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News May 2007
Relay team hopes for Osaka run (30 May)
From Athletics Australia: After producing a surprise world championships qualifier earlier in the month -- with the fastest time by an Australian team (43.62 seconds) since 2000 -- our women’s 4 x 100m relay squad have put their hand up for selection for the IAAF World Championships in Osaka, on 25 August to 2 September. Three-time Australian sprint champion Sally McLellan (QLD) will be joined by fellow Commonwealth Games relay bronze medallists Crystal Attenborough (NT) and Melanie Kleeberg (QLD).
The relay squad also includes hurdles specialist Fiona Cullen (QLD), 23 year-old Preya Carey (NSW), who ran the lead leg for the fifth-placed Oceania relay team in the Athens World Cup last year, 26 year-old Amy Harris (QLD) who represented Australia in the relay heats at the 2003 World Championships, West Australian national Under 23 champion Jody Henry, 21, and Tasmanian primary school teacher Melissa Kay, 29, who set a new state record of 11.61 seconds in January.
Both the men’s and women’s 4 x 100 relay squads will be reduced to six members following a relay camp from June 18 - 24.
Athletics Australia
Silver Ferns on track – coach (29 May)
 Six months out from the World Netball Championships in Auckland, New Zealand coach, Ruth Aitken says the Silver Ferns are still on track with their progress, despite back-to-back losses against Australia and England in the tri-series in England.
Australia won an enthralling duel, 50-47, against the Silver Ferns in Birmingham on May 15, just two days after the world champions suffered only their second-ever loss to England.
A revitalised England squad under coach, Marg Caldow ended a 32-year drought against New Zealand.
Aitken says her squad is looking long-term, preparing for the World Championships with a three-test series in July against Australia and a two-test Fisher & Paykel Series against Jamaica still to come.
“I’m not completely happy but we’re on the right track,” Aitken said.
“I thought it was an amazing game today and I was really pleased with the improvement that we made since the other night (against England).
“I thought we were a lot more committed to our team defence and we picked up quite a lot of turnover ball. We just didn’t quite convert it when we needed to in those final stages, but that polish is still to come.”
The World Championships are in Auckland from 10-17 November.
Silver ferns site
Plus…
For your chance to see the three powerhouses of world netball do battle before the world championships in November, grab your tickets to the Holden Netball Test Series in July. Be there to see the superstars of the sport like Ellis, McMahon, Van Dyke, George and the flair and excitement of the Jamaican team.
Netball Australia ticketing details
Kemp ties for third
(Golf) Australian Sarah Kemp has fired a final round of 68 to finish in a tie for third behind Trish Johnson at the Ladies Italian Open.
Kemp, who was tied for the lead after two rounds, had her chances to claim the title on the final day but her putter let her down on numerous occasions.
Full story at Golf Australia
Swimmer ruled out for champs
From The Australian: One of Australia's most promising young distance swimmers, world championships representative Stephanie Williams, will have shoulder surgery on Friday that will rule her out of next month's European tour.
Full story
Williams wins through
(Tennis) Persistent rains fell on Stade Roland Garros for the second straight day Monday, but for six players the timing was just perfect as the first round of the year's second major continued to pan out.
Among the winners on Day 2 was a No.26-seeded Venus Williams, who displayed trademark grace under pressure in the first set of her match against French youngster Alize Cornet en route to a 64 63 victory.
Full story at Sony WTA
Golf juniors get a taste of the big time
The best junior golfers from New South Wales are being offered the chance of lifetime - to play with the professionals in the MasterCard Masters golf tournament at Huntingdale in November.
This is the first prize at the upcoming MasterCard Junior Masters golf tournament which returns to the Vines Resort for the fourth consecutive year. This year's tournament will take place from 29 May - 1 June.
Eight of the best young golfers from New South Wales will compete against the best of Australian and international talent from New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Taiwan, the Philippines, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates.
Among them are Dana Barribell, Emma Betland, Justine Lee, and Elle Sandak.
Tournament site
Rezai causes upset (24 May)
 Istanbul, Turkey – No 4 seed Venus Williams became the Istanbul Cup's first major casualty, when she was defeated in straight sets by Aravane Rezai. The other top four seeds in action at the $200,000, Tier III event on Wednesday were Elena Dementieva and Patty Schnyder, both of whom negotiated potentially tricky second-round encounters with Jelena Kostanic Tosic and Vania King respectively.
WTA story
Plus…
Strasbourg, France -- The local supporters went home happy from the Internationaux de Strasbourg on Wednesday after seeing three French players, Amélie Mauresmo, Marion Bartoli and Emilie Loit, advance to the quarterfinals. No 2 seed Jelena Jankovic was the most notable of the other second round victors at the $175,000, Tier III event, overcoming Tamarine Tanasugarn in the day's final match on centre court.
WTA story
Wild weather interrupts Four Nations Cup
Golf: Gale-force winds have forced play to be suspended mid-way through the second day of the Four Nations Cup at Barwon Heads Golf Club, Victoria.
With 60kmh gusts of wind roaring off Bass Strait, officials were left with little choice but to abandon play for the day when it became clear that conditions would not improve.
Tournament Director Trevor Herden said, "Balls began moving, even after they had come to rest on the putting greens. The 60kmh winds made the proper playing of the game impossible, thus the decision was made to suspend play."
Full story
2010 conference
(Media release) In a first for Australia, the 5th World Conference on Women and Sport will be held in Sydney in 2010. Held every four years, the conference attracts a wide range of key international decision makers in sport including members of the IOC, National Olympic Committees, International Sport Federations as well as senior government officials, academics and athletes from around the globe.
More
Whittle comeback?
Basketball: Australian Opals centre Jenny Whittle has told the Canberra Capitals she's ready to come back, but the champagne is still on ice, writes Chris Dutton for The Canberra Times.
Link
New format for Melb marathon
The Samsung Melbourne Marathon today announced a new race format to celebrate its 30th anniversary.
On Sunday, October 7, both the elite and the recreational runner will be able to take to a new course that runs along Melbourne’s Bayside and finishes with a lap of the MCG.
Source: Athletics Australia
Sports grants open
(Media release) The 2007/08 Sport Leadership Grants for Women are now open. Guidelines and application forms are available below.
The Sport Leadership Grants for Women program is an initiative of the Australian Government that is jointly managed by the Australian Sports Commission and the Australian Government Office for Women.
Grants are available in five key areas: high performance coaching and officiating; Indigenous women; women in disability sport; women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and women in general sport leadership.
The program is aimed at providing women with an opportunity to undertake sport leadership training.
Full info
Heidelberg leads Vic soccer
Heidelberg in action against WVSA Heidelberg United leads the way in the WPL after Ashburton slipped up at home with an upset loss to third-placed Eltham North. Meanwhile, Casey heads a clutch of clubs making ground on the top six as Sandringham and Preston begin to falter.
Full story
Cricket dates
A Rose Bowl series is to take place in Darwin in July, Cricket Australia has supplied the fixture list.
Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars v New Zealand at Gardens Oval, Darwin
19 July Twenty; 20
21 July 1st ODI
; 22 July 2nd ODI;
25 July 3rd ODI;
28 July 4th ODI
; 29 July 5th ODI.
The national squad will attend training camps at the Centre of Excellence in Brisbane in June (8-11) and September (14-17).
Southern Stars site
Netball wants a director
The Board of the All Australia Netball Association is seeking to appoint a director (non- member) from the wider community to join the six elected directors including the president (members) on the Board to lead the organisation.
Applications close June 6, 2007, 5.00pm (EST) and should be sent to Kate Palmer, Chief Executive Officer, Netball Australia, kate.palmer@netball.asn.au.
Netball Australia
Melbourne hits the gym (20 May)
Australia’s rising stocks in women’s gymnastics will be on show in Melbourne this week, with a talented trio of performers looking to test their improving status on the international stage against world champions China.
Full preview
Australia clinches Cup (18 May)
Australia has clinched the international netball tri-series with a 47-40 win over England in London.
Full story
Women in sport meeting
Changes and Challenges:
Women in Sport and Recreation in the 21st Century
2007 State Conference of Womensport and Recreation Victoria
RACV Club, 501 Bourke St, Melbourne
Tuesday 29 May, 2007
Link
Plus…
Science & Medicine in Sport conference
Saturday 23 June, Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre
Link
Gillespie wins penultimate MX race (16 May)
 Motocross: Kristy Gillespie has carried on her winning streak with Motorex KTM Racing Team in the Victorian Women’s Motocross Championship, taking out the Women’s Open at the penultimate round held in Rosebud on the weekend.
Riding the KTM 250 SX-F, Gillespie dominated a 25 rider start gate in three - ten minute motos on the sandy Rosebud track, beating top ranked female riders including Bec Lipsett and Amy Boyd.
Commenting on her podium performance, Gillespie said, “I took three wins from three starts so it was a perfect trifecta for me.
“Fitness really came into play at Rosebud and that was my key to success. I have never ridden such a sandy surface before and I wasn’t afraid to hold it on, which helped me take the lead. Anyone who dropped back in speed on the sand would crash and struggle to regain form.
“I didn’t hole shot any of the races but I was still in the top five by the first corner, my plan was to let the front runners tire and I would then pass them, which I did in most cases by the end of the first lap.
“I don’t get to practice as much as I would like because there are not a lot of tracks around the Albury Wodonga area where I live, they’re all about an hour away and I work full time so fitting in riding after hours isn’t possible unless it’s daylight saving.
“That’s why I have been going in as many races as possible like the Men’s Under 19s in the Australian Motocross Championship. That basically becomes my training. At home I concentrate mainly on cardio and gym work which helps my endurance against the competition during racing.”
Kristy will next ride this weekend at Raymond Terrace in NSW in the Australian Motocross Championship, again with the Men’s Under 19s. The final round of the Victorian Women’s Motocross Championship is not until early July.
Source: KTM Australia
Sally heads for Doha
 From Athletics Australia: Fresh from a stunning Australian record and fastest time in the world this year, Gold Coast sprint star Sally McLellan will be aiming for consistency when she lines up in the 100m hurdles at the IAAF World Tour meeting in Doha, Qatar on Friday.
The 2007 Qatar Grand Prix is one of the biggest one-day athletics meets outside Europe, has US$600,000 in prize money on offer and has attracted 11 current Olympic or world champions.
Last Saturday in Osaka, the venue for this year’s IAAF World Championships, McLellan, 20, shredded her own Australian record to clock 12.71 secs in clinching her first IAAF World Tour win.
McLellan will once again meet Americans Lolo Jones and Danielle Carruthers, who filled the placings in Osaka, along with a trio of consistently brilliant Jamaicans, including Commonwealth Games gold medallist Brigitte Foster-Hylton and bronze medallist Delloreen Ennis-London.
After producing a new Tasmanian record over 1500m in Osaka, Donna MacFarlane returns to her preferred 3000m steeplechase in Doha where she will be joined by fellow Commonwealth Games representative Victoria Mitchell.
More
Plus…
Following the success of athletics.com.au's free podcast Higher, Faster, Longer, Athletics Australia will launch The Fitness Show on June 4.
The Fitness Show is a weekly 30-minute radio show that explores health, sport, fitness, psychology, lifestyle, diet, goal setting and motivation.
Even weekend warriors want to improve their fitness and performance and the show will regularly feature interviews with athletes and health professionals.
More
Webb headlines Kingsmill field (May 10)
 Australia's Karrie Webb enters the fifth-staging of the Michelob ULTRA Open at Kingsmill looking to successfully defend what was her second of five victories in 2006. A victory would also put Webb, who is already second on the LPGA Career Money List, over $13 million in career earnings since joining the Tour in 1996.
For Webb and the 143 players who will join her at the Kingsmill Resort & Spa, there is more at stake this week than the $330,000 winner's check. With a $2.2 million purse, the Michelob ULTRA Open at Kingsmill is one of the season's 10 Winner events in the LPGA Playoffs 2007. Sunday's champion will become the third automatic qualifier for the ADT Championship. Two exciting finishes earlier this season enabled Morgan Pressel (Kraft Nabisco Championship) and Brittany Lincicome (Ginn OPEN) to secure their positions in the 32-player field.
Source: LPGA
Henin & Mauresmo lead in Germany
Wednesday was a day for catch-up at the $1,340,000 Qatar Telecom German Open, which was deterred by several rain showers the previous day. 23 singles matches were completed and 12 doubles matches, with the tournament now up to speed and entering the third round (singles) and second round (doubles) on Thursday. All top eight singles seeds were in action and all were successful in advancing to the third round.
Top seed Justine Henin swept to a 61 61 victory over wildcard Tatjana Malek and will face Italy's Maria Elena Camerin in the next round. Henin is a three-time Berlin titlist (2002, 2003, 2005) and holds a substantial edge over any opponent on clay, having won 11 of her 32 career singles titles on this surface.
No.2 seed Amelie Mauresmo made a winning return after a two month injury lay-off, defeating Yan Zi 63 63. Mauresmo was forced to sit out of competition due to an appendectomy prior to the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami. She will face Julia Vakulenko in the next round, who stretched Mauresmo to three sets in their only previous meeting at the 2004 US Open's second round.
Source: WTA
Trading time for USA basketball
 Trades stole the show the 2007 WNBA Draft, as the top two picks switched places in separate deals and All-Star Becky Hammon was sent from New York to San Antonio.
After winning the Draft lottery, the Phoenix Mercury were rumored to have been trying to trade the No. 1 pick for weeks. They ended up selecting Duke point guard Lindsey Harding with their top pick, then traded her to Minnesota for veteran forward Tangela Smith.
With the No. 2 pick, the San Antonio Silver Stars snagged Ohio State post player Jessica Davenport, then shortly thereafter moved her and a 2008 first-round pick to New York for Hammon and a 2008 second-rounder. As WNBA President Donna Orender announced the trade, the crowd at the Renaissance Hotel's Grand Ballroom gasped.
Source: WNBL
Glaubitz returns
Melbourne Boomers shooting guard Desiree Glaubitz will this week make her long awaited return to an Australian basketball court this weekend, suiting up for the Kilsyth Lady Cobras for the remainder of the South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL) season.
Glaubitz returns from a stint with Italian club side Parma in the Italian Serie A competition.
The 2006 Lady Cobras MVP and 2005 SEABL MVP will provide Kilsyth with added shooting power and defencejobs WNBL experience.
“We are very happy to have a player of Desi’s character and ability joining us again,” Lady Cobras Head Coach Jason Knight said.
Williams hopeful in Qld
From the Malfunction Surf Festival: In the Surftech Open Womens, Tweed Heads Chelsea Williams is looking to make amends after her shock elimination last year. Chelsea has been on a roll in 2007 winning her last three professional events and adding a fourth for today finals win. Other contenders in the Surf Tech Open Womens include Gold Coasts Selby & Tegan Riddle, Lisa Nicholson, and Kirsty Webster, Nat Young’s daughter Nava is also competing.
The 2007 Malfunction Surf Festival has 260 entries in the 17 different divisions from all over Australia and international competitors from 5 different countries making this the biggest Malfunction for several years.
Source: Surfing Australia
Netball trophy teams announced
Netball Australia today announced the successful bid teams that will be nominated to the Tasman Trophy Joint Venture Board* for a place in the Tasman Trophy competition, starting in April 2008.
Australia will be represented in the inaugural Tasman Trophy competition by teams from:
New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria
and Western Australia
Netball Australia Chief Executive, Kate Palmer says the submissions from all six bid teams were outstanding.
“Netball Australia believes the five successful bid teams have the necessary experience of managing an elite team and depth of player and coaching talent to best represent Australian netball in the Tasman Trophy competition,” Palmer said.
“We commend the Australian Capital Territory on its high quality submission, but only five teams could be nominated from Australia.”
Source: Netball Australia
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