A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Bolt sets his sights on breaking Swedish duck
ATHLETICS: Jamaicas Usain Bolt will be doing his all to make it third time lucky when he races the 200 metres at the Diamond League meet in Stockholm tonight having lost on his previous two outings in the Swedish capital.
Bolt said he has high hopes for a first victory on Swedish soil, but was not concerning himself with records. Everyone knows by now Im all about the gold medals, said Bolt, who won the 100m, 200m and 4x100 at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the Berlin world championships the following year.
For me I'm going there to defend my titles, and thats the only aim. I want to be a legend in this sport, and if I want to do that I have to defend my titles successfully.”
Asked why he had never won in Stockholm, Bolt put it down to panic brought on by bad starts. When I get a bad start I tend to pop up early in my drive phase, which for me is 30 to 35 metres. My shoulders come up and it doesn’t help at all, because then you get no drive from your hips.
Kielys at the double in Turkey
ATHLETICS: The impressive production line of young Irish talent yielded another gold medallist on the athletics track when Waterford man Ben Kiely swept to victory in the 400m hurdles at the European Youth Olympics in Trabzon in Turkey yesterday.
In fact it was a great day for the Kiely family as Ben’s 17-year-old twin sister, Megan, won the bronze medal when she finished third in the women’s final of the 400m hurdles.
The sister and brother combination needed to be at their very best, with both setting new personal best times of 52.69 and 60.44 respectively.
There was a third medal for the Irish yesterday when 17-year-old Sara Kate Lavin finished third in the 100m hurdles in 13.62 seconds, a new Irish Youth record, knocking almost a tenth of a second off her previous best. Victory went to Nadine Vesser of Holland in 13.28.
Lochte refuses to follow suit
SWIMMING: Ryan Lochte became the first swimmer to break a long course world record since controversial polyurethane swimsuits were banned last year while James Magnussen ended a far longer Australian wait at the world championships yesterday.
Lochte, pushed every stroke of the way, managed to hold off compatriot and Olympic champion Michael Phelps in the mens 200 metres individual medley and break his own record in one minute 54.00 seconds. The 26-year-old was 0.10 faster than the time he set at the Rome world championships in 2009. Phelps was a fingertip behind in 1:54.16.
“It was definitely something I wanted to do, something that everyone thought wasn’t possible that the world record (would) be touched again,” Lochte said. “I just wanted to show to everyone that (it) can happen. I am just happy all the hard work and dedication paid off.”
Phelps, who had not competed in the 200 IM in Rome, said he was disappointed to finish second but pleased to beat the time he set (1:54.23) when he won Olympic gold in Beijing in 2008.
While Lochte and Phelps brought the crowd to their feet in the Oriental Sports Centre, millions of Australians were surely on theirs shortly afterwards as 20-year-old Magnussen ended the country’s 43-year wait for the blue riband men’s 100 freestyle title.
Australia had not won the title in a global championships since Mike Wenden took Olympic gold in Mexico City in 1968 and had never won it at a world championships, which began in 1973.
No Australian has won this race in the world champs (and) its such an amazing thing for me, said Magnussen, now firmly in the spotlight for next years London Olympics. Im obviously happy and proud with myself for gaining the honour for Australia (and) it sounds amazing to be called a world champion.
Ireland make hard work of victory
CRICKET: Ireland survived a huge scare in their opening clash of the Under-19 World Cup qualifier at Castle Avenue yesterday before eventually seeing off a gutsy USA side by a solitary wicket with just one ball to spare.
Josh Hall scored the winning boundary after Ireland faltered early and late on in chasing down 178 for victory on an overcast day. The Waringstown all-rounder certainly held his nerve, all the more laudable considering he had only been called into the starting XI after Shane Getkate pulled up with a groin injury in the warm-ups.
North County’s Adam Coughlan played the vital hand in Ireland’s reply, making 49 from 83 deliveries and sharing a vital 46-run stand for the seventh wicket with Graeme McCarter, who hit 35.
Ireland move on to Balrothery today (10.45) where they take on Afghanistan, who suffered a 42-run defeat to Nepal in their opener.
Lee setting the pace at Carnoustie
GOLF: Meena Lee holds a two-stroke advantage at the top of leaderboard after making a fine start to the British Women’s Open yesterday.
Lee recorded a seven-under-par round of 65 that included only birdies and no dropped shots to leave the South Korean as the early pacesetter after day one at Carnoustie.
“I was feeling really good today, also my putting was good,” said Lee.
Lee’s nearest challenger is Brittany Lincicome, who produced a fine late flourish as she carded a five-under-par 67. Linicome was even par heading into the final seven holes after carding two birdies and two bogeys, but she finished with four birdies and an eagle three at the par-five 15th to leap up into second place. Four players share third spot, Angela Stanford, Amy Yang, Caroline Masson and Sophie Gustafson each carding a 68.
