Wednesday, June 29, 2016

USA Swimming and Track and Field Olympic trials

The USA swimming Olympic trials are being held in Omaha, Nebraska from June 26- July 3, 2016.

USA swimming 2016 Olympic team:

Men's 400 IM - Chase Kalisz and Jay Litherland
Ryan Lochte did not qualify
Women's 400 IM - Maya Dirado and Elizabeth Beisel
Men's 400 Free - Connor Jaeger and Conor Dwyer
Women's 100 Butterfly - Kelsi Worrell and Dana Vollmer
Men's 100 Breaststroke - Kevin Kordes and Cody Miller
Women's 400 Freestyle - Katie Ledecky and Leah Smith
Women's 100 Breaststroke - Lilly King and Katie Meiti
Jessica Hardy and Breeja Larson did not qualify
Men's 100 Backstroke - Ryan Murphy and David Plummer
Matt Grevers did not qualify
Women's 100 Backstroke - Olivia Smoliga and Kathleen Baker
Missy Franklin and Natalie Coughlin did not qualify
Men's 200 Freestyle - Townley Haas and Conor Dwyer
Ryan Lochte and Jake Conger make relay team
Women's 200 Freestyle - Katie Ledecky and Missy Franklin,
Allison Schmitt and Leah Smith qualify for relay
Men's 200 Butterfly - Michael Phelps and Tom Shields
Women's 200 IM - Maya Dirado and Melanie Margalis
Caitlin Leverenz does not qualify
Men 200 Breaststroke - Josh Prenot and Kevin Cordes
Women's 200 Butterfly - Cammile Adams and Hali Flickinger
Men's 100 Freestyle - Nathan Adrian and Caeleb Dressell
Ryan Held and Anthony Ervin qualified for relay
Women's 200 Breaststroke - Lilly King and Molly Hannis
Men's 200 Backstroke - Ryan Murphy and Jacob Pebley
Tyler Clary did not qualify
Men 200IM - Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte
Women's 100 Freestyle - Abbey Weitzeil and Simone Manuel
Amanda Weir and Lia Neal qualify for relay. Allison Schmitt did not qualify.
Women's 200 Backstroke - Maya DiRado and Missy Franklin
Men's 100 Butterfly - Michael Phelps and Tom Shields
Women's 800 Freestyle - Katie Ledecky and Leah Smith
Men's 50 Freestyle - Nathan Adrian and Anthony Ervin
Cullen Jones does not qualify
Women's 50 Freestyle - Simone Manuel and Abbey Weitzeil
Men's 1500 Freestyle - Connor Jaeger and Jordan Willimovsky



The USA Track and Field Olympic Trials are being held at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon from July 1-10, 2016.

There are several past Olympians that did not make the Olympic team. Camelita Jeter, Lolo Jones and Nick Symmonds pulled out of the Olympic trials before it started due to injury. Sanya Richards Ross and Dee Dee Trotter did not advance in the women's 400M. Sanya Richards Ross pulled up in round 1 of the women's 400 due to injury while Dee Dee Trotter finished last in the women's 400 semifinals. Other past Olympians/USA athletes that will not go to Rio are, Adam Nelson, Reese Hoffa did not qualify the men's shot put, Bernard Lagat did not qualify in the men's 10,000, Ryan Bailey and Walter Dix did not advance in the men's 100, Trey Hardee did not compete in the second day of the men's decathlon due to injury, Jeremy Wariner did not qualify in the men's 400, Jeneba Tarmoh did not advance in the women's 100, Will Claye was 3rd in the men's long jump but did not have the Rio Olympic standard and does not qualify, Marquise Goodwin did not qualify in the men's long jump, Francena McCorory did not qualify in the women's 400, Tony McQuay did not qualify in the men's 400, Tyson Gay and Mike Rodgers both do not qualify in the men's 100, Jenna Prandini did not qualify in the women's 100, Alysia Montano tripped on Brenda Martinez and Montano fell and Martinez tripped so both don't qualify in the women's 800, Eric Sowinski did not qualify in the men's 800, Walter Dix and Wallace Spearmon, Jr did not advance in the men's 200, Georganne Moline pulled out of the women's 400 hurdles due to injury, Will Leer did not advance in the men's 1500, Kimberlyn Duncan and Dawn Harper Nelson do not advance in the women's 200, Walter Dix and Wallace Spearmon, Jr. don't advance in the men's 200, Shamier Little does not advance to the women's 400 hurdles final, Keni Harrison, Queen Harrison, and Sharika Nelvis do not qualify in the women's 100 hurdles, Galen Rupp, Ben True, Ryan Hill and Lopez Lomong do not qualify in the men's 5000, Tyson Gay did not qualify in the men's 200, David Oliver, Aries Merritt and Jason Richardson do not qualify in the men's 110 hurdles, Kori Carter and Cassandra Tate do not qualify in the women's 400 hurdles, Chantae McMillan and Sharon Day- Monroe do not qualify in the women's heptathlon, Emily Infeld did not qualify in the women's 5000, Bershawn Jackson and Johnny Dutch both do not qualify in the men's 400 hurdles, Mary Cain and Morgan Uceny do not qualify in the women's 1500, Allyson Felix and Jeneba Tarmoh both do not qualify in the women's 200. Felix finished 4th. Leo Manzano did not qualify in the men's 1500. Molly Huddle withdrew from the 5,000 and will not compete in that event in Rio.


The USA Olympic Track and Field Team:

Mens 10,000M - Galen Rupp, Shadrick Kipchirchir and Leonard Korir
Womens 10,000M - Molly Huddle, Emily Infeld and Marielle Hall
Womens 100M - English Gardiner, Tianna Bartoletta and Tori Bowie
Mens Decathlon - Ashton Eaton, Jeremy Taiwo and Zack Ziemek
Men's Shot Put- Ryan Crouser, Joe Kovacs and Darrell Hill
Women's Long Jump - Brittney Reese, Janay Deloach and Tianna Bartoletta
Men's 400M - LaShawn Merritt, Gil Roberts, and David Verberg
Women's 400M - Allyson Felix, Natasha Hastings and Phyllis Francis
Women's Discus- Whitney Ashley, Shelbi Vaughn and Kelsey Card
Men's 100M - Justin Gatlin, Trayvon Brommell and Marvin Bracy
Women's High Jump - Chaunte Lowe, Vashti Cunningham and Anika McPherson
Men's 800M - Clayton Murphy, Boris Berian and Charles Jock
Women's 800M - Kate Grace, Ajee Wilson and Chrishuna Williams
Men's Long Jump - Jeff Henderson, Jarrion Lawson and Marquis Dendy
Women's Pole Vault- Jenn Suhr, Sandi Morris and Alexis Weeks
Women's Triple Jump - Keturah Orji, Christina Epps and Andrea Geubelle
Men's High Jump - Erik Kynard, Bradley Adkins and Ricky Robertson
Women's Hammer Throw - Amber Campbell, Gwen Berry and Deanna Price
Men's Hammer Throw - Rudy Winkler, Kibwe Johnson and Conor McCullough
Men's Javelin - Cyrus Hostetler, Sam Crouser and Sean Furay
Men's 3000M Steeplechase - Evan Jager, Hillary Bor and Donn Cabral
Men's Pole Vault - Sam Kendricks, Cale Simmons and Logan Cunningham
Men's Discus - Mason Finley, Tavis Bailey and Andrew Evans
Women's 5000M - Abbey D' Agostino, Shelby Houlihan and Kim Conley
Men's 5000M - Bernard Lagat, Hassan Mead and Paul Chelimo
Women's Shot Put - Michelle Carter, Raven Saunders and Felisha Johnson
Women's 3000M Steeplechase - Emma Coburn, Courtney Frerichs and Colleen Quigley
Men's Triple Jump - Will Claye, Christian Taylor and Chris Benard
Women's 100M Hurdles - Brianna Rollins, Kristi Castlin and Nia Ali
Women's Heptathlon - Barbara Nwaba, Heather Miller-Koch and Kendell Williams
Men's 110M Hurdles - Devin Allen, Ronnie Ash and Jeff Porter
Women's 200M - Tori Bowie, Deajah Stevens and Jenna Prandini
Women's 400M Hurdles - Kerron Clement, Byron Robinson and Michael Tinsley
Men's 400M Hurdles - Dalilah Muhammad, Ashley Spencer and Sydney Mclaughlin
Men's 1500M - Matthew Centrowitz, Robbie Andrews and Ben Blankenship
Women's 1500M - Jenny Simpson, Shannon Rowbury and Brenda Martinez
Women's Javelin - Maggie Malone, Brittany Borman and Kara Winger
Men's 200M - Justin Gatlin, LaShawn Merritt and Ameer Webb
Men's 4 by 100 Relay - Tyson Gay and Christian Coleman
Men's 4 by 400 Relay - Kyle Clemons and Tony McQuay
Women's 4 by 100 Relay- Ariana Washington
Women's 4 by 400 Relay - Francena McCorory and Courtney Okolo

Monday, June 27, 2016

Russian Track Team banned by IAAF from Rio Games/Russian doping scheme from London games throughout Sochi games

In November 2015, the IAAF banned Russia's Track and Field team from competing due to state sponsored doping at the 2008 Beijing games, 2012 London games and now evidence has come out that Russian athletes were doping at the 2014 winter games in Sochi. These Russian track and field doping allegations were uncovered by a World Anti Doping Agency(WADA)investigation that involved the former head of the IAAF- Laminme Diack. Diack was paid by Russian officials to cover up positive doping tests by Russian athletes that would allow them to continue competing. Diack was suspended by the IAAF in November 2015 and stepped down from the IAAF a day later. Diack was arrested by French authorities for corruption and money laundering shortly after. Diack hired his son to work at the IAAF and brought in other advisors as part of a " powerful rogue group" that corrupted the IAAF from the inside. The WADA report does not name current IAAF President Sebastian Coe in any of the allegations but the report did hint of Coe being part of an Oversight body which was blamed in the report. Coe was the Vice President of the IAAF under Diack and took over the IAAF as President in August 2015.

Russia's track and field team was suspended in November 2015 by the IAAF. This ban could have been lifted by the IAAF if Russian officials were to reform their anti doping measures and to make reforms to its anti-doping agency. Nikita Kamaev, former head of Russia's anti doping agency was found dead within two months after resigning from the agency and the head of Russia's anti-doping agency ahead of the 2014 Sochi games, Grigory Rodchenkov, after being forced to resign by Russian officials, fled to the United States for protection after being called out by the WADA for allegedly extorting money from athletes and covering up tainted urine samples with clean ones. On June 17, 2016 the IAAF banned Russia's Track and Field team from the Rio games, essentially keeping the suspension in place. The IOC has backed the IAAF's decision to ban Russia from the Rio games, although there is talk of letting certain Russian track and field athletes compete under an Independent entity but not under the Russian flag. These athletes would have to be tested frequently. So far 67 Russian athletes have submitted their application to compete in Rio.

In May 2016, more allegations of Russian state sponsored doping surfaced. 15 Russian Sochi games medal winners, mostly on the Russian Cross Country Ski team, were part of an elaborate doping scheme by the now former head of the anti-doping agency, Grigory Rodchenkov to replace tainted athletes urine samples with clean ones that were collected months earlier. At least 100 samples that were tainted with performance enhancing drugs were destroyed as Russian athletes were able to test negative and medal at the 2014 Sochi games. Rodchenkov developed a cocktail of steroids that escaped detection leading up to the 2012 London games to throughout the 2014 Sochi games. This was an elaborate plan to perfect Russian athletes from all sports in both the winter and summer games. This was approved at the request of the Russian government. The current head of the Russian anti-doping agency, Vitaly Mutko has denied these allegations. Investigations are ongoing.

Men's and Women's P & G Gymnastics Championships/ USA men's Olympic Gymnastics team announced


The USA Men's P & G Gymnastics Championships were held in Hartford, Conn from June 3-5, 2016

Cumulative All Around results:

1. Sam Mikulak - 181.500
2. Chris Brooks - 179.850
3. Jake Dalton - 179.000
5. Donnell Whittenburg - 177.550 - tie
10. John Orozco - 176.600
12. Alex Naddour - 176.050
16. Danell Leyva - 173.300


The USA Women's P & G Gymnastics Championships were held in St. Louis, MO from June 23-25, 2016.

Cumulative All Around results:

1. Simone Biles - 125.000
2. Aly Raisman - 121.100
3. Laurie Hernandez - 120.500
4. Gabby Douglas - 117.800
5. Madison Kocian - 116.450
8. Ragan Smith - 114.800
10. MyKayla Skinner - 113.500
23. Maggie Nichols - 56.450



The members of the 2016 U.S. men's Olympic gymnastics team are: Courtesy of Team USA and USA Gymnastics.

Chris Brooks, Houston, Texas/Team Hilton (U.S. Olympic Training Center)
Jacob Dalton, Sparks, Nev./Team Hilton (University of Oklahoma)
Sam Mikulak, Newport Coast, Calif./Team Hilton (U.S. Olympic Training Center)
Alex Naddour, Queen Creek, Ariz./Team Hilton (USA Youth Fitness)
John Orozco, Bronx, N.Y./Team Hilton (U.S. Olympic Training Center)

Thursday, June 23, 2016

USA Volleyball: FIVB Women's Grand Prix/FIVB Men's World League results

USA Women's Volleyball Grand Prix results:

At Ningbo China:

June 10- Germany W 3-0, 25-15, 25-17, 25-12
June 11- Thailand W 3-0, 25-21, 29-27, 25-23
June 12- China L 1-3, 20-25, 19-25, 25-15, 23-25

At Long Beach, CA:

June 17- Germany W 3-1, 25-17, 24-26, 25-10, 25-23
June 18- Japan W 3-0, 25-16, 25-23, 25-21
June 19- Turkey W 3-0, 25-21, 25-20, 25-16

At Hong Kong:

June 24- Germany W 3-0, 25-19, 25-22, 30-28
June 25- Netherlands W 3-1, 25-17, 19-25, 25-17, 25-20
June 26- China W 3-0, 25-19, 25-21, 25-17

Finals at Bangkok Thailand July 6-10

July 6- Netherlands W 3-0, 25-21, 25-17, 25-23
July 8- China W 3-0, 25-21, 26-24, 25-22
July 9- Russia W 3-0, 25-20, 25-23, 25-14
July 10- Brazil L 2-3, 25-18, 17-25, 23-25, 25-22, 9-15

W 11 L 2

USA women win silver medal


USA Men's FIVB World League results:

At Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

June 16- Argentina W 3-1, 26-24, 25-23, 22-25, 25-22
June 17- Iran W 3-1, 23-25, 25-13, 27-25, 26-24
June 18- Brazil L 1-3, 19-25, 15-25, 25-22, 22-25

At Rome Italy:

June 24- Belgium W 3-2, 17-25, 25-20, 25-21, 21-25, 15-10
June 25- Australia W 3-1, 20-25, 25-17, 25-23, 25-20
June 26- Italy W 3-0, 25-22, 25-23, 25-23

At Dallas, TX

July 1- Bulgaria W 3-1, 23-25, 25-21, 27-25, 25-21
July 2- Australia W 3-0, 25-14, 26-24, 25-15
July 3- Russia W 3-0, 35-33, 25-17, 25-21

Finals in Krakow, Poland July 13-17

July 14- Italy L 1-3, 22-25, 25-27, 28-26, 21-25
July 15- Brazil L 2-3, 26-24, 25-21, 26-28, 21-25, 12-15

W 8 L 3
USA Men finished 5th

USA Diving Olympic Trials/USA Men's Olympic basketball team announced

The USA men's and women's Olympic diving trials are being held in Indianapolis, IN from June 18-26, 2016.

USA Olympic diving team:

Men's 3M Springboard synchro: Sam Dorman and Michael Hixson

Women's 10M Platform synchro: Jessica Parratto and Amy Cozad

Men's 10M Platform synchro: Steele Johnson and David Boudia

Men's 3M Springboard: Kristian Ipsen and Michael Hixson

Women's 10M Platform: Jessica Parratto and Katrina Young

Women's 3M Springboard: Kassidy Cook and Abby Johnston

Men's 10M Platform: David Boudia and Steele Johnson






Here is the complete 2016 USA men's Olympic basketball roster: Courtesy of team USA.

Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks, Syracuse University
Harrison Barnes, Golden State Warriors, University of North Carolina
Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bulls, Marquette University
DeMarcus Cousins, Sacramento Kings, University of Kentucky
DeMar DeRozan, Toronto Raptors, University of Southern California
Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder, University of Texas
Paul George, Indiana Pacers, Fresno State University
Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors, Michigan State University
Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers, Duke University
DeAndre Jordan, Los Angeles Clippers, Texas A&M University
Kyle Lowry, Toronto Raptors, Villanova University
Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors, Washington State University

USA Men's Olympic Volleyball team announced

Courtesy of USA Volleyball:

U.S. Olympic Men’s Volleyball Team Roster
No. Name (Position, Height, Hometown, College)
1. Matt Anderson (Opp, 6-9, West Seneca, N.Y., Penn State)
2. Aaron Russell (OH, 6-9, Ellicott City, Md., Penn State)
3. Taylor Sander (OH, 6-4, Huntington Beach, Calif., BYU)
4. David Lee (MB, 6-8, Alpine, Calif., Long Beach State)
7. Kawika Shoji (S, 6-3, Honolulu, Hawaii, Stanford)
8. Reid Priddy (OH, 6-4, Richmond, Va., Loyola Marymount)
9. Murphy Troy (Opp, 6-8, St. Louis, Mo., Southern California)
10. Thomas Jaeschke (OH, 6-7, Wheaton, Ill., Loyola of Chicago)
11. Micah Christenson (S, 6-6, Honolulu, Southern California)
17. Max Holt (MB, 6-9, Cincinnati, Ohio, Penn State)
20. David Smith (MB, 6-7, Saugus, Calif., UC Irvine)
22. Erik Shoji (L, 6-0, Honolulu, Hawaii, Stanford)

Staff
Head Coach: John Speraw
Team Leader: Erik Sullivan
Assistant Coaches: Matt Fuerbringer and Mike Wall
Sports Psychologist: Andrea Becker
Technical Coordinator: Nate Ngo
Athletic Trainer: Aaron Brock
Scout Coach: Anton Brams
Scout Coach: Charlie Sullivan
Technical Support: David Dantes