Dein erstes Forum » Friday.The Aggies are young and it showed

RIO DE JANEIRO -- After almost two hours in the waters off Copacabana Beach, six men bore down on the finishing chute of Tuesdays Olympic 10-kilometer swim in a thrashing knot. World champion Jordan Wilimovsky of the U.S. was in the thick of it, aiming half-blindly toward the arch with the elevated touchpad.I knew Ferry would be good, Wilimovsky said, referring to Ferry Weertman of the Netherlands. The 22-year-old Northwestern University student paused. He won, right?At least 20 minutes had elapsed since the end of the race, but a water polo-style scramble for the podium, a controversial disqualification, and a photo finish took a while to sort out. Weertman found out he had beaten veteran Spiros Gianniotis of Greece via a call from a friend while riding up from the beach in an official golf cart. When Weertmans phone rang again, it was the prime minister of the Netherlands, who let the swimmer listen as other officials applauded in the background.I had a perfect finish, said Weertman, whose coach improvised a proxy for a touchpad at the end of a fishing pole and held it in front of him during training in the pool like a carrot so he could refine his technique.The Dutch reclaimed the sea over two days of open water competition at Fort Copacabana in calm conditions. Weertmans teammate, Sharon van Rouwendaal, won the womens race Monday ahead of a tumultuous battle for silver and bronze that also featured a disqualification at the finish. Wilimovsky and Haley Anderson were the top U.S. finishers, fifth respectively in the mens and womens races.And months of speculation and concern about pollution levels in the waters off Fort Copacabana took a back seat on race day, as athletes and officials had predicted. Testing done by both governmental and independent entities, including The Associated Press, showed the venue did not have the same level of bacteria and viruses as garbage-engorged Guanabara Bay or the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon. One swimmer mentioned a stray plastic bag. None said the water betrayed any smell, taste or other worrying characteristic.Organizers got lucky with the lack of wind and rain, which could have upped the chances of poor water quality due to urban runoff.Of course, the worst water-borne agents can be invisible, and only the next days and weeks will tell whether any athletes will fall ill. Many, including the U.S. swimmers, took prophylactic doses of antibiotics and probiotics. We took every precaution we could, said U.S. open water coach Catherine Vogt. The USOC and USA Swimming prepared us for the worst possible outcome. We came down [to Rio] in January, and that helped.The water quality in Barcelona [for world championships] in 2013 was probably worse than it was here.A different definition of foul and fair arose as the race built to its conclusion.Australias Jarrod Poort surged away from the rest of the pack and soloed in front for three of the 2.5-kilometer laps, extending his lead to more than a minute at one point before the rest of the field reeled him in.Weertman was the first to overhaul Poort, closely followed by a small group of men including Wilimovsky, who eventually duked it out at the finish. British swimmer Jack Burnell was infuriated at being disqualified for his second yellow warning flag. The first was delivered early in the race a couple minutes after he scrapped with another swimmer, and the second was imposed in the chaotic final seconds.Burnell said 2012 10k gold medalist Ous Mellouli of Tunisia -- who declared this race would be his last -- slowed him by grabbing one of his legs in the chute and hanging on for several strokes. I had to turn around to get [Mellouli] off, Burnell told reporters. What am I meant to do? We are all at top speed and I am stopped dead.The results first showed Burnell third, then fifth, then nowhere. When officials reviewed footage of the finish after a British appeal, there was no visual evidence of a hold by Mellouli, who has been based in Southern California since his college days at USC. But the video did show Burnell punching him, according to chief referee Sid Cassidy of the United States.Medal standings also remained in question until midafternoon Tuesday. Weertman and Gianniotis finished with identical times of 1:52.59, but the Greek veteran was bumped into second place by officials who ruled he had missed the touchpad by a fraction with one hand before hitting it with the other. The Greek team asked officials to reconsider, but withdrew their protest after viewing the video.I acknowledge the frustration of the swimmers, but I believe we got [the rulings] right, Cassidy said.One logistical issue affected race preparations, including the way swimmers entered the water. The athletes originally were supposed to dive off a floating dock, but it broke free from its mooring in blustery weather over the weekend and washed up on the beach. Organizers worked with local authorities to secure another pontoon positioned further from shore for the coaches to monitor, feed and hydrate their athletes during the races.Both the women and men entered the water from the beach and lined up for the official start in 7-foot-deep water.Theres always last minute changes with open water, so were used to going with the flow, Anderson said. When they changed the start, we said, Lets not freak out about it, lets adapt.American Sean Ryan, the Club Wolverine swimmer who joined Wilimovsky at last years world championships in qualifying for Rio, was briefly bewildered when a DSQ appeared next to his name in the official results.I was like, did I miss a buoy, or what? a relieved Ryan said after Vogt informed him it was a timing system error. Ryan, a mechanical engineering major at the University of Michigan who has accepted a job with Detroit Diesel, finished 14th.Sean and Jordan did an amazing job, said Wilimovskys coach, Dave Kelsheimer. It was an extremely physical race with a lot of contact. As the level of open water swimming continues to rise and it becomes more popular, people are going to get a lot more competitive. Obviously, the challenge is for the officials to be able to monitor that, and theyve done a pretty good job of doing that.For the most part, the guys at the top are good pool swimmers. The days of this being an adventure sport are passing.But Vogt said theres no substitute for actual open water experience, which she believed was a factor in the 2016 all-European podium. This year, this Olympic Games, this course, even though we had relatively flat seas, still went to the people that are savvy racers, she said. European countries have a lot more opportunities to swim, and thats something that does benefit their athletes.You have to learn in the races, because going up and down a pool on a black line, fast, does not win a medal on Copacabana Beach.An armada of kayaks and motorized craft accompanied the swimmers on the course, dwarfing their forms and sometimes obscuring the spectators view from the beach, but Vogt was happy to see them. The late Fran Crippen, an American who won gold at Copacabana at the 2007 Pan American Games and drowned at a race in the United Arab Emirates three years later due to heat and organizational safety lapses on the course, was very much on Vogts mind.I know everyone is so concerned about water quality, and thats super-important, said Vogt, who was the coach for that 2007 Pan Am team. Its just as important to have eyes on every single athlete here. Cheap San Francisco 49ers Jerseys China . -- The Bishops Gaiters are showing they belong among the countrys top varsity football teams. Cheap Tennessee Titans Jerseys China . Mickelson barely made the cut but had the best round of the day with nine birdies and an eagle coupled with two bogeys to sit two shots behind leader Craig Lee of Scotland. Lee shot a 69 for a 12-under 204 total. "I just love the fact I am in contention and have an opportunity in my first tournament of the year here in Abu Dhabi," Mickelson said. http://www.cheapfootballchina.com/cheap-los-angeles-chargers-jerseys-china_805w.html .C. Lions has come to an end. Banks told TSN on Jan 2 that he had no interest in playing out the option year of his contract with the Lions in 2014, and he again made that clear in a conversation with Lions GM Wally Buono last week. Cheap New York Jets Jerseys China . P.A. Parenteau scored early in the third period to help the Avs edge Toronto 2-1 on Tuesday night. Cory Sarich also scored for Colorado (3-0-0), which is off to its best ever start. Cheap Jacksonville Jaguars Jerseys China .com) - Manchester City midfielder David Silva is expected to miss the next four weeks because of a calf problem. COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- Southern California guard DeAnthony Melton played like a silky-smooth veteran down the stretch at Texas A&M, prompting a gentle reminder from Trojans coach Andy Enfield afterward.Hes a true freshman, in the third game of his college career, and we were on the road, Enfield said with a smile.Melton could have fooled the Aggies, late in the Trojans 65-63 comeback victory before a stunned crowd on Friday night. The 6-foot-4 Melton knocked down a 3-pointer with 2:07 remaining to close A&Ms lead to 62-60, and with 12 seconds left he stole the ball from A&M point guard JC Hampton to help preserve the victory.He has an uncanny ability to make plays at crucial times, Enfield said.Melton scored four of his eight points in the last two minutes, Chimezie Metu had 14 points and Jordan McLaughlin added 13.The Aggies (2-1) led 63-60 with 58 seconds remaining when the Trojans (3-0) closed with a flourish. Bennie Boatwright made two free throws with 45 seconds remaining to tighten the gap to 63-62. Hampton then drove the lane and missed a short jump shot, and Boatwright missed a 3-point attempt on the ensuing possession. But McLaughlin grabbed the offensive rebound, and Metu followed with a dunk to lift the Trojans to a 64-63 lead they wouldnt relinquish.We made youthful mistakes that Ive got to get them better at, said A&M coach Billy Kennedy, who had to replace four senior starters from last years NCAA tournament Sweet 16 team.Following Metus dunk Hampton dribbled the ball up court with 17 seconds left, but Melton swiped the ball from behind, and Admon Gilder fouled Melton when he drove to the basket with 11 seconds left. Melton made his first free throw but missed his second, and A&M guard D.J. Hoggs 3-point attempt from the top of the key missed the mark at the buzzer.We made some mistakes, and in life when you make mistakes sometimes you pay, A&M forward Tonny Trocha-Morelos said. We made mistakes, and USC took advantage.Hogg led the Aggiies with 17 points, and Trocha-Morelos added 15.dddddddddddd USCs Elijah Stewart had 11 points and 11 rebounds and Metu grabbed 10 boards.Texas A&Ms front line is just outstanding, Enfield said of the Aggies size and athleticism down low. So to hold them to 38 percent shooting and out-rebound them (47 to 44) was terrific on our part.BIG PICTUREAfter two easy wins at home to start the season, the Trojans showed plenty of resiliency in their first time on the road, overcoming a late deficit in front of a hostile crowd. A&M coach Billy Kennedy said he believes USC is an NCAA Tournament team, and the Trojans looked like it on Friday.The Aggies are young and it showed. Freshman forward Robert Williams has been a dynamo around the basket, but a couple of errant long shots late in the game showed he still has a lot to learn. That goes for plenty of his underclassmen teammates, as well.UP NEXTTexas A&M goes on the road for the first time on Thursday, and will face Cal State Northridge in Fullerton, California, in the Wooden Legacy.The Trojans return to Los Angeles on Tuesday against New Orleans, the first of three consecutive home games.HE SAID ITSometimes you have to lose, and learn in those games, A&M coach Billy Kennedy said of his young team.STAT OF THE NIGHTThe teams were almost even in turnovers (11 for USC and 12 for A&M), but the Trojans doubled up the Aggies, 16-8, in points off turnovers.TURNING POINTA&M led for nearly the entire first half, but USCs Jordan McLaughlin sank a jumper from near the top of the key at the halftime buzzer to lift the Trojans to a 31-29 lead, a harbinger of things to come from USC.STREAK STOPPERSUSC snapped an A&M streak of a dozen consecutive non-conference wins over high-major opponents in Reed Arena. A&M hadnt lost to a high-major in non-league play at home since December 8, 2001, against Miami. ' ' '