U.S. gets another shot after botched relay
The U.S. men have a long history of dicey baton exchanges in the Olympic relays. do the U.S. women.
Their latest was a first-of itschance to flub one together, which they might have, but they caught a break that gives them a chance to still win a medal.
The country’s difficult history in relay races reappeared in the Olympic debut of the 4x400-meter mixed relay when theteam was disqualified for a bad exchange, only to be reinstated after filing a middle-ofthe-night protest that got resolved early Saturday in Japan.
Officials originally ruled that Lynna Irby had positioned herself outside the passing zone when she received the exchange from Elija Godwin in Friday night’s preliminary heat.
Later, they overturned that decision on appeal. USA Track and Field announced the change but did not provide details of what happened. The Dominican Republic also had been disqualified but was laterre in stated.
In the 4x400, officials direct the next group of runners onto the track to try to maintain a semblance of order in the some times-crowded exchange zone. Runners can be every bit as attuned to where the officials tell them to line up as to the teammate about to give them the baton.
“Mistakes happen,” Godwin said before the appeal. “We are human. We do make mistakes.”
Because the decision was overturned, Allyson Felix could get a chance to win her record 10th Olympic medal Saturday night. She helped the U.S. win this race in its debut at the world championshipstwo years ago.
Biles makes it official
U.S. gymnastics star Simone Biles will not compete in the individual apparatus finals for vault and uneven bars at the Tokyo Olympics. Biles, who entered these Games projected to earn up to five gold medals, withdrew from the team competition and the all around final, citing the need to prioritizeher mental health.
Not the World Series
The United States started a pitcher who was Tampa Bay’s No. 12 prospect before he was dealt to Minnesota last week inthe Nelson Cruz trade.
Israel went with a 30-yearold who has never pitched above Class AA and brought in the director of music programming at New York’s City Wineryto relieve. Suchis Olympic baseball. Joe Ryan allowed five hits over six innings in his first outing since he was swapped, and speedskating silver medalist Eddy Alvarez and Tyler Austin powered the offense to lead the United States over Israel 8-1 in the Americans’ openeron Friday night.
Ryan (1-0), a 25-year-old Class AAA right-hander, was in the dining hall when U.S. teammate Eric Filia told him Cruz was being sent to the Rays. Ryan looked at Shane Baz, his fellow Rays minor leaguer on the U.S. team, and Baz guessed one of them wouldbe involved.
Ryan, likely within a year of a big league debut, relied on a 92 mph fastball. He gave one runand struck out three.
Denied players on 40-man major league rosters, the U.S. started a mix of prospects unneeded by major league teams this summer and released players. Nine of the 10 starters totaled a career WAR of -1.0; the other was former Pirate ToddFrazier at 25.1.
Crash landing
American BMX racer Connor Fields was awake, stable and awaiting further medical evaluation at the hospital after a violent crash on the first lapof his qualifying heat.
The reigning gold medalist slammedinto the turn coming off a jump and was hit by two otherriders.
Medical personnel raced onto the course to attend to him before carrying him away on a stretcher to an ambulance at Ariake Urban SportsPark.
The 28-year-old from Las Vegas qualified for the finals despite the crash but was not ableto race.
U.S. women top Japan
A’ja Wilson scored 20 points and Breanna Stewart added 15 to help the U.S. beat Japan 86-69 on Friday in the women’s basketball tournament.
The U.S. has now won 51 consecutive games dating back to the bronze medal game in the 1992 Olympics, although the team has looked far from sharp in its first two games at the Saitama Super Arena.
Nigerian runner in trouble
Nigerian sprinter Blessing Okagbare was provisionally suspended after a positive test for human growth hormone. She was due to run in the semifinals of the women’s 100 metersSaturday.