Two-time Olympic silver medalist Allyson Felix (right) and Jeneba Tarmoh meet again.
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Television schedule Track and Field 6 p.m.-8 p.m. ET Friday, NBC Sports Network 9 p.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, NBC 7 p.m.-8 p.m. Sunday, NBC Swimming 8 p.m.-9 p.m. ET Friday, NBC 8 p.m.-9 p.m. Saturday, NBC 8 p.m.-9 p.m. Sunday, NBC 8 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Monday, NBC Gymnastics 9 p.m.-11 p.m. ET Friday, NBC 4 p.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, NBC 9 p.m.-11 p.m. Sunday, NBC Tennis 7 a.m.-3 p.m. ET Saturday, ESPN Soccer 1:30 p.m.-4 p.m. ET Saturday, NBC Softball 7 pm. ET Friday, ESPN 1 p.m. Saturday, ESPN2 7 p.m. Saturday, ESPN 1 p.m. Sunday, ESPN2 9 p.m. Monday, ESPN2 Cycling 8 p.m.-9:30 p.m. ET Saturday, Universal Sports |
With 28 days remaining until the Opening Ceremony for the London 2012 Olympic Games, many Team USA athletes are going to find out this weekend whether or not they will be competing in the Games. This weekend figures to be one of the biggest nail-biters of all with U.S. Olympic Trials in track and field, swimming and gymnastics, not to mention tennis competition in Wimbledon, the same grass courts that will be used during the Games, a women’s soccer Olympic send-off game in Utah and volleyball competition for both men and women. In addition, a strong field of track and field athletes are in Indianapolis competing for spots on the 2012 U.S. Paralympic Team. TeamUSA.org has all the action covered for this packed weekend.
TRACK AND FIELD
U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Track and Field, June 21-July 1, Eugene, Ore.
The second weekend of the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Track and Field erupted in record fashion Thursday, when Galen Rupp broke a 40-year-old record in the men’s 5,000-meter race. Rupp, who won the 10,000-meter race last week, won the 5,000 in 13:22.67, breaking Steve Prefontaine’s Olympic Trials record of 13:22.8 and edging American record-holder Bernard Lagat by .15 seconds.
“Just to be mentioned in the same breath as Pre is a huge compliment,” Rupp said, “but I was thinking about making the (Olympic) team first and foremost.”
Also Thursday, Lance Brooks clinched an Olympic nomination with a distance of 65.15 meters (213 feet, 9 inches) in the discus throw. Evan Jager won the 3,000-meter steeplechase, Julie Culley won the women’s 5,000 and two-time world gold medalist Brad Walker won a nomination to his second Olympic team by winning the pole vault with a vault of 5.67 meters.
Friday’s schedule includes finals in the women’s shot put and women’s 3,000 steeplechase. The men’s high hurdles and men’s and women’s triple jump finals highlight Saturday’s competition. The men’s 400 hurdles, and men’s and women’s 1500 races will be held Sunday, in addition to the men’s 200 dash featuring Walter Dix and Wallace Spearmon.
One of the biggest events of the weekend is the women’s 200 Saturday. The race features a talented field with Carmelita Jeter, Sanya Richards-Ross, Jeneba Tarmoh and two-time Olympic silver medalist Allyson Felix. Adding to the drama of the 200 is that Tarmoh and Felix tied for third place in the 100 and a decision as to which runner will qualify for London in that event remains unclear.
U.S. Paralympics Track & Field Trials, June 29-July 1, Indianapolis
World-record holders Amanda McGrory, April Holmes, Anjali Forber-Pratt, Jessica Galli, Tatyana McFadden, Lex Gillette and Jeff Skiba are among 200 athletes expected to compete in the U.S. Paralympics Track and Field Trials. The competition, which begins Friday, is being held at Indiana University-Purdue University’s Carroll Stadium in Indianapolis.
The competition will determine spots on the U.S. team for the London 2012 Paralympic Games. McGrory is a world-record holder in two events, the 5000-meter race and 4x100 relay.
SWIMMING
U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Swimming, June 26-July 2, Omaha
The identities of the U.S. swim team that will be headed for the London 2012 Olympic Games continued to take shape this week at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Omaha. And there are still four days left.
Allison Schmitt set an American record in the 200-meter freestyle with a time of 1:54.40, finishing more than 2 seconds ahead of runner-up Missy Franklin. It was the fastest time in that event in the world this year. Michael Phelps qualified for his fourth Olympic event by winning the men’s 200 butterfly, an event he has won in the Olympic Games in Athens and in Beijing. At the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, Phelps placed fifth in the 200 fly.
“This is my fourth Olympic Games in this event, so it’s special to me, special to my family and special to my mom,” Phelps said. “Our family has always been butterfliers, so this event has always been fairly special for us.”
Phelps has qualified for London in four events and three other swimmers — two of them women — already have qualified in three events, pending approval from the U.S. Olympic Committee. Schmitt qualified in the 200 free, 400 free and 800 free relay. Franklin is qualified in the 100 backstroke, 200 free and 800 free relay. Ryan Lochte, the main rival to Phelps in London, qualified in the 200 free, 400 IM and 800 free relay. Sixteen swimmers are qualified for London, including Olympian Dana Vollmer, who qualified in the 100 fly and 800 free relay.
Among highlights for Friday will be the women’s 100 freestyle, in which Schmitt, Franklin, Vollmer and Natalie Coughlin are seeking Olympic berths. Franklin’s qualifying time of 53.63 seconds is the fastest among the entire field. Coughlin medaled six times at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and has earned 11 Olympic medals overall but has yet to qualify for London.
Also scheduled Friday are the women’s 200 butterfly, and men’s and women’s 100 free. Saturday’s highlights include the men’s 50 freestyle heats and semifinals and 200 backstroke finals, and women’s 100 free and 200 breaststroke finals. Sunday, finals will be held in the men’s 50 free and 100 fly, and women’s 200 backstroke and 800 free, followed Monday by the women’s 50 free and men’s 1500 free.
GYMNASTICS
U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Gymnastics, June 28-July 1, San Jose, Calif.
Danell Leyva is the all-around leader entering the final day of the men’s gymnastics competition at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Gymnastics, scoring 276.500 points on the first day of competition. The all-around standings reflect scores from the two days of competition at the 2012 Visa Championships and the first day of competition at the Olympic Trials. The U.S. Olympic Trials champion will be determined with a four-day total score. The men’s all-around final is Saturday at the HP Pavilion in San Jose.
Five men and five women will qualify for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team and an announcement with the members of the team is expected to be made during the NBC broadcast of the competition Sunday evening.
“Today went really, really well,” Leyva said. “It was a good first day of competition and the second day is going to be a lot of fun.”
The first of two days of women’s competition will be Friday. Among the top women gymnasts: Jordyn Wieber, the reigning all-around world champion who has won consecutive VISA Championships all-around titles; Gabrielle Douglas, who was runner-up to Wieber at the 2012 Visa Championships, and Alexandra Raisman. Nastia Liukin, a five-time medalist and all-around champion at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, is also seeking an Olympic berth.
John Orozco, the men’s winner at the Visa Championships, trailed Leyva by 0.950 points entering Saturday’s final day of the men’s competition at the trials.
SHOOTING
USA Shooting National Championships for Shotgun, June 28-July 8, Colorado Springs
Glenn Eller and Vincent Hancock, both 2008 Olympic gold medalists, are among four 2012 U.S. Olympic Team nominees competing in the USA Shooting National Championships for Shotgun. Nearly 200 athletes are competing, which began with men’s and women’s skeet Thursday.
Despite wildfires on the west side of Colorado Springs, USA Shooting officials decided to go on with the championships because the shooting range at Fort Carson is 15 miles away from the fires.
Hancock is a strong favorite in the men’s skeet, which continues Friday and Saturday. Frank Thompson, also an Olympic Team nominee, will compete in men’s skeet. The doubles trap, featuring Eller and Olympic nominee Josh Richmond, begins Monday.
TENNIS
Wimbledon, June 25-July 8, London
Serena Williams and Andy Roddick, both nominees for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team, advanced through the second round of competition at Wimbledon. Williams, a gold medalist at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, is seeded No. 6 in the women’s tournament. Roddick, a 2004 Olympian, was nominated to the 2012 team this week. The courts at Wimbledon also will be used for the Olympic competition in London.
VOLLEYBALL
FIVB World Grand Prix Final Round, June 27-July 1, Ningbo, China
The U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team won its first two matches in the final round of the FIVB World Grand Prix, pushing its win streak in the tournament to 11. The United States, ranked No. 1 in the world, will play Cuba Saturday and China Sunday. None of the other 15 teams are unbeaten.
The United States is attempting to become just the second team to win three consecutive World Grand Prix championships.
Megan Hodge scored 25 points in the United States’ 25-18, 27-25, 18-25, 25-18 victory Thursday over Thailand. A 7-1 scoring run in the fourth game ended the match. Hodge had 22 kills, two blocks and an ace.
FIVB World League, June 29-July 1, Dallas
The final weekend of pool play in the FIVB World League moves this weekend to the Dallas (Texas) Convention Center Arena, where the U.S. Men’s National Volleyball Team hopes to extend its six-match win streak and grab a spot in the World League Finals.
The United States (7-2) will play South Korea on Friday night, France on Saturday and Italy on Sunday. Two victories will qualify the United States for the finals. The tournament is a final preparation for the London 2012 Olympic Games, and the United States is defending Olympic champion.
“We are in the process of deciding our final 12 players for London,” U.S. coach Alan Knipe said. “These World League matches are an important part of that.”
Clay Stanley leads the United States in aces (.33 per set) and outside hitter Matt Anderson is the team’s leading scorer with 135 points. Donald Suxho is No. 1 in the tournament in assists with 238.
Also in volleyball:
USA Volleyball Girls’ Junior National Championships, June 28-July 4, Columbus, Ohio
USA Volleyball Boys’ Junior National Championships, July 1-8, Dallas
SOCCER
U.S. Women’s National Team vs. Canada, June 30, Sandy, Utah
The U.S. Women’s National Team will play its Olympic send-off game Saturday at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah, when it faces Canada. The team is led by forwards Abby Wambach and Alex Morgan, defender Christie Rampone and goalkeeper Hope Solo.
The United States has won its last four games, including 4-1 over defending FIFA World Cup champion Japan, and defeated Canada, 4-0, in January. The game against Canada will be the last match for the U.S. women on home soil before the Games in London.
The U.S. women open play in the London 2012 Olympic Games on July 25, when they face France at Hampden Park in Glasgow, Scotland. The United States won gold at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and Athens 2004 Olympic Games.
BASKETBALL
FIBA U17 World Championship for Men, June 29-July 8, Kaunas, Lithuania
The USA Basketball U17 Men’s National Team was to open play Friday in the FIBA U17 World Championships, when it faced Australia. The United States will also play preliminary round games against the Czech Republic on Saturday, Egypt on Sunday, France on Tuesday and China on Wednesday.
The top four teams from each group advance to the July 6 quarterfinals. The semifinals will be played July 7 and the medal round July 8.
Jahlil Okafor, of Whitney Young High School in Chicago, won tournament MVP in the Gran Canaria U17 International Invitational on Monday, which Team USA used as a final preparation for the worlds. Okafor averaged 22.5 points and 10.5 rebounds in two victories.
SOFTBALL
World Cup of Softball VII, June 28-July 2, Oklahoma City, Okla.
Christi Orgeron hit two doubles and drove in three runs, helping the USA Softball Women’s National Team to an 8-0 win over Puerto Rico Thursday in the opening game of the World Cup of Softball VII in Oklahoma City. A double by Orgeron in the fourth inning drove in the eighth run for Team USA and resulted in a run-rule game shortened to five innings.
The United States will face Australia on Friday, Netherlands and Canada on Saturday, and Brazil on Sunday. The championship game is scheduled for Monday night.
“Anytime you can jump out to 1-0 in your first international tournament of the year is big,” U.S. coach Ken Eriksen said.
Also in softball:
Border Battle, men’s slow pitch, Team USA vs. Canada, June 30
ROWING
USRowing National Championships, June 27-29, West Windsor, N.J.
Robin Prendes and Nick LaCava, both 2012 U.S. Olympic Team nominees in the lightweight men’s four, won a repechage Thursday and advanced to the final of the men’s pair at the USRowing National Championships. Christian Klein and Kyle Traub also advanced by winning the first repechage in 6:41.770.
The competition, which has 103 crews competing in 18 events, concludes with the finals today on Mercer Lake in West Windsor, N.J. Among the rowers are six Olympic nominees, in addition to many Olympians and rowers who competed in the Olympic Trials.
EQUESTRIAN
Barbury Castle Horse Trials, June 28-July 1, Marlborough, England
Phillip Dutton and Karen O’Connor are among the 11 riders who are competing this weekend in the Barbury Castle Horse Trials in England. The competition is the final mandatory event for the 2012 Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team. The final team will be nominated Monday for the London 2012 Olympic Games, pending approval by the U.S. Olympic Committee.
Also in equestrian:
Adequan/USEF Youth Reining Championships, National Reining Horse Association Derby, June 24-30, Oklahoma City, Okla.
ARCHERY
National Target Championships and Easton JOAD Nationals, June 25-July 1, Hamilton, Ohio
Khatuna Lorig, who qualified to compete in her fifth Olympic Games, and 2012 Olympic nominee Miranda Leek had the top two scores in women’s recurve in qualifying Wednesday at the 128th National Target Championships and Easton JOAD Nationals in Hamilton, Ohio. More than 500 archers in all age divisions are competing for national titles in the competition. Among those are nominees for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team and other national team members.
Brady Ellison, an Olympic nominee and the world’s top-ranked men’s recurve archer, was the top qualifier with a score of 660, seven points ahead of five-time Olympian Butch Johnson.
Scores from the National Target Championships determine seedings for the Hoyt World Open, which is also being held this weekend at Joyce Park in Hamilton.
FENCING
World Cup, Men’s Epee, June 29-July 1, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Seth Kelsey, who has qualified for his third Olympic Games, and Soren Thompson, who was nominated for his second Olympic Games, will lead the U.S. men’s epee team to its final World Cup event of the season in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The tournament begins Friday.
Also in fencing:
World Cup, Men’s Foil, June 29-July 1, Havana, Cuba
World Cup, Women’s Epee, June 29-July 1, Leipzig, Germany
USA Fencing National Championships, June 28-July 7, Anaheim, Calif.
CYCLING
UCI Mountain Bike World Cup, June 30-July 1, Windham, N.Y.
Howard Grotts, who is coming off a 27th-place finish last week in Canada, is among six U23 U.S. men who will compete in the rocky roads.net UCI Mountain Bike World Cup event in Windham, N.Y. Other U.S. riders include Cameron Dodge, Payson McElveen, Cole Oberman, Seamus Powell, Skyler Trujillo and U23 women’s cyclist Alicia Rose Pastore, who finished 18th at the World Cup last week in Quebec. Eleven junior men and four junior women also will represent the United States at the Windham World Cup.
WRESTLING
Canada Cup, June 30-July 1, Guelph, Canada
Two-time Olympian Clarissa Chun is among five 2012 U.S. Olympic Team nominees who will wrestle Saturday in the Canada Cup in Guelph, Canada. Chun (48 kilograms, 105.5 pounds) placed fifth at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and was a 2008 world champion.
Other U.S. Olympic freestyle wrestlers who will compete: Elena Pirozhkova, 63kg; Kelsey Campbell, 55kg; Jared Frayer, men’s 66kg; Jake Varner, 96kg. Overall, 12 U.S. senior wrestlers will compete and 34 junior wrestlers will compete Sunday.
SYNCHRONIZED SWIMMING
Swiss Open, June 28-July 1, Geneva, Switzerland
Mary Killman and Mariya Koroleva were in first place after the technical routine Thursday at the Swiss Open in Geneva, Switzerland. They scored 86.30 points, leading the field by 1.60 points. The free routine will be Sunday. Killman and Koroleva are 2012 U.S. Olympic Team nominees.
Also in synchronized swimming:
2012 eSynchro Age Group National Championships, June 22-30, Oxford, Ohio
BASEBALL
Prospect Classic, June 29-July 3, Durham and Cary, N.C.
The Prospect Classic, which features a combination of collegiate and under-18 athletes playing on “Stars” and “Stripes” teams, begins Friday night with the series opener at Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, N.C. Games will also be played Saturday and Tuesday in Durham, and Monday at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary. Former Major League Baseball managers Terry Francona and Jack McKeon are honorary managers.
The series is a part of the selection process for the 18U National team. The final two games will feature the Collegiate National Team taking on the 18U National Team. After Saturday’s game, the 18U trials roster will be trimmed to 28 players.
TRIATHLON
FISU World University Triathlon Championship, June 30, Yilan, Chinese Taipei
Two-time national collegiate champion Jessica Broderick will be among eight rising U.S. triathlon stars competing Saturday in the International University Sports Federation (FISU) World University Triathlon Championship in Chinese Taipei. Broderick finished 12th at the 2010 World University Championships and won the USA Triathlon Collegiate National Championship in 2009 and 2010.
Other U.S. athletes include: Julie Rechel, Kaitlin Shiver, Ryan Bice, Chris Braden, Kalen Darling, Dustin McLarty and Jason Pedersen. Bice finished fourth at the 2012 USA Triathlon Collegiate Nationals. Saturday’s event consists of a 1.5-kilometer swim, 40-km bike race and 10-km run.
BOWLING
World Tenpin Bowling Association World Youth Championships, June 22-July 3, Bangkok, Thailand
Marshall Kent of Yakima, Wash., and Andrew Koff of Miami earned the silver medal in doubles Thursday at the World Tenpin Bowling Association World Youth Championships in Thailand. After defeating Sweden’s Kim Bolleby and Magnus Johnson Jr. in the semfinals, Kent and Koff lost to Kim Yeon-Sang and Hwang Dong-Jun of Korea in the title match, 480-402. Chris Via of Springfield, Ohio, and Zack Hatton of Las Vegas finished ninth.
The team competition was to begin Friday, concluding with the medal round Sunday. The top 24 boys and top 24 girls in all-event competition will advance to the Masters Finals on Monday. Kent is in fourth place and Via is No. 9.
WATER SKIING
USA Water Ski Junior and 17-20 Team Trials, June 30-July 1, Polk City, Fla.
Roster spots on the national team will be at stake Saturday and Sunday, when the USA Water Ski Junior and 17-20 Team Trials are held on Lake Grew in Polk City, Fla. The USA Water Ski Junior Team and 17-20 squad will compete in the 2012 Junior Water Ski World Championships and 2012 Pan American Water Ski Championships.
Each team will have four members, plus alternates.
Also in water skiing:
Centurion USA Wake Surf Nationals, June 29-July 1, Ocklawaha, Fla.
WATER POLO
USA Water Polo Masters Nationals, June 30-July 2, Irvine, Calif.
Nearly 100 teams, beginning in the 20-and-over age division, will compete for national titles in the 25th USA Water Polo Masters National Championship. The tournament will be held through Monday at the William Woollett Aquatics Center in Irvine, Calif.
Also in water polo:
U.S. Olympic Women’s Water Polo Team vs. Hungary, July 2, Stanford University, Palo Alto, Calif., and July 4, National Training Center, Los Alamitos, Calif.
TAEKWONDO
USA Taekwondo National Championships, June 29-July 4, Dallas
Competition begins Friday in the USA Taekwondo National Championships. The tournament is being held at the Dallas Convention Center through Wednesday.
SAILING
U.S. Junior Women’s Doublehanded Championship, June 27-29, Deephaven, Minn.
Allyson Donahue and Maddie Widmeier were the leaders after two days in the U.S. Junior Women’s Doublehanded Championship being held on Lake Minnetonka in Deephaven, Minn. Carolyn Smith and Bayley Davidson were just one point back heading into Friday’s finals. Thirty-eight crews are competing.
RUGBY
IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy Final, June 30, Salt Lake City, Utah
A 36-13 win over Russia advanced the USA Junior All-Americans rugby squad to a spot in Saturday’s championship game of the IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy. The United States will play Japan for the title. Mike T’eo had two scores in the win over Russia. The winner of Saturday’s game clinches a berth in the 2013 IRB Junior World Championship.
TABLE TENNIS
US Open Table Tennis Championships, June 30-July 4, Grand Rapids, Mich.
More than 600 athletes begin play Saturday in the US Open Table Tennis Championships. Competition will be held in men’s singles and doubles, women’s singles and doubles, and mixed doubles at DeVos Place in Grand Rapids, Mich. It is billed as the largest table tennis tournament in North America.
ROLLER SPORTS
FIRS Inline Hockey World Championships, June 30-July 14, Bucaramanga, Colombia
Play begins Saturday in the FIRST Inline Hockey World Championships. USA Roller Sports has men’s and women’s teams in the competition. Ken Murchison is coaching the men’s team and Chalie Sgrillo is coaching the women.
Story courtesy Red Line Editorial, Inc. Paul D. Bowker is a freelance contributor for TeamUSA.org. Material from various news services and press releases from National Governing Bodies was used to compile this report. This story was not subject to the approval of any National Governing Bodies.