Showing posts with label athletic news. Show all posts
Showing posts with label athletic news. Show all posts

London 2012: Olympic sport this week


MAJOR EVENTS THIS WEEK

ATHLETICS - Aviva Indoor UK Trials and Championships, EIS Sheffield (11-12 Feb); as well as national titles, assortment for next month's IAAF World Indoor Championships is at stake in Sheffield. Local favorite Jessica Ennis - who will be defensive her pentathlon title at those World Indoor Championships - is taking part in the shot put, high jump, long jump and 60m hurdles this weekend.

BOXING - Bocskai Memorial Tournament, Debrecen, Hungary (7-12 Feb); Team GB boxers Tom Stalker (60kg), Fred Evans (69kg) and Anthony Joshua (91+kg) compete in this elite international competition.

CYCLING - Tour of Qatar (5-10 Feb); Mark Cavendish makes his first exterior of 2012 in this six-stage event in Doha. The world champion, a winner of two stages at the event in 2009, is making his debut for Team Sky.
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USA Sports News : Wounded Solo practice before U.S. women's Olympic qualifier

Athletic News : Hope Solo stood in the net, lean forward and grimace. She had just dive to her right to make a save, and her wounded leg was feeling the effects.

Hope Solo stood

The goalkeeper for the U.S. women's soccer team was back on the perform field Thursday, one day before the game that will decide whether the Americans go to the Olympics. Whether she'll really play was still in doubt.

"We still have quite some time to figure that out," Solo said after practice. "I have rehab planned right (now), another rehab session tonight, so we're just going to have to wait and see."

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U.S. Olympic Committee visit Eugene for Track Town 2012 planning


Eugene (KMTR) - Members of the U.S. Olympic Committee and U.S.A. Track & Field are visiting Eugene this week for preparation meetings; there's a lot to do before 1,000 hopeful athletes arrive in Lane County. University of Oregon's Track & Field Director Vin Lananna, and Chester Wheeler from the U.S.O.C. exposed a few details about what fans can expect this summer. They're rolling out a London theme, pub included. A lot of the new features will be geared toward young people, in hopes of attract them to the sport, and ongoing the Track Town legacy. One of the new items is a cell phone app, where fans can track the results of events live as they unfold on the track.

Speaking to the community impact, the U.S.O.C. already has 11,000 hotel room nights booked for the trials. Organizers wait for about 20,000 fans inside Hayward Field each day, and the free festival outside the track will likely be back this year, attract thousands more.

The countdown is at 156 days to “Track Town 2012.” Stay tuned over the next couple months for more surprises to be exposed about what's new inside and outside Hayward Field this summer.

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Moiben succeed at mumbai marathon

Kenya's Laban Moiben won the Mumbai Marathon in a spectacular photo finish ahead of Ethiopia's Raji Assefa. Both men clocked a time of two hours 10 minutes 48 seconds, but the photo gave the triumph to Moiben. Ethiopia's John Kyui was third, just six seconds further back.

In the women's race, Ethiopian Netsanet Abeyo won in a time of 2:26.10, over four minutes clear of compatriots Fatuma Sado (2:30.20) and (2:30.47).In the men's race Indian athlete Ram Singh Yadav protected a spot in the 2012 Olympics as he beat his individual best on the course by over a minute with a 2:16.59.

The top winners in the two categories got prize money of USD 36,000 each. Tanzania's Dickson Marwa and Simon Kasimili were the early pace setters as they exchanged go ahead position during the first 15 km stretch. However, after the initial surge, Marwa fell behind and it was here that Kyui and Moiben began their domination. It was at about the 30km stretch that Moiben took the lead which he held throughout.
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Easy win for Asbel Kiprop and Fionnuala Britton

Kenya's world and Olympic champion Asbel Kiprop easiness to a relaxed victory in the men's 3km event at the Great Edinburgh Cross Country race. He clocked nine minutes, 20 seconds to beat Britain's Jonny Hay (9.25), with Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele well down. Ireland's European cross country champion Fionnuala Britton won the women's 6km race in 21.32 ahead of Britain's Gemma Steel and Elle Baker. "It is nice to feel strong and run like that," Britton told. Kiprop beat fellow Kenyan Brimin Kipruto, who won Olympic gold in the 3,000m steeplechase, and Ethiopian legend Bekele, who both finished well down the field.

We must go back 11 years for the last time Kenenisa Bekele completed outside the top 10 in any race, and that was in the 2001 Oslo 5,000m when he was still a junior. One wonders if his bubble has burst, since he's now lost four of his last five races. But remember the one he did win was last September's Brussels 10,000m, which was highly important as he ran the fastest time in the world in 2011 and almost guaranteed his selection for London in that event. Olympic Park on 4 August will be a far cry from Holyrood Park on 7 January.

Bekele, who won gold in the 5,000m and 10,000m in Beijing in 2008, is regarded as the biggest rival to Britain's Mo Farah at the 2012 London Olympics but he struggled with the pace. Kiprop, 22, said: "I expected a very tough contest from them.”I am excited having won here today after being second last year." Britton beat a quality field at Holyrood Park to win by an inspiring 20 seconds. The 27-year-old said: "It is a big event and I knew I was the person everyone would try to chase down so I knew I had to have a good race.
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Tulane drops C-USA opener at UCF, 60-53



Green Wave fell behind early in could never catch up in 60-53 loss
ORLANDO, Fla. – Tulane’s men’s basketball team fell behind early and could never catch up to UCF Wednesday night in the Conference USA opener, falling 60-53, at UCF Arena.

The Green Wave (12-3, 0-1 C-USA) trailed by nine in the first nine minutes of the game and never got closer than six the rest of the way. The Knights (11-3, 1-0 C-USA) took the lead for good less than two minutes in and led by as many as 17, including a 29-21 lead at the break.

“We did not play as well as we needed to, especially early, and UCF did a number on us on the boards,” Tulane head coach Ed Conroy said. “The first half we did not do the job we needed to boxing out and we need to make sure that doesn’t happen again. We’ve been pretty good on the boards, but tonight we didn’t match their effort.”

Jordan Callahan led Tulane with 18 points, seven rebounds, three assists, a block and a steal, while Kendall Timmons missed his second straight double double with 12 points and nine rebounds, and Ricky Tarrant added 12 points, five rebounds and four assists.

Tulane led 4-3 after a dunk by Timmons with 18:48 left in the opening half, but Marcus Jordan, who led UCF with a game-high 19 points, knocked down a jumper 20 seconds later that gave the Knights the lead for good. The Green Wave was held scoreless for over a four minute stretch in the first half and UCF used that time to build a 27-13 lead, the largest of the half.

Tulane scored first to open the second half the cut the deficit to six on a Callahan lay-up, but a 3-pointer by A.J. Rompza for UCF ignited a 10-2 run for the Knights who pulled away to a 17 point lead, 44-27, with 12:49 left. The Green Wave did fight back and used a 16-7 run to cut the UCF lead back down to eight, 54-46, with 3:40 remaining, before Jordan hit a jumper and a pair of free throws to all but seal the victory.

“The second half was a tale of not making shots and finishing plays,” Conroy added. “The first half was not satisfactory in the way we need to execute and move the ball.”

Josh Davis added eight points and five boards for Tulane, who hit just 23 of 48 shots from the floor in the game, including four of 10 for 3-point range. The Green Wave struggled from long range early as well, missing the first nine attempts before Callahan knocked one down eight minutes into the second half.

UCF did shoot well either, hitting 23 of 58 shots from the floor as well, but the Knights won the rebound battle, 43-32, including grabbing 15 offensive boards and turning that into 14 points.

Tulane’s defense forced 12 turnovers and collected seven steals that resulted in 11 points.

The Green Wave, who has played the last three games on the road, return to Fogelman Arena Saturday when they host Southern Miss at 3 p.m. CT.

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No. 5 Baylor skips past Texas A&M

Perry Jones III had 14 points with 12 rebounds, and the Bears remained undefeated with a 61-52 victory over Texas A&M on Monday night for their first 14-game winning streak in school history.


After moving up two spots to No. 4 in the new Associated Press poll earlier Monday, the Bears (14-0) scored the first eight points of the game and lead throughout against the Aggies (9-4).

BOX SCORE: Baylor 61, LSU 52

"I make sure, being the captain of the team, that we don't pay attention to that," senior Quincy Acy said. "It's good to have it, but we want more. … Just make sure that we don't pay attention to that, and we go out every night and play like we have something to lose."

Part of Baylor's opening spurt was Pierre Jackson's half-court alley-oop pass to Jones for a slam dunk

To get the latest sports news from USA TODAY, including game results, columns and features, follow us on Twitter at @USATODAYSports.

"Actually, that was the first time he's ever thrown me an alley-oop that far," Jones said. "But you've got to be ready for anything when he's on the floor."

It was the first double-double of the season for Jones, the Big 12's preseason player of the year. Jones, a 6-foot-11 sophomore who bypassed the chance to be a high NBA draft pick last summer, missed the first five games this season while completing a six-game NCAA suspension for accepting improper benefits before he got to Baylor.

The Bears had already matched the school-record winning streak of 13 in a row set in 1946 by winning their 13 non-conference games. Baylor has won five consecutive Big 12 openers.

Acy added 13 points for Baylor, while freshman Quincy Miller had 11 points with eight rebounds in his first Big 12 game. A.J. Walton had 10 points.

This was the 204th meeting for the Texas teams from along the Brazos River. Baylor has won four in a row, but A&M still leads the series 127-77.

It was the last Big 12 matchup between the two teams in Waco with A&M's pending move to the Southeastern Conference after this season. They play again Feb. 1 at College Station.

"Obviously like everyone else I wish they were still in the Big 12, but we've got a pretty good league, and there's a reason the last four years RPI-wise the Big 12's been the best conference in basketball," Baylor coach Scott Drew said. "It's outstanding basketball. We know the future's very bright for the Big 12."

Elston Turner had 21 points for the Aggies, who have lost three of its last four games. Khris Middleton had 14 points.

Turner's 3-pointer got Texas A&M within 10 with 5 minutes left before consecutive turnovers that Baylor turned into baskets.

After Anthony Jones forced an A&M turnover, Cory Jefferson made a jumper. Jackson then had a steal that led to Walton's baseline jumper in the front of the Baylor bench.

"I wasn't real pleased with that play," Texas A&M coach Billy Kennedy said. "He made a tough shot."

Turner hit another 3-pointer with 2:25 left to get the Aggies within 57-48, but they never got closer.

Texas A&M made only 18 of 63 field goals (29 percent) overall, but that was actually an improvement after making only 6-of-28 (21 percent) in the first half.

There was an 8-minute stretch for Texas A&M with 10 consecutive missed shots. After Turner's jumper with 9:39 left in the first half, when Baylor led 17-9, the Aggies didn't make another field goal until Middleton's 3-pointer with 1:39 left when they still trailed 28-14.

Aggies guard David Loubeau had three fouls while playing only 2 minutes in the first half, when Middleton was limited to only 10 minutes because of two early fouls.

Baylor had an 18-4 run in the first half that Jones started with a turnaround 15-footer and ended with a long jumper. The Bears had a 30-17 halftime lead, then scored the first five points of the second half.

"Defensively, I'm proud of our guys. We did a good enough job defensively," Kennedy said. "But when you go 6-for-28 in the first half and you've got two of your best players on the bench not playing, it's going to be tough."

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Athletic news: World's top hurdlers place for new indoor fixture


Olympic gold medalist Dawn Harper leads a physically powerful field announce on Wednesday for the women's 50m hurdles at next month's US Open indoor athletics meeting at Madison Square Garden.

USA Track and Field said that Harper would be connected in the event by two-time defensive world indoor champion Lolo Jones, USA Indoor and Outdoor champion Kellie Wells and British national record-holder Tiffany Ofili Porter.

The showdown adds to earlier announce stars Jesse Williams, Christian Cantwell, Adam Nelson, Bernard Lagat, Veronica Campbell-Brown, Asafa Powell, David Oliver and Jenn Suhr, all looking for to get their Olympic-season campaigns off to flying starts.

The well-known arena in Manhattan will host the first edition of the US Open on January 28 as the first event of USA Track and Field's Visa Championship Series.

Meanwhile the Millrose Games, the indoor gathering held at Madison Square Garden since 1914, have been stimulated by organizers to the more modern Armory Track and Field Center in New York on February 11.

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Volunteer Assistant Coach at Alderson Broaddus College for men’s and women’s track and field teams

Alderson Broaddus College is accepting applications for a volunteer helper coach for the men’s and women’s track and field teams. This position will carry out the practice and training routines in the areas of Sprints and Jumps and support in the training of other event areas when needed.

Bachelor’s degree is necessary and collegiate track & field opposition experience in jumps/sprints is highly favored. The position will assist the head coach in all aspect of the program.

For 140 years, Alderson-Broaddus College has been as long as a quality education for its students. Overlooking the charming Tygart River Valley in Philippi, West Virginia, Alderson-Broaddus College students learn and grow in a faith-based knowledge community.

Deeply entrenched in the liberal arts, Alderson-Broaddus College is a health-related and professional educational institution. Alderson-Broaddus College is allied with the American Baptist Churches, USA, the West Virginia Baptist Convention, and the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities.

Duties include: Planning/implement daily practices for jump/sprints core, recruit organization and travel to HS meets. Working nights and weekends are standard and expected. Good infrastructure skills and previous recruit of high school student-athletes is necessary and highly sought.

This is a non-paid position restricted to NCAA guidelines; candidates must profitably complete background check.

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Armstrong in conflict for three Athletics Canada awards

Armstrong

Shot putter Dylan Armstrong of Kamloops, B.C., heads the list of finalists chosen for three of Athletics Canada’s major award and his coach Anatoliy Bondarchuk heads another of the short lists, as the national body for track and field unveils its stars and their achievement Friday.

Armstrong, 30, is chosen as the best overall athlete in track and field, the best field athlete and the best presentation of the season, Bondarchuck us chosen as coach of the year.

The 6-foot-4, 310-pound Armstrong.had a brilliant flight season in which he under enemy control the big man’s sport by winning the points race in the Diamond League elite events; posting a season-best throw of 22.21 metres – which stands up as the Canadian record; taking Canada’s first world championship medal in shot put in Daegu, South Korea; and taking a Pan American Games gold, introduction the steel ball a meet-records 21.23 metres.

The winners will be unveil Wednesday December 21, and will be honored at a feast following the 2012 Canadian Championships in Calgary.

The finalists and winners are chosen by Athletics Canada’s Awards Committee from a nominee pool put forward by the membership.

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U.S. bring CNY "Thunder" to Roller Derby World Cup

Hundreds of athletes from across the globe descend on Toronto for the very first Roller Derby World Cup. Tamara Lindstrom wedged up with one team USA skater who got her start in Central New York. CANADA -- Three days. Thirteen countries.


Two-hundred-sixty skaters collide on the track at the enormously first Roller Derby World Cup.

"We've got countries coming from halfway across the world," said event planner Amie "Speedin Hawking" Sergas. "Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Argentina."

"Finland, Germany, Brazil. It's been actually cool considering all these countries come jointly," said Team Canada skater Bonnie "Soul Rekker" Bray.

Leading the way for Team USA is Nicole "Bonnie Thunders" Williams. "My life is inspired by roller derby," William said. The skating celebrity hails from Central New York.

"There's a little sports hall of fame in Rome, so maybe someday I'll be a part of that," Williams joked. She got her skating start with the Syracuse University coordinated figure skating team.

"And when I enthused to New York, I wanted to keep skating and roller derby was kind of this perfect junction between skating because I loved to skate, but also phone sport," said Williams.

Williams has skated with the Gotham Girls Roller Derby since 2006 and now runs her own store, Five pace Skate Shop, in Brooklyn.

She and 19 other athletes from crossways country traveled to Toronto to show America's skating prowess.

"We had, unluckily, not that much training for this tournament," Williams said.
Team USA took the track with just two practices under their wheels."I think it's always challenging when you play with new people," Williams said. "When somebody knock someone out of bounds and you do one thing expectant them to follow you and then they don't do what you expect."

Three days of cut-throat bracket led to a final matchup between the two North American teams and the U.S. and Canada fought it out to take home the first ever breaker derby world cup. Team USA conquered the pack, winning the final round 336 to 33.

"It feels pretty unbelievable to be able to say you're the first world champion of roller derby," Williams said. "It's absolutely an amazing feeling."

And possibly one stride closer to that hometown Hall of Fame. But for now, she said, it's time to try amazing new - a week off.

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UO runner Centrowitz decides to turn professional


Oregon distance runner Matthew Centrowitz has decided to forgo his final season of collegiate eligibility to run professionally.

The 2011 world bronze medalist in the 1,500 meters has signed with PACE Sports Management, a United Kingdom-based athlete management company.

The PACE track and field roster includes Olympic champion Usain Bolt, and world champions Vivian Cheruiyot, Mo Farah, Linet Masai, Phillips Idowu, Christine Ohuruogu and Jana Pittman.

Centrowitz will turn his focus to the 2012 Olympic trials and the London Olympics. The trials will be held June 22 to July 1, 2012, at Hayward Field in Eugene. The Olympics start July 27.

"I am very grateful to the University of Oregon and the coaching staff for all they have done for me," Centrowitz said. "This important decision has taken me a couple of months to decide on but (is) a decision I feel that is best for me in reaching my upcoming goals."

This past season, Centrowitz won NCAA and U.S. championships at 1,500 meters. He holds the school record in the event at 3:34.46.

Centrowitz was a three time Pac-10 champion in the 1,500 and was a seven-time all-American.

"Matthew has had an enormous impact on the University of Oregon track program," Ducks coach Vin Lananna said. "Oregon has a great tradition in distance running and we are proud of his accomplishments in adding to that tradition.

"We wish him nothing but the best and we are excited for his future as a professional."

Centrowitz will stay at Oregon to complete his sociology degree. Although it's not as common for a track and field athlete to turn pro early as it is in football or basketball, it is not unprecedented.

It is more common for sprinters. Allyson Felix never ran in college despite enrolling at USC. Tyson Gay and Wallace Spearmon both left early from Arkansas and Jeremy Wariner did the same at Baylor.

Former McKay standout Ryan Bailey ran one season at Rend Lake (Ill.) Community College before turning pro. Alan Webb and Evan Jager are examples of distance runners who who left college early.

Webb ran one year at Michigan before turning pro, while Jager left Wisconsin after one year.

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Official: Dennis Erickson out as Arizona State coach


The administrator spoke on the circumstance of secrecy on Sunday because details of Erickson's going away have not been finalized.

Erickson will meet with athletic director Lisa Love as early as Monday and, at 64, could be allowed to give up work rather than be fired. Erickson could unmoving coach in whatever bowl game the Sun Devils play in.

Erickson's job came into danger after Arizona State lost its final four games next a 6-2 start, knocking the Sun Devils from contention to play in the inaugural Pac-12 championship game next Friday. He was 31-30 in five seasons in the wasteland.

Erickson won a pair of national titles with Miami and had stops at Oregon State and Idaho before incoming in Tempe in 2007. He had an imposing start in the wasteland, named the Pac-10 coach of the year after most important the Sun Devils to the Holiday Bowl and their first 10-win season in nine years.

That twisted out to be the highlight of his tenure. Arizona State won no more than six games the next three years, ineligible for a bowl last season since two of its games were next to Football Championship Subdivision schools.

Love opt to stick with Erickson in spite of three straight shaky seasons and the Sun Devils went into this year with high prospect, recurring nearly every starter on both sides of the ball.

Arizona State looks good early; taking control of the Pac-12 South after its first eight games then went into a tailspin.

After becoming bowl eligible for the first time in four years with a win over Colorado on Oct. 29, the Sun Devils lost their grip on the South with a loss to UCLA the next week, and couldn't make up ground regardless of the Bruins' lackluster finish.

The final blows for Erickson's probability of keeping his job came with a unsatisfactory home loss to rival Arizona, which had fired its coach and had won just two games at that point, followed by Friday's 47-39 loss to California at home.

"I don't know that I have ever been through a month like this," Erickson said after the loss to Cal. "We felt that we had a chance to have a great year, then you lose four in a row and just end up with a very, very average year."

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2012 Olympic trial will be more able to be seen than in 2008


EUGENE, Ore. - The 2012 Olympic Track & Field Trials start June 22 at Hayward Field. The local organize committee educated some lessons from 2008 that should make 2012 even better and more noticeable.

NBC is the broadcast rights holder for the 2012 trials and was so as well in 2008.
Due to NBC's tight limits on the 2008 Olympic Trials in Eugene, many people who were not able to go to the trials in person miss a lot of the action.

KVAL Sports has learned, however, that 2012 will be a much dissimilar story. "With our work with NBC, we try to make it as fan welcoming as likely to the most number of people," said 2012 organize Committee Co-chair Greg Irwin. "So, moving up the plan a little bit and making it more obtainable to everyone across the country, we want everybody to have the advantage of watching the spectacular events at Hayward Field."

In 2008, the men's 800 meter final was the most unforgettable event of the trials, but it was seen only once on television.

"It is trying when you turn on KVAL and you can't of necessity watch the races you want to watch because somebody else has the rights to them," said 2008 men's 800 champion Nick Symmonds.

NBC's system in '08 not only excluded anyone else from shooting any video of the trials, but NBC also prohibited any other media outlet from airing their video of events on certain days.

"NBC pays billions with a 'b', billions of dollars to own the rights not just to the Olympics, but to the Olympic Trials." said USA Track & Field spokesperson Jill Geer. "I can tell you that I've been on calls with NBC officials where we've worked on them loosen their guidelines."

But they were anything but loose in '08 and KVAL was required to use immobile pictures to tell the story of the days' events. The main reason for that was because on most days NBC chose to air its boradcasts awaiting midnight when KVAL's newcasts were previously over. However, that won't be the case in 2012.

"We haven't announced the broadcast schedule yet, but the time slots are not going to be 11 to midnight," said Geer.

"All the TV coverage of the US Track & Field Championships will be held at prime time," said 2012 Organizing Committee Co-chair VIN Lananna. "So, it will be a much better schedule." That will be good for everyone, as well as local media outlets.

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Division II Cross Country Announced National Awards

NEW ORLEANS – The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announce on Tuesday that NCAA Division II Cross Country Champions Ryan Haebe of Western State and Neely Spence of Shippensburg were named as National Athletes of the Year for the 2011 cross country season. In adding, Western State’s Jennifer Michel was standard as the National Men’s Coach of the Year while Tracy Hellman of Augustana (S.D.) was named the National Women’s Coach of the Year.

NATIONAL MEN’S ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Ryan Haebe, Western State
Haebe, a sophomore from Evergreen, Colo., won the NCAA Division II person men’s title in 30:45.1, three seconds ahead of colleague Tyler Pennel.

Haebe became the first entity national champion for the Mountaineer men since 2001, and only the second student-athlete in Western State history to win a men’s cross country national championship. Michael Aish won national titles in 1999 and 2001.

Earlier in the fall, Haebe positioned fourth in the RMAC Championships, helping the team to the meeting title. Haebe did not take part in the NCAA Central Regional.


NATIONAL WOMEN’S ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Neely Spence, Shippensburg
Spence, a senior from Shippensburg, Pa., won her second-consecutive Division II national championship with a 13-second triumph over the field and a 6K time of 20:53. Spence led for the majority of the race, gradually increasing her lead as the runners spread out through the frozen tundra.

Earlier in the season, Spence capture her fourth-straight Atlantic Region top and won the region this season by nearly a full minute with a 20:43 performance in the 6k. Spence also became the first in PSAC history to win four-straight league cross country crowns.

NATIONAL MEN’S COACH OF THE YEAR: Jennifer Michel, Western State
Michel’s Mountaineers engineered their first NCAA men’s cross country team crown since 2005 with a leading victory at the NCAA Championships. Western State tally just 27 points, placing their top five runners in the race’s top 13. Sophomore Ryan Haebe and senior Tyler Pennel ended the race 1-2, senior David Goodman placed fifth, senior Gabriel Proctor took seventh, and sophomore Trevor Blackman came in 13th.

For Michel, in her fifth year at the helm, Western State won their first RMAC title since 2004 and located second in the NCAA Central Regional.

NATIONAL WOMEN’S COACH OF THE YEAR: Tracy Hellman, Augustana (S.D.)
Hellman’s squad won their first NCAA title in women’s cross country with a 75-79 victory over adjacent challenger Western State. Entering the meet as the No. 5 team in the nation, the Vikings wedged to the plan and stuck jointly as the scoring crew of five would earn overall places of 12, 13, 15, 17, and 29. Junior Leah Hansen led the group; follow by sophomore Runa Falch, sophomore Kristin Brondbo, junior Kyle Blakeslee, and senior Kelly Kougl.

The Vikings earlier in the season won their fifth-straight discussion meet as they took the NSIC title. They were third in the NCAA Central Regional.
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Athletic Sports Calendar for 11/19

Athletic sports news: DasHuh Basketball Dads-Daughters 2-on-2 Tournament - Alternative Learning Center, 3650 Michigan Ave., Fort Myers; double elimination, games played with women's ball; registering daughters grades 6-8 & dads (any age), entry fee $60 (forms online), deadline Nov. 23. Info: Shannon Graham (239) 357-6791;

Dec. 5-Jan. 13

Cal Ripken Baseball Registration - Taking registration from players ages 4-12 at Cape Coral Parks & Recreation athletic office, 1015 Cultural Park Blvs. (City Hall), 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. weekdays; cost for T-ball & coach-pitch $50, all other divisions $110 (Dec. 5-31), $120 (Jan. 1-14); season begins Feb. 18. Info: Bernie Howard (239) 242-3485.

Jan.-May

Cape Recreational Youth Track & Field Club Registration - Ida Baker High School; athletes ages 8-18 welcome, non-competitive team meets 5-7 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays; competitive travel teams available; cost $75 (includes AAU and USA Track & Field memberships. Info: (239) 980-3351;

General Info

Cape Coral Bass Club - Meeting first Tuesday each month, 7:30 p.m., Caloosahatchee Moose Lodge 2395 on Cape Coral Parkway; men, women, children who love to bass fish welcome; tournaments held locally and out of town. Info: Jim Lewis 945-7188; Cape Coral Tarpon Hunters Club - Meeting third Thursday (March through September) each month, 7 p.m., Cape Coral Yacht Club; 40th anniversary year; club catches and releases all tarpon; social and competitive club, hosts rookie seminars, tournaments for youth and adults. Info: Gary Jackson (239) 898-2980.

Cape Coral Sailing Club - Meeting fourth Wednesday each month, 7:30 p.m., Cape Coral Yacht Club, 5819 Driftwood Pkwy.; adults interested in boating (sail or power), cruising or armchair are welcome. Info: Ron Miniter 945-7761.

Sailing Singles Club - Happy Hour gathering first Friday each month, 5 p.m., general meeting third Thursday each month, 7 p.m.; daysails & weekenders being planned; learn to sail with us; new members and captains with sailboats welcome. Info: Shannon (239) 541-0104.

Saturday, Nov. 19

Oasis High School Baseball Golf Tournament - Coral Oaks Golf Course, 1800 NW 28th Ave.; 1 p.m. shotgun start, foursome scramble format; prizes, long drive, putting, hole-in-one and closest to pin contests; entry fee $100 per player, proceeds benefit Oasis High School baseball team. Info: Louis Korchick (239) 898-8332; Frank Haba (239) 699-0572; Shuan Haag (239) 590-5217;

Sunday, Nov. 20

Lee County Archers 3D Archery Shoot - Nalle Grade County Park range, North Fort Myers; sign up 8 a.m., shotgun start 9 a.m., shooting fee $10; roving field range of 20 3D target stations plus 14-station NFAA field course. Info: Ben Brown (239) 369-6212.

Wednesday, Nov. 30

50-Plus Softball Registration - Accepting applications for players, all skill levels, for Tuesday/Thursday evenings at Cape Coral Sports Complex or BMX Park; winter/spring season starts Jan. 3 (deadline Nov. 30); cost $70 per player, tryouts held 5-6 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays prior to league games until Nov. 30, all new players must attend at least one tryout. Info: Jennifer (239) 292-2923; Tina (239) 267-9684 or (860) 575-9452; Ken (941) 855-0489.

Sunday, Dec. 4

Lee County Archers 900 Round Event - Nalle Grade County Park range, North Fort Myers; 9 a.m., open to public, registering new participants, all skill levels. Info: Ben Brown (239) 369-6212.

Dec. 7-11

Jamaica Invitational Pro-Am "Annie's Revenge" Golf Tournament - White Witch and Cinnamon Hill golf courses; 54-hole tournament based at Iberostar Grand Hotel Rose Hall Resort, Montego Bay, Jamaica; foursome team (three amateurs, one pro) entries accepted, first-come first-served basis; register online. Info: www.jamaicaproam.com

January 2012

Alumni Football Invitation - Weekend games Jan-March (2012), for all former high school football players age 18 and older; full pads, officials, etc., must gather 35 players to play; can be fundraiser for your school.

Jan. 7-8

HITS Triathlon Series - Naples; five distances including full marathon; details and open registration online. Web: www.hitstriathlonseries.com

Jan. 7-15

Minnesota Twins Baseball Fantasy Camp - Hammond Stadium at Lee County Sports Complex; campers enjoy week of living a Major League experience, instruction and coaching by former Twins greats like Harmon Killebrew, Bert Blyleven, Tony Oliva, Kent Hrbek and many others; registrations for 2012 currently ahead of last year's sellout pace. Info: Stan Dickman 1-888-446-8946; Web: www.twinsbaseball.com


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The current position is really crippling our sport

A three-part inquiry into the politics of best track and field athletics by KVAL Sports airs on KVAL 13 TV News at 6 starting on Monday, Nov. 21.

SPRINGFIELD, Ore. - U.S. champion Nick Symmonds runs in and has won debatably the toughest race in track and field: the 800 meters.

Off the track, Symmonds is now fighting what could be a trailing battle. "The current position is really crippling our sport, track and field," Symmonds told KVAL sports.

The Willamette University graduate and current Springfield resident said the International Associations of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and United States Track & Field are doing more harm than good with their current logo rules. Symmonds believes these systems are the largest problem with the sport today.

"What I'd like to see is the policy changed so that athletes are permissible to have multiple sponsors displayed on their skin, displayed on the back of their jerseys," said Symmonds. "Just change the rules to permit more corporate dollars to flow into the sport."

Symmonds at first voiced his strong opinions on the logo policy compulsory by the IAAF and USATF in a blog post on flotrack.org on Oct. 3.

"As it is now meet sponsors work through the IAAF and USATF," said Symmonds. "The governing bodies take their share and let what's left trickle down to the athletes in the form of prize money. I appreciate that these governing bodies need to take a cut in order to keep operating, but it's gone beyond that. It's gotten to the point where people are taking benefit of the athletes and taking much more than their share of the pie."

Symmonds feels that allow athletes to display more finance logos mean more income for the athletes. The current IAAF policy state:

IAAF Advertising Regulations:

3.1.1.2 Any other Advertising on or by or otherwise related with an Athlete is prohibited, including but not incomplete to body painting, tattoos, jewelery, hair dying, hair shaving, the use of any flags, banners, T-shirts, hats and any other form of display of Advertising.

3.1.1.3 No advertising or display of Sponsors of the Athletes in the form of "an Athlete x sponsored by company y" or similar may be display or appear on the Athletes or or else in the Competition Site.

So who's really behind this policy? The IAAF - or the shoe companies that may not want other corporations advertise with their athletes at events?

"Let's say I'm sponsored by company X, and company X gives me my uniform, they might not want other logos obscure their apparel," said USATF spokesperson Jill Geer. "So, there’s not just the international rule, but also there are each individual apparel manufacturer as well."

"There are all sorts of sponsors for IAAF," said 2011 USA men's World Championship team coach Vin Lananna. "So, I don't recognize if just the shoe companies alone would have the juice to be able to stop or stop something that made intellect for the athletes."

"To a sure extent I imagine the clothing manufacturer enjoys having their logo as the only one on a jersey, but even their logos, Nike's swoosh for example, has extreme limits of where it can be placed and how it can be displayed. These limits come from USATF and IAAF and they're absurd as well."

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USATF launch U.S. Open at Madison Square Garden; Lagat takings to Garden for men's mile



Track & Field will come back to the country's premier sports and activity venue for the 99th year on Saturday, January 28, when the U.S. Open Track & Field at Madison Square Garden kicks off USA Track & Field's 2012 pass Championship Series, USATF announce Thursday.

Garden legend Bernard Lagat will headline in the men's mile in a USA Track & Field meet that promise to glass case the best of the sport's practice in a sleek in-stadium and put out appearance. The U.S. Open will be the first track meet to be detained in The Garden following the conclusion of the first phase of the building's historic, top-to-bottom, three-year Transformation, and will be the first major specialized meet in the United States as the 2012 Olympic Year gets under way.

"Madison Square Garden feel like home to me, and I am so happy to be coming back in 2012," said Lagat, a 2-time Olympic medalist and the American record holder who has won eight 1-mile races in the Garden. "I can't think of a better place to kick off the Olympic year. I look onward to seeing the New York track fans who have support me for so many years, many new fans in the new Garden."

The U.S. Open will be transmit on ESPN from 7-9 p.m. Eastern on January 29 and is part of USATF's most aggressive TV schedule in years.

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Kendra Schaaf Named district Athlete of the Year


NEW ORLEANS, La. - The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association announce Wednesday that Carolina senior Kendra Schaaf is the 2011 Southeast county Female Athlete of the Year. The honors were nominated on by Division I cross country coaches.

Schaaf won both the ACC Championships and NCAA Southeast Regional Championships entity titles. Schaaf, who won the ACC get together by 25 seconds two weeks ago, conquered the NCAA Regional field as well as she won by more than 14 seconds and led the women's team to a third-place come to an end.

Schaaf, next to with sophomore Jake Hurysz, will vie at the NCAA Championships Monday, Nov. 21, in Terre Haute, Ind.

The men's race will begin at about 12:08 p.m. ET; follow by the women's race at around 12:58 p.m. A live webcast of the championships will be show from noon to 1:30 p.m. ET on NCAA.com. Highlights from the championships will be integrated as part of the CBS NCAA Fall Seasonal Show planned to air on Saturday, December 18, from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. ET on CBS HD.

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Calhoun and Tabor collect FCA Honors

FORT WORTH, Texas – TCU’s Jordan Calhoun and Cameron Tabor garnered Bob Lilly - Athlete of the Year honors by the better Fort Worth Chapter of the partnership of Christian Athletes.

Calhoun and Tabor were accessible their award at the FCA “Share the Victory” feast at the Fort Worth Hilton on Nov. 11. J.C. Watts, a former US Congressman and starting quarterback at the University of Oklahoma, was the major speaker at the banquet.

Calhoun, a Norman, Okla. native, netted a team-high seven goals, while dishing out a pair of assist in 2011. She is the program’s all-time most important in career goals (36) and points (85). The senior onward tallied three game-winning scores this season, putting away Toledo, Hofstra and Northwestern State. Calhoun received all-conference acceptance for the third time in four years, claim first-team recognition in 2008 and 2010.

Tabor enjoys a winning sophomore campaign in 2011, breaking the TCU benchmarks in the weight throw and hammer throw. The Norman, Okla., native twisted in a personal-best discus mark of 175-4 feet to maintain the event at the Bobby Lane Invitational. Tabor also claimed the shot put title at the Texas A&M Reveille and the hammer throw top at the Horned Frog Invitational. He entered to the NCAA West preliminary in the shot put.


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