May 10) Galen Rupp was named USA Track & Field's Athlete of the Week after he set an American 10,000m junior record at the Oregon Twilight Meet. For more information, log on www.usatf.org.
Volleyball: (May 4) Former national team player Diane French (Charleroi, Pa.) has been hired as the new technical coordinator for the USA Women's National Team and first-year head coach "Jenny" Lang Ping. (May 9) "Jenny" Lang Ping stepped onto the court for the first time as the head coach of the USA Women's National Team when she held her first practice at the United States Olympic Training Complex in Colorado Springs, Colo. For more information, log on to www.usavolleyball.org.
Wrestling: (May 4) USA Wrestling announced that it will send a Greco-Roman squad to Minsk, Belarus for the O.Karavaev Memorial International, May 21-22. Leading the U.S. squad will be 2005 U.S. Nationals champions Brad Vering (Colorado Springs, Colo.) at 84 kg/185 lbs., Justin Ruiz (Colorado Springs, Colo.) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. and Dremiel Byers (Colorado Springs, Colo.) at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. (May 4) The list of qualifiers in all three styles for the World Team Trials in Ames, Iowa has been updated. (May 8) USA Wrestling announced its 2005 Women's World Cup lineup, which includes six of this year's national champions. The World Cup is a dual-meet tournament in which the U.S. will compete in a round-robin format against five of the top nations in the world. For more information, log on to www.themat.com.
