Boozer and Okur decide to stay with Jazz

(BOOZER, SEASON, GAMES, ASSISTS, LEVEL, PLAYED)

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Utah Jazz starters Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur have decided not to opt out of their contracts to remain with the team for next season, the Jazz said on Tuesday.
Both players had early termination options and could have tested the NBA`s free-agency market, which opens on Wednesday.
Boozer appeared in only 37 games last season after suffering numerous injuries, but averaged 16.2 points, 10.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists as a starting forward.
"We are excited that Carlos has decided to remain with the Jazz," Utah general manager Kevin O`Connor said in a statement on the team`s website (www.nba.com/jazz).
"We are hopeful he can continue to play at an All-Star level and will have an injury-free season."
An NBA All-Star in 2007 and 2008, Boozer also played on the gold-medal winning U.S. basketball team at the Beijing Olympics.
Turkey`s Okur played in 72 games for Utah and averaged 17.0 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists.
"He has clearly been an integral part of our success since his arrival and we are hopeful that he will continue to perform at such a high level in the future," O`Connor said of Okur.
(Reporting by Gene Cherry in Raleigh, North Carolina; Editing by Greg Stutchbury)
Original article

Team USA opt for youth in ice hockey training squad

(BURKE, TUESDAY, VANCOUVER, GOING, PLAYERS, ORIENTATION)

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Team USA general manager Brian Burke signaled a changing of the guard by naming a youthful training camp squad Tuesday for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.
"We`re going to be the underdog in Vancouver, we know that," Burke told a conference call Tuesday to announce the 34 players to take part in a Team USA orientation camp from August 17-19. "There is not going to be a penny bet on us in Las Vegas.
"We are probably going to be the youngest team in the tournament but we are going there to win and we have tried to identify a group that will give us our best chance to do that.
"We think we have a good blend. We have some first violins and we have some tuba players too."
Team USA will have a youthful new look in Vancouver with Burke extending camp invitations to only five players with Olympic experience, led by three-time Olympian Mike Modano of the Dallas Stars.
Future Hall of Famers such as 47-year-old Detroit Red Wings defenseman Chris Chelios and national team stalwarts like Doug Weight, Keith Tkachuk and Bill Guerin were not included on Burke`s list, signaling a changing of the guard at USA Hockey.
In their places, rising talents like Chicago Blackhawks Patrick Kane, the top pick in the 2007 draft and young St. Louis Blues defenseman Erik Johnson, the number one selection in 2006, will get their opportunity to shine.
"We`re turning the page to a large extent and some of those choices will be questioned, which we are prepared for," said Burke. "This is not the U.S. Olympic team for 2010, these are the invitations to our orientation camp.
"Some of the guys who were not invited are going to jam it right down my throat and I welcome that.
"If we`re right with our identification virtually all the team will come out of this group but my prediction is a couple of guys are going to make this real hard for us."
The final 23-man rosters are expected to be confirmed in late December.
(Writing by Steve Keating in Toronto; Editing by Justin Palmer)
Original article

Three Russian women through to fourth round at Wimbledon

(ROUND, MATCH, VESNINA, PETROVA, DEMENTIEVA, 64, FRENCH)

MOSCOW, June 26 (RIA Novosti) - Russia`s Dementieva, Petrova and Vesnina all made their way through to the fourth round of Wimbledon on Friday.
Twenty-seven-year-old Elena Dementieva trounced her unseeded compatriot, Regina Kulikova, in just under an hour 6:1, 6:2 to set up a fourth round meeting with another Russian, Elena Vesnina.
Vesnina, ranked 37th in the world, dropped the second set in her three-set thriller against Slovakia`s Dominika Cibulkova, seeded 14, but dug deep in the third to break the Slovak`s serve and win the match 7:5, 4:6, 6:4.
Earlier Nadia Petrova, seeded tenth, was also involved in a three setter against Argentine Gisela Dulko, who dumped Maria Sharapova earlier in the week. Petrova dropped the first set but her power began to tell as she broke back to take the final two sets and run away with the match 3:6, 6:3, 6:4.
In a post-match interview Dementieva, who was the 2008 Wimbledon semifinalist, said that she had been working on her fitness following her surprise third-round defeat in the French Open.
"I took some time off after the French Open and was working on my fitness and I was more focused on the footwork and just the core build exercise. I just started to practice a couple days before Eastbourne and came there early to get used to the surface. It`s really worked for me," the Olympic gold medalist winner told journalists.
 
Original article

U.S. sprinters to shine in Berlin: coaches

(METERS, OLYMPIC, CHAMPION, MEDALIST, 200, HURDLES, 100)

By Gene Cherry
EUGENE, Oregon (Reuters) - The U.S. team at August`s world athletics championships are expected to take the fast track to success, with coaches tipping sprinters and hurdlers to lead the way in Berlin.
"We have put together a great team," women`s head coach Chandra Cheeseborough told Reuters at the conclusion of the four-day U.S. trials on Sunday.
"I really like the make-up of this team," men`s coach Harvey Glance added. "We have seasoned veterans, but I also like the fact we have some rookies."
Hurdles squads for both men and women should be especially strong after Olympic bronze medalist Bershawn Jackson and a rejuvenated Lashinda Demus delivered season-leading times in winning 400 meters hurdles titles.
Olympic champion Dawn Harper looked impressive in a wind-assisted women`s 100 hurdles with Beijing silver medalist David Payne claiming the men`s 110 hurdles with a narrow win over Terrence Trammell, twice an Olympic silver medalist.
Top American sprinter Tyson Gay ran only one race at the trials, as the defending 100 and 200 meters world champion has an automatic bye to Berlin in both events.
However, he showed plenty of speed in his only appearance, clocking a wind-assisted 9.75 seconds in a 100 meters preliminary round.
CRAWFORD FAST
Equally impressive was 2004 Olympic 200 meters champion Shawn Crawford. Although now 31, Crawford zipped through his final in a windy 19.73 seconds, his fastest time ever.
The 400 meters also looks strong with Olympic gold medalist LaShawn Merritt heading the team that will also include world champion Jeremy Wariner, who ran the 200 at the trials.
The 2004 Olympic long jump champion Dwight Phillips had also returned to form, Glance noted while adding that he expected an improved showing from U.S. shot putters compared to Beijing.
Injuries knocked out Olympic decathlon champion Bryan Clay, sprint hurdles medalist David Oliver and Walter Dix, bronze medalist in the Olympic 100 and 200 meters.
"Clay`s injury, that was a big blow," Glance said. "But overall I don`t think this team takes a great blow."
Cheeseborough expressed delight in her team`s mixture.
"In the sprints, the young ladies have done well," she said, referring to 100 meters winner Carmelita Jeter, 200 meters world champion Allyson Felix and 400 meters U.S. winner Sanya Richards.  Continued...
Original article

"Tired" Bolt cruises to 200m title in Jamaica

(JAMAICAN, WORLD, LITTLE, METERS, I`M, CHAMPIONSHIPS, BEFORE)

By Simon Evans
KINGSTON (Reuters) - Double Olympic champion Usain Bolt won the Jamaican 200 meters national title on Sunday, his first run at that distance this year, but conceded he is far from top shape ahead of the world championships in August.
After bursting through the bend, Bolt eased off in the final stages to finish with a time of 20.25, nearly a full second shy of his world record 19.30 set at the final of the Beijing Games last year.
"I`m feeling alright, I`m a little bit tired because I am not really in the best shape of my life, but I`m OK," Bolt told reporters after the race.
"There were a lot of fast guys behind me so I ran the corner pretty hard and then I came off and saw where I was and shut it down -- it was ok," said Bolt, who also won the 100 meters race on Saturday.
In contrast to his dancing jubilation in Beijing, a no-nonsense Bolt crossed the line without celebration in front of cheering home fans to finish ahead of Steve Mullings, second with 20.40, and Marvin Anderson on 20.63.
The run was enough to win the national title and secure passage to the world championships, but betrayed little of the awesome power the Jamaican revealed at last year`s edition in the lead-up to Beijing.
"I`m probably a little bit back, compared to that. I`ve still got a lot of work to do, day by day. But I am ready to do it," he said.
"I ran the corner very well I think and my coach will decide what to do to improve it."
SHOW-DOWN
Bolt faces a showdown in Berlin with world champion Tyson Gay, who last week said he could break the Jamaican`s 100m record if he could improve his start.
After winning the national 100m title on Saturday, Bolt hit back by declaring the American had little chance of setting a new mark.
The Jamaican said he hoped to come up against his main rivals, Gay among them, at least once before the world championships in Berlin.
"I wouldn`t mind meeting them in every race in the build-up so I know what I have to do but at least once before would be good," Bolt said.
Bolt and Gay may face off before the worlds at the London Grand Prix, with the Jamaican signed up and discussions being held with the American`s camp, according to organizers of the July 24-25 event.
Like Bolt, two-time women`s 200 meters Olympic champion Veronica Campbell-Brown had little trouble securing first place in the Jamaican trials, holding off rival and 100 meters gold medalist Shelly-Ann Fraser to win in 22.40.  Continued...
Original article

Bolt sees little chance of Gay record

By Simon Evans
KINGSTON (Reuters) - Olympic 100 meters champion Usain Bolt won the Jamaican title over rival Asafa Powell on Saturday and then declared that American world champion Tyson Gay had little chance of breaking his world record.
Bolt, who holds the record with 9.69 seconds set at the Beijing Games last year, ran home in 9.86 against a negative wind at the National Stadium to post the year`s fastest non-assisted time.
Powell, who was quicker out of the blocks, was second in 9.97 ahead of Michael Frater (10.02).
Gay ran a speedy, albeit wind-assisted 9.75 seconds in his first 100 meters of the season at the U.S. world championship trials in Eugene, Oregon on Thursday, and said after the race that he felt he could break Bolt`s record if he could improve his start.
"Personally, no disrespect to Tyson but that is going to be a hard for task for him," Bolt told reporters.
"Tyson is more of a 200 runner than a 100 runner so it is going to be very hard. He had a lot of (wind) assistance for that time. It is going to be very hard for him."
Gay failed to qualify for the finals at Beijing after injury hampered his preparations but he is set for a showdown with Bolt in the world championships in Berlin in August.
FINISH WITH EASE
Bolt overtook Powell midway through the race and had enough of a lead to finish with some ease in front of a cheering crowd.
"It was good. I am just happy that I finished injury-free and I am feeling good," he said.
Bolt said that Powell, who has struggled with a left ankle injury since April, looked to be on his way back.
"I would say Asafa is coming into shape and that is a good thing, his ankle is getting better. It is going to be a good season, as soon as he gets into shape its going to be very interesting," said Bolt.
Powell was pleased with his result, set against a 0.2 negative wind, given his ankle was still troubling him.
"It was a fairly good race because I am basically running on one leg, so I`m fairly happy. The aim was just to finish in the top two," he told reporters.
"The ankle has really surprised me -- I thought it would be gone by now but still there," he said, adding that he was in some discomfort after three rounds of racing.  Continued...
Original article

Bolt set for showdown with rival Powell

By Simon Evans
KINGSTON (Reuters) - Olympic gold medalist and world record holder Usain Bolt will resume battle with his Jamaican rival Asafa Powell in front of a passionate home crowd on Saturday in the Caribbean Island`s national championship.
The pair eased through their heats on Friday in a celebratory atmosphere at the National Stadium with fans delighted to see their Olympic hero running again on his home track.
Bolt, who is the world`s fastest man having run 9.69 in Beijing last year, barely broke sweat as he cruised through his heat in a time of 10.14, while Powell also took it easy with his 10.36.
Bolt, who also holds the Olympic gold and world record time in 200 meters, was frustrated by four false starts in his race.
"That was a little annoying because I started to get cold again so I couldn`t really explode out," he told reporters.
Powell said he had achieved his aim for the evening.
"I just wanted to get out in front and stay there and I was able to do that," he said.
The pair will have to be alert on Saturday, though, with places in Jamaica`s squad for August`s world championships in Berlin up for grabs.
Michael Frater, Steve Mullings, Marvin Anderson and Yohan Blake, all winners of their respective heats, are eyeing spots on the team, and with just the top four granted a slot in the relay side, there will be plenty at stake.
Powell, who has struggled with an ankle problem of late, described himself as "not 100 percent fit" in pre-race comments while Bolt, who has not run a 200 meters this season, is focusing on getting up to speed in that event.
In the women`s 100 meters, which did not feature preliminary heats, the true depth of Jamaican sprinting is on display with all the top three from Beijing facing off.
Gold medalist Shelly-Ann Fraser is up against the pair who shared silver in China, Kerron Stewart and Sherone Simpson.
There will be an intense battle for the top three spots though with Simpson not having competed since knee surgery last year and Aleen Bailey, Simone Facey and Sheri-Ann Brooks all fancying their chances of an upset.
Veronica Campbell Brown, who is not competing in the 100 meters as she has a wildcard to defend her title in Berlin, is focusing on Sunday`s 200 meters race.
(Editing by Ian Ransom)
Original article

China`s Olympians win Laureus team award

By Nick Mulvenney
BEIJING (Reuters) - China`s remarkable achievement in topping the medals table at last year`s Beijing Olympics was recognized on Friday when they scooped the team title at the 2009 Laureus Sports Awards.
The Chinese Olympic team got the nod from the 46 sporting greats who make up the Laureus academy ahead of soccer teams Manchester United and Spain, the British Olympic cycling team, the Jamaican Olympic sprint team and the NBA`s Boston Celtics.
China won 51 golds, 21 silver and 28 bronze medals in Beijing to top the medals table for the first time since the country returned to the Summer Games in 1984.
"Beijing was one of the great Olympic Games," academy chairman Ed Moses told a ceremony in the Chinese capital.
"To me one of the most amazing thing was the passion and determination of the Chinese athletes who produced so many epic performances, not just in the sports in which we knew they were good, but in others where China was not expected to do so well."
Deng Yaping, an academy member and part of the organizing committee for the Beijing Games, said the award was a tribute to the huge success of China`s first Olympics.
"This is international recognition of a great achievement," the three-times Olympic table tennis champion told Reuters.
"It is not only an honor for the athletes, team officials and coaches but for the whole nation."
The other awards handed out so far this year have also been dominated by the stars of the Beijing Games with sprinter Usain Bolt winning best sportsman, pole-vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva best sportswoman and swimmer Rebecca Adington best newcomer.
Six gold medalists were at the ceremony to represent the 639 athletes in the Chinese team.
"The other teams were excellent, they did a fantastic job last year but last year was the Olympic year in China, so last year was our year," said Zou Kai, who won three gold medals in gymnastics.
"I feel excited to beat Manchester United (because) I`m a Liverpool fan."
"SMALLER SPORTS"
Past winners of the award have included Manchester United, the Brazil, France, Greece and Italy national soccer teams, the Australia cricket team as well as the England and South African rugby teams.
"This will really encourage athletes from small nations and smaller sports that they can be Laureus award winners," said Deng, who admitted being surprised.  Continued...
Original article

Gay finds fault in speedy trial run

By Gene Cherry
EUGENE, Oregon (Reuters) - World champion Tyson Gay ran a wind-assisted 9.75 seconds in what he called a "horrible" 100 meters preliminary at the U.S. world championships trials on Thursday.
Although the mark was the seventh fastest of all time under any conditions, Gay said he was disappointed with his execution in the race assisted by a wind of 3.4 meters per second.
"I ran a horrible race. Technically it was horrible. My focus was horrible," Gay told reporters.
But the fast time and a quick 200 meters last month should see Gay line up for a world championship showdown against Jamaican Olympic champion and world record holder Usain Bolt in both sprints in Berlin in August.
With a bye to Berlin in both the 100 and 200 as the defending world champion, Gay had planned Thursday`s opening round of the 100 meters as his only appearance at the trials.
He talked of running another round, but after consulting with coaches, decided against it.
The assisting wind led to a number of fast first-round times. Olympian Darvis Patton and upcoming Mike Rodgers both clocked wind-assisted 9.92 seconds.
The world record is Bolt`s 9.69 seconds at the Beijing Olympics.
Defending world 1,500 and 5,000 meters champion Bernard Lagat claimed his wild-card berth for both events in Berlin with an easy run of 1:48.59 in 800 meters qualifying. He does not plan to run again in the trials.
Olympic champion Stephanie Brown Trafton topped the women`s discus final with a toss of 64.25 meters and Beijing gold medalist LaShawn Merritt clocked 45.23 seconds to lead qualifying in the men`s 400 meters.
CLAY OUT
Earlier, the U.S. lost one of its top hopes for a world championship gold medal when Olympic decathlon gold medalist Bryan Clay withdrew from the trials with a hamstring injury.
Only the top three finishers at the national trials or defending world champions qualify for Berlin.
"It is a big disappointment," Clay, 29, told Reuters.
"I really would like to be on the team, but at the same time I am trying to keep my mind wrapped around the big picture. I do want to go after the world record."  Continued...
Original article

China to cooperate with Sydney Olympics age probe

BEIJING (Reuters) - China has promised to cooperate with an International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) probe into the age of two Chinese medalists from the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
The FIG announced Tuesday that it would investigate whether Yang Yun, the uneven bars bronze winner and her team mate Dong Fangxiao, who shared a team bronze, were younger than the minimum Olympic age requirement of 16 at the time.
"The decision was taken after the Federation sought a legal advice confirming that the statute of limitations had not yet expired, and that the FIG is in fact the authority competent to conduct a full investigation," it said in a statement.
The commission looking into the age of the gymnasts will report its findings, and recommendations for sanctions if a violation is confirmed, before the end of September.
If adjudged under age, Yang, wife of China`s three-time Olympic champion Yang Wei, could be stripped of her bronze. The entire Chinese team of six could also lose their medals if any of the two is ineligible.
"Yang and Dong were registered under the FIG`s Olympic entry procedure, and their ages were eligible," Lu Shanzhen, head coach of Chinese women`s gymnastic team, told Beijing Youth Daily.
"We will positively communicate with FIG and cooperate on their investigation in our authority.
"The FIG might have some information but we don`t know what they`ve got until we talk to them," Lu added.
During the Beijing Olympics last year, the FIG was ordered by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to investigate the age of China`s He Kexin, women`s team and uneven bars gold medallist.
He, along with team mates Jiang Yuyuan, Yang Yilin, Li Shanshan and Deng Linlin, were subsequently declared eligible by the FIG two months after they won China`s first ever Olympic team gold in women`s gymnastics.
(Reporting by Liu Zhen and Emma Graham-Harrison; Editing by Nick Mulvenney
Original article

Long jumper Phillips back on world record trail

By Gene Cherry
EUGENE, Oregon (Reuters) - Just months after contemplating retirement, American Dwight Phillips thinks his ambition of becoming the best long jumper of all time might not be such a leap after all.
The 31-year-old's jump of 8.74 meters at the Prefontaine Classic Sunday equaled the fifth longest on record.
Only world record holder Mike Powell, Bob Beamon, Carl Lewis and Robert Emmiyan have jumped farther. Americans Larry Myricks and Erick Walder have also jumped 8.74.
"The world record definitely is my goal," the 2004 Olympic gold medalist and two-times world champion said. "I feel I am capable of it."
His jump, into a headwind, was the longest in 15 years and left him wondering if Powell's 1991 world record of 8.95 might have been in danger if the wind had been at his back.
"You put a 1.2 (meters per second) wind behind me instead of in my face, and we may have had a world record today," he said.
Chief rival and Beijing champion Irving Saladino of Panama finished second at 8.63, suggesting a season of outstanding jump competition lies ahead.
"I have a lot of confidence now so it is going to make it very difficult for my opponents," said Phillips.
This has not always been the case in recent years for the oft-injured athlete. Even before a series of injuries sapped his effectiveness on the runway he had become complacent about jumping, he said.
"I had lost a lot of love for the sport because I had accomplished almost everything I had ever dreamed," he told Reuters. "I was very complacent. I felt like I did not have to train that hard."
Phillips went from being No. 1 in the world in 2006 to not making the U.S. Olympic team in 2008.
Retirement was very much on his mind late last year until his father steered him back on track.
"'You still have more in you,'" Phillips recalled his father saying. "So I decided to give it one more try."
Phillips is America's best hope for long jump gold in August's world championships.
(Editing by Peter Rutherford; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

Source: Reuters

Phillips leaps 8.74 meters to join elite

By Gene Cherry
EUGENE, Oregon (Reuters) - Former world champion Dwight Phillips became the joint fifth-best long jump performer of all time when he leaped 8.74 meters at the Prefontaine Classic grand prix athletics meeting Sunday.
Phillips, the 2003 and 2005 world title winner, outdistanced Panamanian Olympic champion Irving Saladino by matching the longest jump in the world since 1994. Fellow American Mike Powell set the world record of 8.95 meters in 1991.
Saladino was second on Sunday at 8.63 meters.
"I have been to the top. I have been to the bottom. I think I am back on the upswing," said Phillips, who was hampered by injuries last year and failed to make the U.S. Olympic team.
Only Powell, Bob Beamon, Carl Lewis and Robert Emmiyan have jumped farther than Phillips. Americans Larry Myricks and Erick Walder have equaled the distance.
"Those guys are the gods of the long jump," said Phillips.
POWELL SECOND
In other events, former 100 meters world record holder Asafa Powell was beaten into second by upcoming American Michael Rodgers but expressed confidence he was on the road to recovery from an ankle injury.
"I am not worried," said Powell, who ran 10.07 seconds to Rodgers's personal best of 9.94. "I didn't try to push it. I was out of the blocks slow."
Best performances of the year also came in the men's mile and shot put and women's 400 meters.
Kenyan Olympic medalist Asbel Kiprop won the mile in 3:48.50, U.S. world champion Reese Hoffa bested the three Beijing shot put medalists with a toss of 21.89 meters and Olympic bronze medalist Sanya Richards won the women's 400 in 49.86 seconds.Olympic champions Angelo Taylor, Andrey Silnov, Dawn Harper and Shelly-Ann Fraser suffered defeat.
Beijing bronze medalist Bershawn Jackson relegated fellow American Taylor to fourth in the men's 400 meters hurdles. Jackson clocked 48.38 seconds with Taylor running 48.79.
Silnov wound up fifth in the men's high jump, which fellow Russian Ivan Ukhov won at 2.34 meters.
Harper failed to finish the women's 100 meters hurdles which U.S. world champion Michelle Perry won in 12.74 seconds. American runner-up Damu Cherry was given the same time. Continued...
Source: Reuters