Have your say and cast your votes for the standout athletes of the past 12 months

Most end-of-year honours are picked by small panels of experts, but the AW athletes of the year awards are chosen by you, the readers.

There are categories that cover the leading British and international athletes, plus sections for under-20 and masters performers.

These accolades are just a bit of fun with no real hardware up for grabs, but what better honour is there than knowing you have impressed the most knowledgeable athletics readership in the world?

Voting closes on Tuesday December 10 with the results published in the December 19 edition of AW magazine. But please note, contenders for British male and female para-athletes of the year will not be included until our November 21 issue due to the fact the World Para Athletics Championships takes place on November 7-15 in Dubai.

CLICK HERE TO CAST YOUR VOTES

International female athlete

Salwa Eid Naser: Unbeaten at 400m this season, the Bahraini shocked Olympic champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo to win the world title in 48.15 and go third all-time with what was the quickest time for 34 years.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce: The double Olympic champion won the world 100m title in a very fast world-leading 10.71 to just miss her seven-year-old PB. She also won gold in the 4x100m relay and ran 22.22 for 200m.

Sifan Hassan: Enjoyed a sensational 2019, winning an unprecedented 10,000m and 1500m double at the World Championships. The former was with a sub-4min last 1500m and the latter in a European record 3:51.95. Also set a world record in the mile (4:12.33) and 5km road (14:44) and set European records at 3000m (8:18.49) and 5000m (14:22.12), as well as running a 65:45 half-marathon.

Mariya Lasitskene: For once she was not unbeatable at the high jump and ‘only’ won 21 of her 23 competitions, but the Russian landed her third world title with a 2.04m leap and equalled her PB with 2.06m, a height that puts her equal fifth all-time. Also won the European indoor title and bettered two metres on 17 occasions.

Brigid Kosgei: Won all seven of her races in 2019, highlighted by smashing Paula Radcliffe’s world marathon record with 2:14:04 in Chicago. Also ran the world’s fastest ever half-marathon with 64:28 at the Great North Run, won the London Marathon in 2:18:20 and ran the fastest legal half-marathon of 2019 with a 65:28 clocking.

Malaika Mihambo: Having never previously beaten seven metres, the German did it in seven long jump competitions in 2019, peaking with a huge win in the World Championships with a 7.30m leap, which puts her 12th all-time. Her only loss in 14 competitions this year was at the European Indoor Championships, where she was fourth. Improved her 100m speed to 11.21.

Dalilah Muhammad: The Olympic champion first reduced the 400m hurdles world record from 52.34 to 52.20 in winning the US Championships before improving it to 52.16 in winning gold in a great battle with Sydney McLaughlin in the World Championships. She also improved her 400m PB to 50.60 and was in the USA’s 4x400m gold medal-winning team in Doha.

Yulimar Rojas: Went second all-time in the triple jump to close within nine centimetres of the world record with a 15.41m leap at Andujar and then backed that up with a 15.37m leap to retain her World Championships title by a huge margin.

International male athlete

Timothy Cheruiyot: The Kenyan won nine of his 10 competitions in 2019, with the highlight being his superb solo 3:29.26 1500m win in Doha. He tops the world rankings with his 3:28.77 win in Lausanne and also ran a 1:43.11 800m to win the Kenyan Championships, as well as a 3:50.49 mile.

Christian Coleman: Was in the news as much for his missed tests as his sprinting but proved himself athletically with an easy win in the World Championships 100m in a world-leading 9.76. He broke 10 seconds eight times in all his five competitions at 100m and also ran a 19.91 200m. Played a vital role in the USA’s American record 37.10 in winning the 4x100m world title.

Sam Kendricks: Competed 25 times in 2019 and won on 19 occasions but proved his big-time temperament by winning an exciting World Championships with a 5.97m vault. He improved the American record to 6.06m in winning the US Championships to go second all-time outdoors.

Eliud Kipchoge: The Kenyan only competed once in 2019, a course record and then world-leading 2:02:39 in winning at London. However, he made history in a paced non-competitive run in Vienna as he timed a ground-breaking 1:59:41 in the marathon.

Noah Lyles: Won the World Championships 200m in 19.83, having previously run a world-leading 19.50 in Lausanne which places him fourth all-time. He was unbeaten in 200m finals in 2019 but was impressive at 100m, too, winning in Shanghai in 9.86. He also contributed to the USA’s 4x100m winning team in Doha.

Daniel Stahl: The Swedish thrower won 13 of his 16 discus competitions with a top-class average of 69.94m for his best 10 competitions. He took World Championships gold with a modest 67.59m throw to win his first major title at the 13th attempt. His world lead of 71.86m moved him to fifth all-time, which was the longest throw by anyone for 11 years.

Christian Taylor: Triple jumper suffered three defeats in 2019, but again won the event that mattered as he took the world title with a 17.92m leap, his best legal mark of the year as he bettered the world leader Will Claye. He also beat Claye in the Diamond League final with a wind-assisted 17.85m.

Karsten Warholm: Ran 11 meetings in 2019 at 400m and 400m hurdles and won them all. He retained his world 400m hurdles title in Doha after earlier European records of 47.33 in Oslo, 47.12 in London and then 46.92 in Zurich to go second all-time. He also won the European indoor 400m title in a European record-equalling 45.05.

British female athlete

Dina Asher-Smith: Won world 200m gold and 100m silver, breaking her own British records and running European leading times in both (10.83 and 21.88). Also claimed 4x100m silver and won the Diamond League 100m title.

Holly Bradshaw: Finished fourth in the World Championships pole vault final, equalling her second-best ever outdoor height with 4.80m. Claimed European indoor silver and matched her second-best indoor height with 4.81m.

Alyson Dixon: Won the world 50km title on her ultra running debut, also breaking the world record with her time of 3:07:20. Broke the Guinness world record for the fastest superhero to run a half-marathon, clocking 78:26 at the Simplyhealth Great North Run when dressed as Wonder Woman.

Katarina Johnson-Thompson: Gained global gold in the heptathlon, breaking the British record with her world-leading score of 6981 points to move to sixth on the world all-time list. Also claimed the European pentathlon title with a world-leading score.

Eilish McColgan: Broke her mum’s Scottish 10-mile record with 51:38 to retain her Simplyhealth Great South Run title, also moving to second on the UK all-time list behind Paula Radcliffe. Improved her own Scottish 5000m record (14:46.17) to place 10th at the IAAF World Championships.

Sophie McKinna: Threw 18.61m to make the world final, becoming the first Briton to do so since the inaugural championships in 1983. Her mark – which was the longest throw by a British shot putter in 21 years – consolidated her fifth place on the UK all-time list.

Laura Muir: Won double gold at the European Indoor Championships in the 1500m and 3000m. Finished fifth in the 1500m at the IAAF World Championships in her second-fastest ever time despite a calf injury in the build-up.

Laura Weightman: Moved to second on the British 3000m all-time rankings with 8:26.07 at the Prefontaine Classic and finished seventh in the world 5000m in Doha in 14:44.57.

British male athlete

Jonathan Albon: Gold at the World Trail Championships in Portugal in June. He as also excelled in skyrunning and obstacle course racing and runs for Britain in the World Mountain Long Distance Running Championships in Argentina next month.

Mo Farah: Fifth in the London Marathon in 2:05:39 – the second-fastest time ever by a Briton, while in September he won his sixth successive Great North Run title in 59:07 – the fastest time ever by a European.

Adam Gemili: Led the world 200m final coming into the home straight and finished a close fourth in 20.03 before going on to win 4x100m silver in Doha. Also took 200m gold and 100m silver at the British Championships.

Callum Hawkins: After a marathon PB of 2:08:14 for 10th at the London Marathon to go No.3 on the UK all-time rankings, he finished fourth in the World Championships – just six seconds outside a medal – after having been in the lead with a mile to go.

Zharnel Hughes: Ran 9.95 for 100m at the Anniversary Games in London – one of four sub-10 performances in 2019 – and 20.00 for 200m. In the short sprint he was sixth in the world final in Doha.

Nick Miller: Threw 78.39m to rank seventh in the world and was 10th in the World Championships despite a good effort being controversially ruled a foul. Season’s best is second only to his UK record from last year, too.

Jake Wightman: With the men’s 1500m being of a very high standard this year, he set a Scottish record of 3:31.87 when finishing fifth in the world final in Doha despite struggling last winter with injury.

Ben Williams: Huge PB of 17.14m to win the triple jump at the European Team Championships in Bydgoszcz before improving further to 17.27m at the British Championships.

British junior female

Amber Anning: Claimed European under-20 400m silver in 52.18 to move to third on the UK under-20 all-time list and rank fourth on the 2019 senior list. Not since 1982 has a British junior run as quick. Also won 4x400m gold.

Isabelle Boffey: Won the European under-20 800m title, with her PB of 2:02.92 placing her 12th on the UK senior season rankings. Also claimed 4x400m gold.

Keely Hodgkinson: Claimed European under-20 800m bronze in a PB of 2:03.40 and still has two years left in the junior age group.

Amy Hunt: Broke the world under-18 and British under-20 200m record with 22.42 and subsequently won the European under-20 title. Her PB puts her second on the UK senior season rankings.

Lucy-Jane Matthews: Broke the UK under-18 best with 13.38 to claim European under-20 bronze in the 100m hurdles as the youngest athlete in the field.

Holly Mills: Claimed European under-20 long jump bronze and finished fourth in the heptathlon. Her heptathlon best of 5802 points put her third on the senior UK rankings.

British junior male

Max Burgin: Still only 17, the Halifax Harrier set a UK under-20 and European under-18 800m record of 1:45.36. Missed the European Under-20 Championships due to injury but his time ranked him No.6 on the UK senior lists for 2019.

Lewis Byng: Beaten only twice in the shot put all summer when fourth in the British Championships and eighth at the European Under-20 Championships. Also moved into No.2 on the UK all-time under-20 rankings with 19.14m with the 6kg shot.

Alastair Chalmers: Improved his UK under-20 400m hurdles record to 50.07 in Geneva. Went into the European Under-20 Championships at hot favourite but was disqualified for running outside his lane in the semi-final. Fourth in the British senior champs.

Oliver Dustin: Led the British sweep of the medals in the European under-20 800m final in Sweden as he beat Ben Pattison
and Finley Mclear to the title. His PB of 1:46.84 places him 14th in the UK senior rankings for 2019, too.

James Tomlinson: Discus thrower was fifth at the European Under-20 Championships and runner-up at the Halle throws meeting and Mannheim junior international. PBs of 53.13m (2kg) and 61.64m (1.75kg) put the 19-year-old into the UK all-time junior top 10.

Joshua Zeller: Unbeaten all year, the 18-year-old won the European under-20 110m hurdles title and went to No.2 on the UK all- time under-20 rankings with 13.26 in Mannheim.

British masters female

Angela Copson: Uniquely won W70 world masters titles at 400m, 3000m, cross-country and 10km in Toruń, though did suffer rare losses at 800m and 1500m. At the European Masters her one gold came at 800m. She won the Westminster Mile in a world record 6:30 (6:27 on chip) which scored 106.42% on the age-graded tables.

Clare Elms: Set W55 world indoor marks at 800m, 1500m, mile and 3000m, world outdoor marks at 1500m (4:46.64) and mile (5:10.35) and world bests on the road at mile (5:09), 5km (17:39) and five-mile (29:05). Also set UK outdoor records at 800m (2:22.38), 3000m (10:11.24) and 5000m (17:42.99). Won four golds (1500m, 3000m, cross-country and XC team) in the world indoors in Poland and six golds (1500m, 5000m, 10,000m, cross-country, 10km and XC team) at the European Masters in Italy.

Irie Hill: New to the W50 age group, having dominated masters pole vaulting for 15 years, the German-based vaulter won the world indoor and European outdoor title and also set world age-group records indoors (3.51m) and out (3.46m) Also won the BMAF indoor title in the high jump.

Jane Horder: In her third year in the W60 age group, won the world masters indoor title at 60m hurdles and then three golds at the European Masters at 100m hurdles, 300m hurdles and 4x400m relay. She also won a British indoor title over 60m and topped the W60 400m rankings for the year from her fourth place in the World Indoors.

Caroline Powell: Made a notable debut in the W65 age group this year, winning the world indoor 60m title and silvers at 200m and 400m. Also won five golds at the European Masters, including titles at 100m, 200m and 400m, the latter in a European record 68.67.

Evaun Williams: One of Britain’s greatest ever masters throwers continued her dominance, winning three W80 throws at the World Masters Championships at Toruń (hammer, javelin and weight) and then five titles at the European Masters Championships in the shot, hammer, discus and javelin and the weights pentathlon. She won all 18 of her competitions in 2019.

British masters male

Donald Brown: Won the world masters indoor 60m hurdles title and also picked up a bronze in the 60m. Raced over 50 times in 2019 and nine of those races came at the European Masters in Italy as an M55. He won the 100m, 100m hurdles (in a British record 14.62) and the 200m, as well as running a storming 4x100m anchor leg where he came from well back to snatch a silver for Britain.

Mike Coogan: Focused almost exclusively on the 200m, in which he won the M45 world masters indoor title (and also ran the fastest M45 time in the world indoors of 22.80). He then won the European masters title and contributed to the winning 4x100m team.

Paul Fletcher: Third in the world masters M60 indoor 1500m before winning three golds at the European Masters with an unusual treble at 1500m, 10,000m and 800m. The latter was the race of the championships, where he came from well back to snatch victory on the line from fellow Brit Keith McGhie in a vet PB 2:15.22. Also won the Westminster Mile and BMAF title in 5:10 to go second all-time among Brits.

Steve Peters: Probably Britain’s greatest ever masters athlete was only able to compete at two meetings in 2019. However, at the European Masters he won five M65 golds including the 100m, 200m, 400m (UK record 59.05) and was in Britain’s winning relay teams in the 4x100m and 4x400m.

Ian Richards: The former Olympic 50km walker dominated his M70 age group winning the world masters 5km walk and
then taking European titles in the 5000m track walk, 10km and 20km as well as two team titles. His toughest opponents were often the judges as he was disqualified from the British masters 3000m indoor and outdoor championships as well as the world masters 10km.

John Wright: Moved into the M60 category in June and made an immediate impact, winning triple sprint gold in the European Masters. He took the 400m in a superb 55.13 to win by almost four seconds and break Steve Peters’ UK record. It was the fastest in the world by over two seconds. Wright also won the 200m in 24.58, a second quicker than anyone else in the world.

CLICK HERE TO CAST YOUR VOTES

Contenders for British male and female para-athletes of the year will be included in our November 21 issue due to the fact the World Para Athletics Championships takes place on November 7-15 in Dubai.

Photos by Mark Shearman, Tom Phillips & Skyrunning

Teenager’s win means last four are all Egyptian
By SEAN REUTHE – Squash Mad Correspondent

Egyptian World Junior Champion Hania El Hammamy claimed the biggest win of her career to date as she completed a stunning comeback from two games down to upset World No.4 Camille Serme at the foot of the iconic Great Pyramid of Giza – meaning she will appear in the semi-finals of the CIB PSA Women’s World Championship for the first time in her career.

The 19-year-old El Hammamy – who was crowned World Junior Champion in August – was appearing in her maiden senior World Championship quarter-final and initially found it difficult against the intensity of her opponent, with Serme stepping up the court and attacking at the front of the court to go two games ahead.

But the French player lost her attacking game in the third and El Hammamy came out firing on all cylinders, giving it everything in her arsenal, taking that game and the fourth to draw level. A shellshocked Serme went 5-1 down in the decider, but fought back from the brink to level at 9-9.

A stroke then put El Hammamy match ball up, and she followed that up with a perfect forehand drive in the next rally to book her spot in the last four of the most prestigious tournament on the women’s tour.

“I’m over the moon, I can’t believe that I was 2-0 down, I thought I’d lost but I wanted to keep fighting and enjoy it,” El Hammamy said afterwards.

“I’m playing in the quarters, which is an achievement for me, and I wanted to keep fighting, even if I lost. I think when I never gave up, that was the key, and I played the best squash I had in the last three games.

“I wanted to win so bad, I was so excited in the beginning, I didn’t really focus on my game plan or what my coaches told me. When I was 2-0 down, I thought I need to keep focusing on what they said and I’m glad it worked. I have my grandma here with me, and every time she is here I make her upset. She was here with me at Black Ball when I beat Nour El Tayeb, so I think she is my lucky person.”

Defending champion El Sherbini (pictured) will be El Hammamy’s semi-final opponent after she moved to within one win of a sixth World Championship title decider courtesy of an 11-7, 11-9, 13-11 victory over New Zealand’s Joelle King, meaning all four semi-final spots will be taken up by Egyptian players.

El Sherbini is appearing at her first tournament of the season after a knee injury forced her to pull out of both the Oracle NetSuite Open and U.S. Open, but the three-time World Champion has dominated her opponent’s so far in Cairo, claiming four successive victories without dropping a game.

“I’m back into the semis in my first tournament back,” said El Sherbini, who celebrates her 24th birthday on the day of the final.

“I don’t want to put any pressure on myself, I just want to enjoy my squash and the atmosphere and the crowd gives me the support and I’m going to take it as an advantage. It’s really good that we have a tournament here in Egypt, so that young juniors can come and watch, and hopefully they can learn and we can see them in the future.”

 Makin makes it through to his first Platinum semi-final

Welshman Joel Makin has reached his first PSA Platinum semi-final after overcoming French giant-killer Baptiste Masotti 11-3, 12-14, 11-8, 11-2 in the men’s CIB Egyptian Squash Open, which is taking place alongside the women’s tournament at the Pyramids.

Masotti was appearing in the quarter-finals of a Platinum event for the first time after successive upsets against former top five players Borja Golan and Miguel Rodriguez, while he also upset Malaysia’s Eain Yow Ng to earn his place on the glass court in front of the Pyramids.

He looked overawed by the occasion in the opening stages, taking just three points as he went a game down, but he struck back to take the second on the tie-break, and put the World No.12 under serious pressure in the third with some impressive shot-making.

However, Makin’s experience saw him over the line in the third, and that seemed to drain his opponent’s confidence, with a comfortable fourth game victory seeing Makin advance to the last four.

“He was attacking freely and going in short and the ball was quite dead,” said Makin.

“Credit to him in the middle, the first two games he was clinical in the middle. The third game was crucial, I had to get the length across the backhand, and once I did that it took the middle away and I had a few more chances.”

World No.4 Karim Abdel Gawad will play Makin in the semis after beating World No.10 Marwan ElShorbagy 4-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-9 to continue his 100 per cent record in front of the Pyramids.

He became the first man in a decade to win a trophy in front of the iconic landmark when he beat current World No.1 Ali Farag to win the 2016 Al Ahram Open, and he will look to make it back-to-back finals when he takes on Makin next.

“I had to take care of every shot and in the first game I couldn’t even get past him in the middle, so I had to focus on that and put him in the back corners and attack from the middle a little bit more,” said 28-year-old Gawad (pictured).

“I’m really happy to get through to the semi-finals at my favourite tournament ever. I love playing in my home country and in front of the audience here.

“You get a lot of support here, and I feel like I’m just practicing, driving to the venue and then going back home, so I feel like it’s just practice and not a tournament.”

The semi-finals take place on Thursday October 31, with play getting under way at 18:30 (GMT+2). Action will be broadcast on SQUASHTV (rest of world), Eurosport Player (Europe only) and the official Facebook page of the PSA World Tour (Indian subcontinent). 

2019-20 CIB PSA Women’s World Championship ($340k), Pyramids of Giza, Egypt.

Quarter-Finals (Bottom Half):
[2] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) bt [6] Joelle King (NZL) 3-0: 11-7, 11-9, 13-11 (38m)
[14] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) bt [3] Camille Serme (FRA) 3-2: 7-11, 6-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-9 (69m)

Semi-Finals:
[1] Raneem El Welily (EGY) v [4] Nouran Gohar (EGY)
[2] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) v [14] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) 

2019 CIB Egyptian Squash Open.

Quarter-Finals (Bottom Half):
[3] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) bt Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY) 3-1: 4-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-9 (68m)
Joel Makin (WAL) bt Baptiste Masotti (FRA) 3-1: 11-3, 12-14, 11-8, 11-2 (57m)

Semi-Finals:
[1] Ali Farag (EGY) v [5] Paul Coll (NZL)
[3] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) v Joel Makin (WAL) 

Report by SEAN REUTHE (PSA). Edited by ALAN THATCHER.

Pictures courtesy of PSA

LAS VEGAS – The way Matt Hagan figures it, if he’s fortunate enough to end his NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season with a few wins, he’ll head into the off season with plenty of good feelings at the very least.

If three straight victories in the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship leads to a third title, that’s just the icing on the cake for the Funny Car standout.

It’s a tall task to traverse the loaded Funny Car field and win three straight playoff races, but Hagan is up for the challenge. He knocked out the first part of it by winning in Dallas and will try to replicate that in his 11,000-horsepower Mopar Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody at this weekend’s Dodge NHRA Nationals Presented by Pennzoil at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Hagan enters the race 112 points out of first, but his sole focus is simply trying to win and letting everything else fall into place.

“The win in Dallas gave us a little hope and we know we’re a longshot,” Hagan said. “But anything is doable, and if some people have a bad race we can be right there. These last two races we want to be on point and we want to try to dictate the outcome. We’ve still got a shot at it. But sometimes when you’re trying to make something happen you can try too hard. We’ve just got to focus on what we can do. It’s easy to overthink it and start worrying about points. You just have to put that out of your mind, and focus on what you can control. I know we have the ability to win.”

Steve Torrence (Top Fuel), J.R. Todd (Funny Car), Bo Butner (Pro Stock) and Hector Arana Jr. (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were last year’s winners in Las Vegas. It is the fifth of six races in the Countdown to the Championship, which Hagan is hoping to end on a high note following his win in Dallas.

It was his first playoff victory since winning in Las Vegas two years ago, putting the Don Schumacher Racing team on a good path heading into the penultimate race of the season. With longtime crew chief Dickie Venables calling the shots, Hagan turned in a number of consistent performances through varying weather conditions in Dallas. Hagan also saw a confident team and he’s hopeful that continues in Vegas.

“We were definitely more confident coming into the Countdown this year and the car has been consistent,” said Hagan, who has 32 career wins. “Dickie has put a good car under me and that just breeds confidence for everyone. That confidence he has, it’s allowed us to not have to mess with the car too much. He’s been working hard and the car has been running well. Now we just want to make sure we’re on point in these last two races.”

With points-and-a-half in Pomona, Hagan’s chances for a title aren’t out of the realm of possibility. He’ll need some fortunate breaks this weekend, but Hagan can create his own luck if he’s able to take out points leader Robert Hight – like he did in Dallas – teammate Jack Beckman, who is 70 points behind Hight, and 16-time world champ John Force, who is 74 points out of first. None of that would be easy, but Hagan is excited for the opportunity and remains laser-focused heading into the high stakes race.

“We’ve got nothing to lose, so I’d rather see one of those guys in the first round,” Hagan said. “But they have to have a bad race and they didn’t get to where they are by doing a bad job. We’re going to have to leave on time and keep turning on win lights. Dickie is doing everything he can to make the car more effective, faster and to try to turn on more win lights, so I’m ready.”

MOORESVILLE, N.C. – Josh Williams will welcome iV Bars and Verve Systems LLC as co-primary sponsors for this weekend’s NASCAR Xfinity Series O’Reilly Auto Parts 300 at Texas Motor Speedway.

Serving as the nation’s leading intravenous vitamin retail facility concept, iV Bars will be displayed on the hood of Williams’ No. 36 DGM Racing Chevrolet Camaro during Saturday’s 300-mile, 200-lap event at the 1.5-mile Texas quad-oval.

iV Hydration Therapy delivers replenishing fluids, vitamins, minerals and amino acids to the bloodstream, with nutrients immediately accessible for one’s cells to use, resulting in quicker recovery time and improved overall health.

With more than 25 corporately-owned locations nationwide, iVBars offers a variety of hydration and recovery options to the public. Next year, IV Bars will begin offering franchises in selected markets.

“We look forward to hydrating our NASCAR athletes and educating our NASCAR fans on the importance of staying hydrated,” said iV Bars founder and CEO Aaron Keith. “iVBars would like to cheer Josh Williams on toward victory circle as he pushes his endurance to the limit when piloting his No. 36 Chevrolet. We are pleased to support his efforts as he breaks new ground for NASCAR athletes.”

Verve Systems, an innovative wellness lifestyle brand focused on human performance, will adorn the rear decklid of the Williams machine at Texas.

Verve’s mission is to lead in offering significant industry change in human performance, rest and recovery, by increasing the development of innovative wellness products. The company’s initial focus is on performance apparel, in partnerships with Required Team Gear (RTG) and Under Armour.

Verve is currently in the research and development process of performance mouthpieces to increase oxygen intake, without restricting communication. The mouthpieces are expected to be available during the first quarter of 2020.

“Everyone at Verve couldn’t be more excited for the opportunity to sponsor NASCAR driver Josh Williams and his No. 36 Chevrolet. Verve is all about human performance and Josh is a perfect match for us, since he exemplifies a wellness and human performance lifestyle,” said Verve Systems CEO Tim Klund. “He also gives of himself willingly and supports so many charities, especially with all the children he visits with. Verve works with hundreds of athletes and veterans and we are thrilled to partner up with such a fine example of a professional athlete.”

Michael Miceli Designs (www.raceartist.com) will also back the No. 36 Chevrolet Camaro at Texas, serving as an associate sponsor and featured on the rear quarter panels of Williams’ No. 36 car.

Miceli is featuring RacingHeroCards.com as part of his support of Williams, the hero-card design portion of his graphics business. He serves as the official graphic designer of DGM Racing.

Williams is closing in on the completion of his first full season in the Xfinity Series, having scored a career-best eighth-place finish at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway in April and currently ranking 17th in the Xfinity Series driver standings under the guidance of team owner Mario Gosselin.

He returns to Texas after a 14th-place, lead-lap finish in the spring – his best result on a non-restrictor plate track all year – something that gives the Port Charlotte, Fla., native confidence entering the weekend.

“To come back to Texas after what we did in the spring, with the addition of new partners like iV Bars and Verve Systems on the car this weekend, is a good feeling,” Williams said. “Both iV Bars and Verve Systems are committed to maximizing human performance in their respective fields, and that’s important to us in a performance-based sport like NASCAR. Having iV Bars on board to help keep everyone hydrated all weekend will be important, and Verve Systems’ apparel will have our crew looking sharp along the way as we chase a solid finish together this weekend at Texas.

“It’s also special to us to be able to recognize Michael (Miceli) this weekend for all the work he’s done for me personally and for DGM Racing; I’m happy we could thank him in a big way on the race car for all his hard work,” Williams added. “Being involved with growing companies and brand names is important to all of us and we’re looking forward to the future.”

ATLANTA – It’s no secret that Oklahoma State is no longer the dominant force that we’ve been accustomed to seeing the past couple of years in men’s college golf. But Wednesday at the East Lake Cup, the Cowboys showed that they shouldn’t be written off just yet.

After knocking off the nation’s No. 1 team in Wake Forest in Tuesday’s semifinals, Oklahoma State gave preseason No. 1 Texas everything it had in a 3-2 loss Wednesday in the championship match.

“They showed a lot of fight today,” Oklahoma State coach Alan Bratton said. “It looked like the match was going to end early and those guys just kept extending, which is all you can do, and we almost turned that thing around and won.”

Junior standout Austin Eckroat took down Texas stud sophomore Cole Hammer in the anchor match and freshman Brian Stark led off with a 4-and-3 victory over Pierceson Coody, arguably the Longhorns’ second-best player. Between those matches, sophomore Aman Gupta and freshman Rayham Thomas nearly pulled off victories before losing on the 18th hole.

Thomas’ near-comeback against highly touted freshman Travis Vick was most impressive. Trailing 3 down after 14 holes, Thomas, who struggled mightily with the driver yips this summer, won the par-3 15th hole with par before making an incredible birdie at the difficult par-4 16th to claw back to 1 down. He then gave himself a 10-foot look at birdie on the par-5 finishing hole but missed.

While Bratton and his group wanted to get revenge on Texas, which upset them in last year’s NCAA semifinal, the Cowboys’ leader was pleased by his team’s ability to keep getting better.

“They handled themselves well,” said Bratton, whose team opened the year with a third-to-last finish at Pebble Beach but recently placed fourth at the Nike Collegiate. “Now, we have to improve our skills, so that we can get in that spot more often, but they certainly, with all the eyes on them, they did just fine. We knew as coaches that they had that in them, and we have that expectation for them, but it’s great for them to know and prove it to themselves.

“Again, we have to get better; it’s not like we’ve arrived, but they didn’t crumble.”

Gone are All-Americans Matthew Wolff, Viktor Hovland and Zach Bauchou, but Oklahoma State, ranked 57th by Golfstat, proved it still has some talent left in the tank.

“If people keep counting us out,” Bratton said, “then that’s good motivation for us.”

Cristiano Ronaldo converted a stoppage-time penalty, seconds after having a goal chalked off for offside as Juventus finally broke down 10-man Genoa to win 2-1 and go back to the top of Serie A on Wednesday.

Ronaldo went down under a challenge from Antonio Sanabria and although contact was minimal the referee pointed to the spot and the VAR officials confirmed the decision with a silent check.

The Portuguese forward, frustrated by a VAR decision seconds earlier, then fired in the penalty in the sixth minute of stoppage time.

Genoa played with 10 men from the 51st minute when Francesco Cassata was harshly given a second yellow card for tugging Paulo Dybala's shirt.

Juventus, who have 26 points from 10 games, went ahead in the 35th minute. A corner was swung in from the left and defender Leonardo Bonucci got in front of Genoa goalkeeper Ionut Radu to score with a glancing header at the near post.

Genoa levelled within five minutes after Alex Sandro lost possession on the edge of the area. The ball was passed to Christian Kouame who mis-kicked completely but his shot hit his standing leg and flew past a wrong-footed Gianluigi Buffon.

The game veered in Juve's favour when Dybala tried to squeeze past two players and Cassata was dismissed after the Argentine tumbled to the ground.

Juventus had substitute Adrien Rabiot sent off for a second bookable offence with three minutes to play but Genoa were still not safe.

Ronaldo turned in Juan Cuadrado's pass in the third minute of stoppage time but, after Juventus had celebrated the goal, it was disallowed for offside following a VAR check.

But in the next attack, Ronaldo collected a pass inside the area, cut inside Sanabria and fell forwards.

He seemed to try to make contact with Sanabria rather than the other way round but the referee awarded a penalty and the irrepressible Portuguese converted.

Jurgen Klopp has warned the English Football League that Liverpool will forfeit their Carabao Cup quarterfinal if a sensible date cannot be found for the fixture.

The European champions defeated Arsenal 5-4 on penalties after a riveting 5-5 draw at Anfield on Wednesday night to progress to the next round of the competition.

- Watch replay of Liverpool-Arsenal thriller on ESPN+ (U.S. only)
- Watch Carabao Cup games replays on ESPN+ (U.S. only)

Now a scheduling headache awaits both the EFL and Liverpool as the quarterfinal stage of the tournament is due to be played in the week commencing Dec. 16, which is when Klopp's men begin their Club World Cup campaign in Qatar.

"If they don't find a place for us -- an appropriate place -- not 3am on Christmas Day, then we don't play it," the Reds boss said in his post-match press conference.

"You have to think about these things. If you have a fixture list where one team cannot be part of all the games, then you have to think about the fixture list.

"Hopefully, it starts now. I really think that's fair -- this problem is obvious now. We will not be the victim of this problem."

Liverpool's December schedule features five matches in the first two weeks. They host Everton (Dec. 4) and visit AFC Bournemouth (Dec. 7) in Premier League play before travelling to FC Salzburg (Dec. 10) in Champions League group stage action. They then host Watford on Dec. 14 before travelling to Qatar.

Their first match in Qatar will be on Dec. 18, and then will play either the final or third-place match on Dec. 21 before returning to England for their Dec. 26 league tilt vs. Leicester City.

"We played tonight, we wanted to win it, we did that," Klopp said. "If they don't find a proper date for us, then we cannot play the next round and whoever is our opponent will go through. Or Arsenal plays it.

"I think a lot people from the Premier League were watching on TV and hoping that Arsenal can do it -- I'm sorry!"

The quarterfinal draw for the Carabao Cup will take place on Thursday, October 31.

Klopp also spoke about midfielder Naby Keita, who had to withdraw from the Arsenal match with an injury.

"If Naby's injury is not so serious, which I hope, then it was a nearly perfect night," Klopp said. "He felt a little bit. I saw it, he slipped when he lost the ball. He slipped away, I saw him limping afterwards and that's why we did it."

Manchester United knocked Chelsea out of the Carabao Cup with a 2-1 win on the back of a Marcus Rashford double at Stamford Bridge to advance to the quarterfinals of the annual competition.

Frank Lampard handed another start to Christian Pulisic after the U.S. international scored a hat trick in Chelsea's win over Burnley on Saturday, but it was fellow youngster Rashford that stole the show with the only goal of the first half from the penalty spot after Marcos Alonso clumsily bundled Daniel James over in the box.

Chelsea looked more dangerous in the second half and got back on level terms at the hour mark when Michy Batshuayi finished off a hard-charging run from midfield with a thunderous, low line drive from 20 yards out to make it 1-1.

The visitors retook the lead 73rd minute from a wicked Rashford free kick that swerved over the wall and dipped into the back of Willy Caballero's leaving United on the brink of passage to the quarterfinals.

United saw out the result to seal a spot in the last eight and will learn their opponent when the quarterfinal draw takes place on Thursday. Manchester City, Liverpool, Aston Villa, Leicester City, Everton, Colchester United and Oxford will join Man United in the draw.

Next up for Chelsea is an away match against Watford in the Premier League on Nov. 2, while Man United visit Bournemouth on the same day.

It's not three straight away wins in all competitions for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's team after having gone winless in their previous 11 road games