A new track circuit, some beach volleyball news and a cute dog from Sochi are in the Myriad wrap this week.
Best U.S. team performance/clincher of a berth in 2016 Champions Trophy:
***
Best roundup of a neglected competition format: The year in college track and field dual meets, from DailyRelay.com.
Best roundup of the rest of the track and field world: Again, DailyRelay.com, which has a few words to explain why Meb Keflegizhi’s Boston win wasn’t a shock, an upset that could shake up the LaShawn Merritt-Kirani James rivalry in the men’s 400, a stunning U.S. performance in the men’s 5,000, the bewildering application of justice in the Tyson Gay doping case, Christian Cantwell’s rebound from 2013 in the shot put … just read the whole thing. We’ll wait.
Most accessible track circuit debut: Fans are close to the action in the new American Track League. Music by Velveteen Playboys — that’s Friend of SportsMyriad Paul Souza in the awesome suit.
***
Boldest women’s sports projection:
***
Best fencing performance by a three-time Olympian and two-time gold medalist:
The women’s team took silver, beating Ukraine in the semis and losing to Russia in the final.
***
Biggest U.S. beach volleyball event: July’s ASICS World Series of Beach Volleyball combines the competitive heft of an FIVB event with some uniquely American trappings.
Worst spelling of “unforced”:
***
Cutest dog: Lindsey Jacobellis already had a dog before she left for the 2014 Olympics. That’s the one on the right. The one on the left is named Sochi, for obvious reasons. (HT: For The Win)
***
Worst undying controversy: So it wasn’t the suits that caused the US Speedskating flop in Sochi! It was altitude training, skate polishing, and the fact that the skaters weren’t used to … well, the suits.
Least impressed person in wake of US Speedskating report: Unless something is seriously lost in translation, Shani Davis has had it with the federation. (HT: @nzaccardi)
***
Least surprising world champion:
The U.S. women finished tied for 21st; the men were tied for 49th. Full recap and videos.
***
Best ongoing Hollywood love affair with an Olympic sport: Archery isn’t just for the Hunger Games films.
***
Best conversation about darts:
https://twitter.com/Reda_Eurosport/status/462246435548037120
***
And finally, the most frightening training routine: Mo Farah running away from things, meet Mo Farah jumping over people …
Duresport.com 