Judo, Judo Grand Slam and Grand Prix

Colton Brown Only American to Reach Quarterfinals in Almaty

Leave a comment

The best grand prix finish by an American since the first event of the year came this weekend and it wasn’t by whom you might expect. Making his first grand prix appearance since the 2016 opener in Havana Colton Brown won his opening two matches to become the first American to reach the quarterfinals since Havana. Brown had an ippon to beat Kazakhstan’s Meirambek Zhangabay and defeated Ukraine’s Vadym Synyavsky with a waza-ari. Brown was finally defeated in the quarterfinals by Azerbaijan’s Mammadali Mehdiyev. Brown was penalized four times with a shido in the match leading to an automatic victory for Mehdiyev. Brown had a repechage match against Russia’s Mihael Zgank but lost via ippon to miss out on a bronze medal match.

No other Americans got wins on Sunday. Mark Fletcher and Ajax Tadehara, both in the men’s -100kg division, lost their openers. Tadehara lost to Jason Koster of New Zealand on a yuko while Fletcher lost to Estonia’s Grigori Minaskin on a quick ippon. Fletcher was competing in his first grand prix event of 2016. Over on the women’s side Nina Cutro-Kelly in the +78kg division lost her opener via ippon to Lithuania’s Santa Pakenyte.

The next judo grand prix stop isn’t until June 25th in Budapest, Hungary. In the meantime the prestigious Masters tournament takes place in Guadalajara, Mexico starting May 27th.

Previous Judo Grand Prix Coverage:
Almaty Preview
Friday Update
Saturday Update

Men's World League, Water Polo

USA Finishes Off Perfect Intercontinental Qualification Tournament With Second Win Over Australia

Leave a comment

The US men finished off a perfect qualifying tournament winning a gold medal game against Australia 10-9 to grab their second win against them. The US got three goals from Luca Cupido including the game winner with two seconds left. Josh Samuels scored three as well and Merrill Moses made eight saves.

The US joins Australia, Brazil, China, Japan, Greece, Italy, and Serbia in the World League. The games will begin June 21st in China with three group stage matches before all eight teams compete in the quarterfinals.

Previous FINA Intercontinental Qualification Tournament Coverage:
Preview
Australia Recap
Japan Recap
Kazakhstan Recap
Brazil Recap
China Recap

Fencing, Fencing World Cup

Both US Men’s Teams Win Silver at Fencing World Cup Events on Sunday

Leave a comment

After not winning any individual medals on Saturday both American teams rebounded on Sunday reaching the finals of both world cup events but failing to win gold. The men’s foil team of Gerek Meinhardt, Alexander Massialas, Race Imboden, and Miles Chamley-Watson easily dispatched Austria before a 45-41 victory over Japan placed them into the semifinals. After clinching a medal by defeating hosts Russia in the semifinals 45-40 the Americans were on the wrong end of the scoreline to Italy by a 45-38 score in the final.

Over in Madrid it was Eli Dershwitz, Jeff Spear, Daryl Homer, and Peter Souders competing in men’s sabre Seeded third the US cruised in knocking out Great Britain 45-33, Italy 45-35, and Russia 45-38 to advance to the final. There they met Germany and despite holding the lead after five of the first six matches Germany scored 18 of the final 23 points to pull away for a 45-35 victory.

There would be no medal for the women’s sabre team in Foshan, China. The team of Mariel Zagunis, Ibtihaj Muhammad, Monica Aksamit, and Sage Palmedo breezed through the first two rounds but lost to Russia in the semifinals 45-37. Still competing for a medal the US came closer but lost again to Poland in the bronze medal match 45-42.

Both sabre and foil still have an individual grand prix event left in the 2015-16 world cup season, sabre in Moscow starting May 27th and foil in Shanghai starting June 3rd.

Previous Fencing World Cup Coverage:
Madrid, Foshan, and St. Petersburg Preview
Day 1 Update
Day 2 Update

Badminton

US Swept by Korea to Open 2016 Uber Cup

Leave a comment

The US women’s badminton team opened up the Uber Cup with a sweep at the hands of Korea on Sunday. This was no surprise with Korea one of the best countries in the world and the US a big underdog. The US did not win a set and got no closer than 21-14 in any set. That was the first set Iris Wang played as she lost 21-14, 21-11. Crystal Pan also got a set to 21-11 after losing the first 21-9 and Annie Xu and Kerry Xu got one of their doubles sets to 21-11 as well before losing 21-7. Jennie Gai and Pan had the toughest lost of the day in doubles play 21-6, 21-4.

Tomorrow the US takes on Chinese Taipei. Chinese Taipei also went 5-0 on Sunday in a win over Mauritius but did drop a single set. The US surely needs a win to keep any hopes of advancing alive.

Previous 2016 Uber Cup Coverage:
Preview

ITU World Triathlon Series, Triathlon

Gwen Jorgensen Wins Yokohama Triathlon, Start of a New Winning Streak?

Leave a comment

Gwen Jorgensen‘s time outside first place in the ITU World Triathlon Series races didn’t last long. After losing for the first time since April 2014 at the Gold Coast Triathlon earlier this year Jorgensen rebounded to win the Yokohama Triathlon on Saturday and potentially start a new streak. Jorgensen’s time of 1:56:02 was good enough to beat Australia’s Ashleigh Gentle by 1:18 for a resounding win. Jorgensen wasn’t the only American with a good finish as Katie Zaferes was sixth for the second time this year and Kirsten Kasper grabbed a ninth place finish, her third straight top ten finish. In her first race of the year Summer Cook was the fastest swimmer and finished 14th.

On the men’s side things didn’t go quite as well as Joe Malloy was the top American with an 11th place finish, although that was less than fifty seconds behind the winner. The other top American contender, Gregory Billington, did not finish. Eric Lagerstrom (35th), Jarrod Shoemaker (45th), and Ben Kanute (17th) all had season best finishes.

The next IRU World Triathlon Series event will be in Leeds, United Kingdom on June 12th.

Previous IRU World Triathlon Series Coverage:
Yokohama Preview

Cycling, UCI Men's World Tour

Nathan Brown 67th in Stage Eight of Giro d’Italia

Leave a comment

It was a better day for the Americans in terms of place as Nathan Brown in 67th and Joe Dombrowski in 68th both had top 75 finishes for the US. Unfortunately while their place was higher their time back from the leaders was much higher as they were both 10:05 behind the winner. Joey Rosskopf made it three Americans in the top 100 with an 82nd finish. Brown is now the top American in 59th, 23:51 back, with Dombrowski 63rd and Ian Boswell falling to 73rd.

Sunday will feature a 25-mile time trial before a rest day on Monday.

Previous UCI World Tour Coverage:
Giro d’Italia Preview
Day 1 Update
Day 2 Update
Day 3 Update
Day 4 Update
Day 5 Update
Day 6 Update
Day 7 Update

Arena Pro Swim Series, Swimming

Dana Vollmer, Cammile Adams, Leah Smith, Connor Dwyer Among American Winners on Day Three in Charlotte

Leave a comment

After losing just one event on Friday in Charlotte the US didn’t have quite as strong a win rate but still brought home plenty of golds in the Arena Pro Swim Series event. It started off in the women’s 200m butterfly. Cammile Adams won the event for the fourth time in four tries this year with Jen Marrkand in second. Hannah Saiz grabbed her second medal of the year, a bronze, to make it a 1-2-3 American finish. On the men’s side Colombia’s Jonathan Gomez won with Tyler Clary in second. Zach Harting gave the US two in the top three. In the women’s 50m freestyle Canada’s Chantal Van Landeghem held off Madison Kennedy by 0.1 seconds. Kennedy had won the last two events but now has won two golds and two silvers in the last four events. The US did win the men’s event as Anthony Ervin won for the first time this year. Canada’s Santo Condorelli was 0.17 seconds back with Josh Schneider just 0.01 seconds further back in bronze.

The women’s 100m backstroke was the first event where the US finished outside of the top two. Canada’s Kylie Massey and Zimbabwe’s Kirsty Coventry held off Ali DeLoof. The US also failed to win on the men’s side where Serbia’s Arkady Vyatchanin took first but Ryan Lochte was second best and Bryce Bohman was third. In the 200m breaststroke Canada’s Kierra Smith ruined a 1-2-3 US finish as Anne Lazor and Lilly King finished first and third. The only American in the men’s 200m breaststroke top three was Cody Miller, and he won the event. Mexico’s Mauro Castillo Luna came in second.

In the women’s 50m butterfly Dana Vollmer grabbed the top spot by 0.1 seconds over Canada’s Penny Oleksiak. The order was reversed on the men’s side with Santo Condorelli in first and Matthew Josa and Tim Phillips in second and third just 0.02 seconds apart. In the longest race of the day, the women’s 400m freestyle, Leah Smith won for the first time this season after two silvers and Lindsay Vrooman and Gillian Ryan made it as 1-2-3 American finish. The same was true on the men’s side where Connor Dwyer grabbed his third win over the year with Zane Grothe and Connor Jaeger finishing behind him.

Sunday will feature five events. Here are some of the American favorites:
Women’s 800m Freestyle: Lindsay Vrooman – a silver in Orlando
Women’s 200m Individual Medley: Caitlin Levernz – gold in Minneapolis
Men’s 200m Individual Medley: Ryan Lochte – silver in Austin, Connor Dwyer – silver and bronze this season
Women’s 200m Backstroke: No previous US medalists from this season
Men’s 200m Backstroke: No previous US medalists from this season
Women’s 50m Breaststroke: Has not been held this season
Men’s 50m Breaststroke: Has not been held this season
Women’s 100m Freestyle: Dana Vollmer – bronze in Mesa
Men’s 100m Freestyle: Jimmy Feigen – bronze in Austin and Mesa
Men’s 1500m Freestyle: Connor Jaeger – a gold and two silvers this year

Previous Charlotte Arena Pro Swim Series Coverage:
Preview
Day 1 Update
Day 2 Update

Men's World League, Water Polo

USA Smokes Uncompetitive China 19-2

Leave a comment

The US men went to 5-0 in the qualifying tournament after an easy 19-2 win over China. The US led 5-0 after the first quarter and 9-1 at the half. Alex Obert scored four goals for the US with Bret Bonanni and Alex Roelse each adding three. McQuin Baron played in goal and made 19 saves.

The US will now face a rematch of their opening match against Australia to decide the gold medal for this tournament. Both teams, along with Brazil and Japan, are qualified for the World League. Australia has not lost since the opening match against the US.

Previous FINA Intercontinental Qualification Tournament Coverage:
Preview
Australia Recap
Japan Recap
Kazakhstan Recap
Brazil Recap

Judo, Judo Grand Slam and Grand Prix

Hannah Martin Reaches Round of 16 in Almaty

Leave a comment

Two Americans got wins on Saturday but it was Hannah Martin advancing to the round of 16 for the first time in a grand prix event this year that had the highest finish of the three Americans competing. Martin took care of Kazakhstan’s Azhar Salykova via ippon in her opener to reach the round of 16 for the first time in four 2016 grand prix events. A tough matchup with Canada’s Stefanie Tremblay for a quarterfinal spot ended up being decided by Martin having more shido penalties. three to one. Competing in the same women’s -63kg division as Martin, Leilani Akiyama lost to three yukos from Brazil’s Ketleyn Quadros.

Over on the men’s side Nicholas Delpopolo opened with the narrowest of wins over Portugal’s Nuno Saraiva. The only thing on the scorecard at the end of the match was a single shido penalty for Saraiva, sending the American through. His next match was decided by shidos as well but this time Delpopolo was on the wrong end 2-1 to Egypt’s Mohamed Mohyeldin.

The final day of competition on Sunday will feature four more Americans. Colton Brown is in the men’s -90kg division while two American men, Mark Fletcher and Ajax Tadehara, compete in the -100kg division. On the women’s side Nina Cutro-Kelly takes part in the +78kg division. Tadehara has a round of 16 appearance earlier this year and Cutro-Kelly was seventh in the first grand prix event of 2016.

Previous Judo Grand Prix Coverage:
Almaty Preview
Friday Update

Archery, Archery World Cup

US Wins Just One Gold in Four Oportunities Saturday at Archery World Cup in Medellin

Leave a comment

Unfortunately for the US on Saturday it seemed everything was coming up silver for the US in the compound finals. Despite having a competitor in four of the five gold medal finals only the men’s compound team was able to win their final. Headlining the tough day was Crystal Gauvin who went 0-3 in finals on Saturday and had to settle for just two silvers.

The first final was the compound women’s team of Crystal Gauvin, Emile Bee, and Dhalia Cook taking on #1 Colombia. The US scored 11 less than their semifinal round 233 from Friday and lost the final 229-222, though they grabbed their first women’s compound medal of the year. The next final was the bright spot on the day for the US, gold from the men’s team of Alex Wifler, Steve Anderson, and Braden Gellenthien. They defeated #6 Italy in the final by a score of 232-229. This was the second time in two tries this year the US team had reached the final but their first win.

The mixed teams competed next with Gauvin and Wifler unable to grab an extra medal as they lost to #7 France in the bronze medal match by a narrow 150-149 margin. Gauvin lost her third match of the day in the compound women’s gold final on a tiebreaker against #1 Sara Lopez after they tied at 146. Guavin had been knocked out in the quarterfinals in Shanghai so medaling here was a step forward. Finally in the men’s final the unexpected matchup of #18 Reo Wilde and #16 Sergio Pagni saw the Italian get the better of the matchup 146-143, by far Wilde’s worst shooting match of the competition. Still a good result for Wilde who had been knocked out in the round of 32 in Shanghai.

Sunday’s final day of competition will see medal opportunities for the women’s recurve team of Erin Mickelberry, Lauren Clamon, and Anna Miscione in the bronze medal match and Brady Ellison in the men’s individual gold medal final.

Previous Archery World Cup Coverage:
Medellin Preview
Wednesday Recap
Thursday Recap
Friday Recap

Covering America's Athletes