“Sports at 11:41 a.m. EDT” plus 3 more |
- Sports at 11:41 a.m. EDT
- Horton leads at U.S. gymnastics championships
- Gymnastics: Close to home
- Sports briefs, 8/6/10
| Posted: 11 Aug 2010 08:08 AM PDT Some of the stories the AP is covering Wednesday. A full Sports Digest will move by 3 p.m.: CINCINNATI—A day after ugly words and a bench-clearing brawl, the St. Louis Cardinals go for a sweep in their showdown series with the Cincinnati Reds. Starts 12:35 p.m. SHEBOYGAN, Wis.—Tiger Woods is posting the highest scores of his career. Phil Mickelson made two shocking revelations—he's been battling arthritis, and he's now a vegetarian. After a year of surprises in the majors, the PGA Championship gets under way Thursday with no one sure what to expect. WASHINGTON—After the worst outing of Stephen Strasburg's major league career, Nationals pitching coach Steve McCatty was asked how he expects the rookie sensation to respond. "Well," McCatty replied, "I haven't really seen him have too much adversity so far." HARTFORD, Conn.—Jonathan Horton is the defending titlist and the big favorite at U.S. gymnastics championships, which start with the first round of men's competition Wednesday. ANDERSON, Ind.—Peyton Manning and Jeff Saturday have been inseparable for a decade. But with Saturday having arthroscopic knee surgery, the Colts must find someone else to fill in for the four-time Pro Bowl center. Five Filters featured article: "Peace Envoy" Blair Gets an Easy Ride in the Independent. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction. |
| Horton leads at U.S. gymnastics championships Posted: 11 Aug 2010 08:08 PM PDT HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) -- Nothing is a sure thing in the world of gymnastics, especially not until everyone has made their way past the high bar - the most daring and mistake-prone event on the floor. Except in this case, Jonathan Horton was. Even with a fall on his evening-ending twirl above the bar, Horton was the class of U.S. championships Wednesday night. He moved a step closer to his second straight national title, scoring 90.35 points to leave him 1 point ahead of Danell Leyva with the finals scheduled for Friday. "I've been hitting that routine about 75 or 80 percent of the time in the gym," Horton said. "Hopefully, I can come back Friday and do it." Horton gets Thursday off when the women take center stage, with Rebecca Bross the favorite and defending champion Bridget Sloan expected to do only one event because of injuries. Nationals will help determine this fall's world championship teams, making this the first big step on the road to the London Olympics, which are less than two years away. Brandon Wynn was in third place after the first day of the men's competition with 88.7 points. Horton came into nationals as a prohibitive favorite - the best male American gymnast this side of Paul Hamm, the 2004 Olympic gold medalist who is planning a comeback next year. Horton built a 0.6-point lead over Leyva after five events, and Leyva's closing routine on the pommel horse - largely considered the toughest event - meant Horton only needed to score 13.2 on high bar. He can pretty much do that in his sleep, and even with the fall, he scored a 14.2. That left him short of the 92 points he hoped to finish the night with, but he still finished with the lead. And he still deemed the evening a success, considering he got back up on the bar to successfully redo the trick he had just messed up.
Like many top gymnasts, Horton has ramped up his high bar in hopes of pumping up his score and adding more life into an event that had focused more in recent years on intricate hand positions than high-wire release and flipping acts. Horton now packs three releases into his routine - as does Leyva, who is shaping up as his toughest competition. "It's turning into a pretty extreme event," Horton said. "I want to push the limits of excitement." He does that. So does Leyva, who made it through his high bar unscathed. With his daring and the theatrics of his hyperkinetic dad and coach, Yin Alvarez - who practically goes through the routine with him - it figures Leyva and Co. could be the most entertaining American gymnastics act to watch for the next two years. Leyva said he likes being in second with one day to go - an underdog, but one with a chance. Not that he was pulling for Horton to fall. They have a friendly rivalry that figures to keep getting better as the Olympics near. "I was upset he fell," Leyva said. "I want both of us to do our best in a competition and for me to come out better. I actually told him, 'You better not fall on Friday.'" Who are the other Olympic hopefuls? Well, there's Hamm, who will probably compete in his first comeback meet early next year. There's also Wynn, an up-and-comer being coached by Miles Avery, who coached Hamm and his brother, Morgan, when they were at their peak. Bryan Del Castillo was in fourth after one day and Jake Dalton was in fifth. Steven Legendre had the best vault of the night. He scored 17.05 and was the only gymnast to crack 17 on any event. John Orozco, the three-time junior champion who was competing with the seniors this year, landed awkwardly on his vault and was taken to the hospital with a lower leg injury. Then, there are 2008 Olympians such as Kevin Tan, who is trying to bring pommel horse back into his list of events - an attempt to become more versatile, which is necessary with teams being pared from six men to five for the upcoming Olympics. Tan finished a respectable ninth on horse and fourth on rings, which has long been his specialty. In the juniors competition, held earlier in the day, California's Sam Mikulak won going away - scoring 86.500 points to beat Jacoby Rubin by more than 4. Mikulak's finish makes him eligible for the senior finals on Friday.
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| Posted: 11 Aug 2010 10:27 PM PDT HARTFORD — Daniel DiBenedetto is only 15, but the Vernon resident is already into the bar scene. His first event today in the 2010 Visa Gymnastics Championship at the XL Center in Hartford will be the parallel bars. That will be followed by the high bar, an event in which he finished third at the Junior Olympic Nationals in 2009. DiBenedetto will also take part in floor exercise, the rings, the pommel horse and the vault as part of the Junior Men's competition. DiBenedetto's edge going into today's competition is that he doesn't have to worry about room service or making plane reservations. "This is one of the closest meets I've ever had because I usually have to take a plane or stay in a hotel," DiBenedetto said during a Tuesday practice session at the XL Center. "But now I have the comfort of staying at home and being a little more relaxed. I get to sleep in my bed, eat normal meals and not have to risk restaurant food. Those are the benefits of having the nationals here." DiBenedetto, who will be a junior at Rockville High, also gets the benefit of having fan support. He expects a nice turnout of fans rooting for him today."The crowd doesn't really affect me because you're always going to be a little nervous," DiBenedetto said. "You can handle it in different ways. You can turn it into intensity and power. That's what I usually do. The crowd motivates me even more to do good." When he earned a spot in the Visa Championships by finishing in the top 18 during the Junior Olympic National Championships in Knoxville, Tenn., in May, DiBenedetto's fan base at that meet pretty much consisted of his mother, Cathy. That, however, was enough of a motivator. "I was one of the last ones up in Knoxville, and when I found out I made the Visa Championships, it was awesome," said the 5-foot-8, 149-pound DiBenedetto, a Level 10 gymnast. "The top 18 was the cutoff. I was 18th. It was close. But I hit all my events." There are more than 20 competitors in DiBenedetto's age group. His goal is to finish in the top seven, which would assure of a berth on the Junior National team. Can DiBenedetto be one of the magnificent seven? "I can," DiBenedetto said with confidence. "If I do everything to the best of my ability, I can. "My best event is probably the high bar. Having big skills and great form is the key to the high bar." DiBenedetto believes he has those big skills and great form to wow the judges when he takes to the high bar, which comes up early today in his rotation, and some early success may give him more confidence going into the remaining events of the all-around competition. DiBenedetto has always had confidence, declaring at a young age that he found a sport that he wanted to pursue and proved it wasn't just a passing fancy as he made a commitment to excellence. "I was probably around 8 and I just went home one day and told my parents I wanted to do gymnastics," DiBenedetto said. "When I was six, I would do all the normal sports like baseball and basketball. But I guess I must have seen the Olympics and thought it was cool and I had to try it." DiBenedetto quickly realized that he had some ability. "I started in a normal gymnastics class and was moving up really quickly at Tri-Town Gymnastics in Vernon," DiBenedetto recalled. "Then I moved to Wininger's Gymnastics in Manchester for two years. Then I went looking around and ended up being in a better program. Then I went to Daggett's in Agawam, Mass., and I've been there for six years." Daggett is a Springfield native who was an outstanding Olympic gymnast and has the gold medals to prove it. DiBenedetto has Olympic aspirations, but not for 2012. He's setting his sights on 2016. But DiBenedetto won't let his dedication become all-consuming. "This is an intense, unique sport, but what I like best about it is that it's fun," DiBenedetto said. "I'm having fun." Today will be DiBenedetto's only day of competition, unless he posts an exceptional score in one of the events that would allow him to enter the Senior Men's competition, which begins tonight. The Senior Men's final round will take place Friday night. The Junior Women's competition will begin Thursday at the XL Center. The Senior Women's competition will begin Thursday night. The Senior Women's finals will be televised live from the XL Center on Saturday from 8-10 p.m. on NBC. The Senior Men's finals will be shown on NBC tape delayed on Sunday from 2:30-4 p.m.
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| Posted: 11 Aug 2010 10:30 PM PDT Staff ReportsPublished:Submit your sports briefs to maricopa_monitor@yahoo.com today! The Maricopa Rams Football Booster Club invites you to participate in the First Annual Maricopa Rams Football Golf Tournament on Aug. 28 at The Duke at Rancho El Dorado. Tee times begin at 7:30 a.m., with check-in beginning at 6:30 a.m. Deadline to register is Aug. 21.Golfers, sponsors needed for MHS football golf tourney Money raised will go directly to the program to provide proper training and equipment. Individual participants can take part for $65 each, with $260 covering a full foursome. Hole sponsorship packages are available for $500, which includes one full foursome, a company green sign, and one two-by-three banner that will be displayed at the MHS football field every game throughout the Rams' 2010 season. Driving range, putting green, and food sponsorships are available for $250 each, which also includes a company sign at the event and a two-by-three banner at home football games. Local organizations and businesses are also encouraged to donate items for the raffle and silent auction. To set up sponsorship opportunities or reserve your spot in the playing field, contact Mary Wilson at (602) 525-2494 or Marty Diehl at (520) 431-2485. City offers fall football, soccer, basketball programs The City of Maricopa is offering the following sports programs during the Fall and Winter seasons. Adult Flag Football – Ages 18-plus; registration currently through Aug. 6; season Aug. 15 through Oct. 3; $350 per team; NFL Pepsi Punt, Pass, Kick – Ages 8-15; Wedneseday, Sept. 8; Register for free on site; Youth Soccer – Ages 4-15; registration Aug. 16 through Sept. 17; season Oct. 30 through Dec. 18; $45 per child; Youth basketball – Ages 4-15; registration Oct. 18 through Nov. 19; season Jan. 15 through Feb. 26; $45 per child. For more information, contact community services at (520) 316-6964. Stagecoach Days 'Maricopa Mile & 5K' Chances for Children AZ presents the Stagecoach Days "Maricopa Mile and 5K," scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 10. The race begins at 8 a.m. at Legacy Traditional School, with the 5k run/walk event running $20 per racer, and the 1 mile kids run at $5 per participant.The event will also house a Family Fitness Fair, with all proceeds from the race benefiting Team Fit Kids Maricopa. For more information, visit www.maricopamile.com. Registration currently open for City fall, winter activities The City of Maricopa's Fall and Winter 2010-11 activity guide is now available online at www.maricopa-az.gov (under "Government," select "community services"). Activities available this fall/winter fall under the following categories: sports, health and fitness, dance and gymnastics, art and music, general interest and training and certification. In all, more than 65 activities are available for city residents to enjoy. Download an activity guide and learn which activities are age appropriate, costs, and signup dates. For more information, community services at (520) 316-6964. 'Relay for Life' coming to Maricopa The American Cancer Society's signature event – "Relay for Life" – is coming to Maricopa for the first time on March 25-26, 2011. As the world's largest grassroots fundraising movement, "Relay for Life" mobilizes communities throughout the country to celebrate people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost and provide participants with an opportunity to fight back against the disease. Maricopa will host the community's inaugural "Relay for Life" on March 25-26, 2011, from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., at the Maricopa High School Football Stadium. For more information about the local event, contact co-chair Grace Gomez at (520) 568-9407 or Gwen Traylor at (313) 316-6761. For more general information about "Relay for Life," visit www.relayforlife.org/relay. Local team seeks sponsors, riders, for 'Tour de Cure' The WalMart/Sam's Club team, led by Maricopa resident and team captain Keith Monk, is looking for sponsors and riders for next year's American Diabetes Association Tour de Cure, presented by Charles Schwab. The eighth annual race is scheduled for Saturday, March 12, 2011 at the Reach 11 Sports Complex in North Phoenix. For more information on the race itself, call 1-888-DIABETES (ext. 7093) or go online to www.diabetes.org/tour, and for information on supporting or joining the WalMart/Sam's Club team, contact Keith Monk at (480) 980-3015. Article Rating (4 * = highest)Reader CommentsThe following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of TriValley Central or any of its publications. To report abuse, email dcoop@trivalleycentral.com. Submit a CommentFive Filters featured article: "Peace Envoy" Blair Gets an Easy Ride in the Independent. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction. |
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