Tag: rugby

Olympic sports roundup: Aug. 27

What did you miss while you were making Facebook photos superimposing Ted Lange’s face on a hurricane tracking map? Read on.

– Basketball: The U.S. Under-17 women didn’t have much trouble with anyone at the World Championships. The 3-on-3 tournament was a little tougher. Literally. After beating France in the final 17-16, Chiney Ogwumike had this to say:

In the end, it’s better to be physical than to play like girls.

Ouch.

– Snowboarding: Already time for 2014 qualifying! And Kelly Clark is dominating the halfpipe.

– Rugby: The U.S. men qualified for the 2013 Sevens Rugby World Cup with a few dominating wins, then lost to Canada in the qualifying final. (The U.S. women had already qualified.)

– Nordic combined and other insane endurance events: Billy Demong won a running, biking, river-crossing and mud-traversing race in Utah.

– Archery: Miranda Leek won the women’s recurve in the SoCal Showdown with an X in the shoot-off.

– Wrestling: Zain Retherford won the 63kg (138.75 pound) freestyle at the Cadet World Championships.

The Team USA wrap has more on bowling, beach volleyball, equestrian, baseball, triathlon, water skiing, sprint kayaking and track cycling.

Monday Myriad: USA, Russia split

Going quickly today with two big projects in the last four days before the World Cup:

– Beach volleyball: Olympic champs Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser won their 50th title together at the AVP Huntington Beach Open. Their records this year: 17-0 AVP, 23-5 FIVB. (Universal Sports)

The women’s side has been a bit less one-sided, with world champions Jen Kessy and April Ross winning twice on the FIVB tour but not winning this season on the domestic AVP circuit until Sunday, when they held off Misty May-Treanor and Nicole Branagh. For all their accomplishments, Kessy and Ross had never won near their hometowns in southern California. May-Treanor and Branagh haven’t beaten Kessy and Ross this season but seemed to be closing the gap in Sunday’s three-setter. Gold medalist May-Treanor is playing with Branagh this season because Kerri Walsh is out on maternity. (Universal Sports)

– Tennis: Rafael Nadal (no surprise) and Francesca Schiavone (big surprise) are your French Open winners.

– Poker: Men “The Master” Nguyen won his seventh World Series of Poker bracelet in the seven-card stud World Championship.

– Rugby: USA 39, Russia 22 at the Churchill Cup. The Eagles shook off some rust in the first half and pulled away in the second. (USA Rugby)

– Volleyball: Not as good for the USA vs. Russia — the U.S. men dropped their first two matches of the World League in Ekaterinberg, Russia.

– Triathlon: Sarah Haskins finished fifth in Madrid to move up to fourth in the World Championships Series. Jarrod Shoemaker finished ninth to move up to 10th in the series; Matt Chrabot finished 14th to remain in the top 10 at ninth.

– College softball: Maybe it seems like UCLA and Arizona are in the championship series every year, but this year, they’re the fifth and 10th seeds. And Arizona had to battle back through the losers’ bracket after losing 9-0 to Tennessee. And even though UCLA has 10 titles and Arizona 8 (next on the list: Texas A&M with 2), they haven’t faced each other in the final since 2001. Game 1 is on ESPN2, 8 p.m. ET.

– College golf: Augusta State is the upset winner in the men’s tournament. Yes, Division I. (AP)

– Table tennis: A U.S. women’s team consisting of 41-year-old Olympic veteran Jun Gao, three 14-year-olds and a 13-year-old finished 16th at the World Team Championships, clinching a spot in the 2012 world event. (USOC)