Highlights from the England Athletics Under-17 and Under-15 Championships

Joel Pascall-Menzie was among the double gold medal winners at the England Athletics Under-17 and Under-15 Championships in Bedford.

Most track finals were on Sunday but the 100m races came to a conclusion late on Saturday afternoon. The pick of the winners was top-ranked under-17 Pascall-Menzie, who ran 10.46 (+1.4m/sec) in the final after earlier breaking the championship best with a windy 10.39 (+4.7m/sec) in his semi-final.

His credentials for athlete of the meeting were enhanced by another championship best in the 200m, as he clocked 21.05 (+1.9m/sec) to complete the double and improve on the 21.12 CBP which had been set by Jono Efoloko in 2015.

One of the other best performances was by under-15 300m winner Nandy Kihuyu, whose 39.38 puts her fourth on the UK all-time list.

A 20-year-old championship record fell to Basildon’s Joseph Harding with a windy 12.48 (+3.1m/sec) in the under-17 100m hurdles.

The walks had begun the Sunday programme where the pick was under-15 winner Christian Hopper.

Field eventers stole the show on the opening day.

Nana Gyedu maintained her 2019 unbeaten streak in the under-17 shot with a personal best of 15.77m to defeat Ireland’s European bronze medallist Ciara Sheehy.

National heptathlon champion Abigail Pawlett improved her long jump best to take the under-17 title with a 6.09m leap, while Connor McNally also set a PB with 6.44m to take the under-15 event.

Pawlett also won the under-17 80m hurdles the following day, clocking 11.08 (+2.2m/sec).

In what looks to be a new event for her this year, Halle Ferguson leapt a UK under-15 best of 11.91m (-0.9m/sec) to win the triple jump on Saturday before completing a double with success in the high jump on Sunday, clearing 1.69m.

There was a Scottish under-17 pole vault record for Reuben Nairne as he recorded a vault of 4.72m.

Results can be found here.

See the September 5 edition of AW magazine for full coverage.

Four Egyptians in top five (situation normal)
By SEAN REUTHE – Squash Mad Correspondent

Egypt’s Raneem El Welily has stayed at World No.1 for a 10th successive month after the PSA Women’s World Rankings for September were released today.

El Welily leads an unchanged top 20, while Nour El Sherbini (No.2), Camille Serme (No.3), Nouran Gohar (No.4) and Nour El Tayeb complete the top five.

New Zealand’s Joelle King stays at No.6 ahead of England’s Sarah-Jane Perry (No.7), Amanda Sobhy (No.8), Tesni Evans (No.9) and Annie Au (No.10).

England’s Alison Waters stays at No.11, with Victoria Lust (No.12), Joshna Chinappa (No.13), Salma Hany (No.14) and Hania El Hammamy rounding out the top 15.

The rest of the top 20 contains Yathreb Adel (No.16), Joey Chan (No.17), Nele Gilis (No.18), Olivia Blatchford Clyne (No.19) and Zeina Mickawy.

The biggest riser on the women’s tour was Dutchwoman Elena Wagenmans, who rose 72 places to World No.213 after reaching the quarter-finals of the South Australian Open.

Meanwhile, a semi-final finish at the Moscow Open was enough to see Hungary’s Chukwu Hannah surge up the rankings by 62 spots to World No.223.

PSA Women’s World Rankings Top 20 – September 2019 .

Picture and graphic courtesy of PSA

Seven months at the top for Farag
By SEAN REUTHE – Squash Mad Correspondent

Egypt’s Ali Farag heads up an unchanged top 20 after the PSA Men’s World Rankings for September were released today.

Farag, the 27-year-old from Cairo, has now held on to the World No.1 spot for a seventh successive month, while Mohamed ElShorbagy (No.2), Tarek Momen (No.3), Karim Abdel Gawad (No.4) and Simon Rösner complete the top five.

They are joined in the top 10 by Paul Coll (No.6), Mohamed Abouelghar (No.7), Diego Elias (No.8), Miguel Rodriguez (No.9) and Saurav Ghosal.

Marwan ElShorbagy stays at No.11 ahead of Joel Makin (No.12), Omar Mosaad (No.13), Zahed Salem (No.14) and Fares Dessouky (No.15).

Gregoire Marche (No.16), Declan James (No.17), James Willstrop (No.18), Daryl Selby (No.19) and Ryan Cuskelly complete the top 20.

India’s Yash Fadte is the biggest mover in the men’s rankings. The 17-year-old moved up 223 ranking spots to World No.337 after reaching his first ever PSA semi-final at the SRFI Indian Tour earlier this week.

His compatriot, Velaven Senthilkumar, also reached the last four of that tournament, and he too is rewarded with a hefty increase in his World Ranking, moving up to World No.311 from No.500.

PSA Men’s World Rankings Top 20 – September 2019.

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

Picture and graphic courtesy of  PSA

Rhys Patchell will be Wales' back-up fly-half to Dan Biggar for the World Cup, after being named in Warren Gatland's final 31-man squad.

That means Cardiff Blues 10 Jarrod Evans, who started Saturday's warm-up loss to Ireland, misses out.

Lock Cory Hill is included despite currently being sidelined with a small fracture in his leg.

There is no place for Scarlets props Samson Lee and Rob Evans, or centre Scott Williams.

Evans was first choice during Wales' 2019 Grand Slam campaign but Saracens' Rhys Carre makes the plane to Japan as one of five props after making his debut against the Irish.

Nicky Smith, Tomas Francis, Dillon Lewis and Wyn Jones are the other props. Jones will cover both sides of the scrum with only two tight-heads selected.

Ken Owens, who is heading to his third World Cup, Elliot Dee and Ryan Elias are the three hookers in the squad.

"Selection is always the toughest part of the job and that is especially true come RWC time," said Gatland.

"Reducing the squad down to 31 has been extremely hard especially when you look at the depth we have created and the amount of work the training squad have put in."

Hill is not expected to be available for the start of Wales' campaign, which begins on 23 September against Georgia.

But the 27-year-old gets the nod in the second-row alongside captain Alun Wyn Jones, Jake Ball and Adam Beard.

Wales have named six back-rows in James Davies, Ross Moriarty, Josh Navidi, Aaron Shingler, Justin Tipuric and Aaron Wainwright.

Gatland has chosen 18 forwards and 13 backs in his 31-man squad.

Gareth Davies, Aled Davies and Tomos Williams are named as the scrum-halves.

Centre Owen Watkin has been given the nod ahead of Ospreys team-mate Scott Williams, while Hallam Amos is selected in the back three ahead of Owen Lane who scored on his debut in the 22-17 defeat against Ireland.

Jonathan Davies, Hadleigh Parkes and Watkin are the centres in the squad, with Josh Adams, Amos, Leigh Halfpenny, George North and Liam Williams included as back-three selections.

The nine players who have missed out on World Cup selection are Jonah Holmes, Lane, Steff Evans, Scott Williams, Jarrod Evans, Rob Evans, Lee, Leon Brown and Bradley Davies.

"We are really happy with the final 31, we feel there is an excellent blend to the squad, in terms of talent, experience and age profile and we are all incredibly excited about heading to Japan and what lies ahead," Gatland added.

"These players have performed and delivered for Wales and deserve the opportunity to represent their nation at the game's showpiece tournament."

What started as an extended training group of 42 players had already been reduced by two tournament-ending injuries to number eight Taulupe Faletau and fly-half Gareth Anscombe.

Wales begin their World Cup campaign in Japan against Georgia on Monday, 23 September in Toyota City before further pool matches against Australia, Fiji and Uruguay.

Wales World Cup squad

Forwards

Props: Nicky Smith (Ospreys), Wyn Jones (Scarlets), Rhys Carre (Saracens), Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs), Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Blues).

Hookers: Ken Owens (Scarlets), Elliot Dee (Dragons), Ryan Elias (Scarlets).

Second-rows: Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys, capt), Adam Beard (Ospreys), Cory Hill (Dragons), Jake Ball (Scarlets).

Back-rowers: Aaron Shingler (Scarlets), Josh Navidi (Cardiff Blues), Ross Moriarty (Dragons), Aaron Wainwright (Dragons), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), James Davies (Scarlets).

Backs

Scrum-halves: Gareth Davies (Scarlets), Tomos Williams (Cardiff Blues), Aled Davies (Ospreys).

Fly-halves: Dan Biggar (Northampton), Rhys Patchell (Scarlets).

Centres: Hadleigh Parkes (Scarlets), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Owen Watkin (Ospreys).

Back three: Liam Williams (Saracens), Leigh Halfpenny (Scarlets), George North (Ospreys), Hallam Amos (Cardiff Blues), Josh Adams (Cardiff Blues.

ELDON, Mo. — Capitalizing on Cannon McIntosh’s late-race misfortune, Thomas Meseraull assumed the lead with five laps remaining on Saturday night at Lake Ozark Speedway and held on for his fourth POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget League victory.

With 24 cars in attendance for the POWRi National / West Midget show, a trio of heat races were presented to the enticed Labor Day weekend crowd.

As Zach Daum and Meseraull brought the 24-car field to life in the main event, it was T-Mez powering his Matt Estep owned, Envirofab, Spike/Toyota No. 7x to the point. Commanding the opening six laps, Meseraull was quickly chased by fourth-starter Cannon McIntosh, who maneuvered by Daum and set his sights on the race lead.

Taking the top spot on lap seven, McIntosh wheeled his Dave Mac Motorsports, Drive WFX, Spike/Toyota No. 08 to the front and looked to cash in for his first-career POWRi National Midget triumph.

Driving away and holding a tight grasp on the lead, it looked as if McIntosh was finally due to break his spell of bad luck and strike gold with that elusive victory. However, heartbreak soon ensued, as mechanical issues on lap 25 saw the Bixby, Okla., 16-year old retire from the lead in devastating fashion.

Assuming the lead in the midst of McIntosh’s woes, Meseraull was back at the point and had only five laps separating himself from the checkered flag. The San Jose, Calif. native survived the final restart with ease and ran away to victory.

Rounding out the top five behind Meseraull were Daum, Jesse Colwell, Tucker Klaasmeyer and Michael Pickens.

The finish:

Feature (30 Laps): 1. 7X-Thomas Meseraull (2); 2. 5D-Zach Daum (1); 3. 71-Jesse Colwell (6); 4. 27-Tucker Klaasmeyer (10); 5. 1NZ-Michael Pickens (8); 6. 67-Holley Hollan (3); 7. 91T-Tyler Thomas (20); 8. 32-Trey Marcham (12); 9. 97K-Jesse Love (5); 10. 42-Hank Davis (11); 11. 9-Daison Pursley (17); 12. 20G-Noah Gass (16); 13. 97-Maria Cofer (21); 14. 2H-Jordan Howell (22); 15. 08-Cannon McIntosh (4); 16. 7M-Chance Morton (7); 17. 44S-Andrew Felker (14); 18. 8M-Kade Morton (19); 19. 00-Luke Howard (18); 20. 21KS-C.J. Leary (13); 21. 3N-Jake Neuman (9); 22. 28-Ace McCarthy (15); 23. 71K-Tanner Carrick (23); 24. 3321-Chad Winfrey (24).

CALISTOGA, Calif. — Dominic Scelzi passed Chase Johnson with only three laps remaining to score Saturday’s exciting King of the West by NARC Fujitsu Sprint Car Series feature at Calistoga Speedway’s Louie Vermeil Classic.

The victory was worth $6,000 for Scelzi and the Dennis and Teresa Roth HR Livestock Transportation KPC team.  It was their fourth series win of the season.

Johnson claimed the Sunnyvalley Bacon dash to earn the right to start the 25-lap affair on the pole. He jumped out to a healthy lead and despite some early race cautions consistently held his closest pursuers at bay. Ryan Bernal moved into the hunt and reeled in the frontrunner as the pair negotiated slower traffic midway through the event.

Bernal managed to get past Johnson in the third corner on the 16th circuit and quickly expanded his advantage over the next mile and a half until his right rear tire shredded.  This brought out the caution and handed the lead back to Johnson for the restart.

Both Scelzi and Willie Croft immediately jumped into the fray and the front trio battled wheel-to-wheel for a couple of laps until Johnson’s ride sputtered going down the front straightaway. Both drivers jumped on the opportunity to get past the leader. Scelzi would hold on to his advantage and hold off Croft to score the win.

“I got lucky,” said Scelzi. “Chase had a good car for most of the race, until I saw it sputter.  That got me fired up because I knew I had a shot. I’m just glad I could get this win for my team at Calistoga. It’s special to win here.”

Croft secured second in his Amerikote/Holey Smokes BBQ sprinter. Eighth starter Bud Kaeding locked down the third spot in the Alviso Rock Maxim.

King of the West by NARC championship point leader D.J. Netto finished fourth in the Netto Ag/Rotella Shell KPC.  Bullet Impressions fast qualifier Rico Abreu rounded out the top five in his Abreu Vineyards/McDonald-sponsored car.

The finish:

Dominic Scelzi, Willie Croft, Bud Kaeding, D.J. Netto, Rico Abreu, Colby Copeland, Mitchell Faccinto, Jason Statler, Sean Watts, Chase Johnson, Nathan Rolfe, Geoff Ensign, JoJo Helberg, Matt DeMartini, Nathan Shank, Shane Golobic, Ryan Bernal, Kenny Allen, Shane Hopkins

ALGER, Wash. — Despite overheating issues and a minor rear-end fire with three laps remaining, Logan Schuchart led every lap to win Saturday night’s World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series races at Skagit Speedway.

He swept the weekend doubleheader at the three-tenths-mile track and won the $15,000 payday – $23,000 between the two days. It was his sixth victory of the season.

“If you would’ve told me a couple of years ago or at the beginning of this year you’re going to be winning a couple of races in-a-row and have six wins on the season… you know, I knew it was something we were capable of doing,” Schuchart said. “I’m just really proud of this team. It’s awesome to get big wins like this.”

Friday night he led all 30 laps en route to the victory. Saturday night he did the same, but with 10 more laps. Unlike Friday night, though, where Schuchart stretched his lead throughout the race, Sweet made Schuchart work for his second win at Skagit Speedway.

The start of Saturday’s 40-lap feature was almost a mirror image of Friday night’s race. Schuchart drag raced side by side with polesitter Tim Kaeding down the frontstretch on the initial start. The two stayed that way into the corner, but Schuchart, riding the high line, had the better grip. He rocketed by Kaeding for the lead down the backstretch.

While Schuchart pulled away, catching lap traffic on Lap six for the second night in-a-row, Californians Kaeding and Sweet were the show for the opening eight laps. The two raced side by side, lap after lap, corner after corner. Kaeding ran high, while Sweet threw dive bombs to the bottom each lap.

Kaeding eventually put distance between he and Sweet, but a lapped car hindered his run off turn two, allowing Sweet to stay in the throttle and dive underneath him again in turn three. This time it worked for the “Big Cat.” Sweet cleared Kaeding off turn four on lap eight and began to hunt Schuchart.

It wasn’t much longer before Sweet was to Schuchart’s bumper with the help of a caution on lap 12 for Kraig Kinser spinning in turn two. However, the Drydene No. 1s car accelerated better than Sweet on the restart and pulled away with the lead by several car lengths. Once Schuchart hit lapped traffic again a few laps later, Sweet was able to make up ground.

On lap 23 Sweet was close enough to throw a slide job into turn one, sliding up in front of Schuchart by turn two. The Shark Racing driver was ready for it, though. He held his line and charged underneath Sweet on the exit of the corner, making slight contact with the NAPA Auto Parts No. 49 car before reclaiming the lead.

“I tried to cross back underneath him and he kind of blocked me a little bit and we kind of touched,” Schuchart said. “I was just happy to get back by him. As the race went on I felt like I had a line that felt good to me that I could make moves but also defend myself.”

Sweet tried the same move again four laps later, but didn’t have enough of a run this time to put his car in front of Schuchart. He slid up next to the No. 1s car and then watched it drive away down the backstretch. It was the closest he was going to get to trying to pass Schuchart, even with several late cautions.

“We sure did try,” Sweet said. “Every time we timed it pretty good in traffic Logan was able to counter. We made a little contact that one time, but it was all hard racing. I knew I needed to get the lead and kind of went a little too hard and burned up my tire. The track was really aggressive when you’re running high.”

Behind Schuchart and Sweet, Kaeding, Donny Schatz and Daryn Pittman had a fierce battle for third.

Schatz eventually bested the two with aggressive maneuvers to take the spot. Those moves further paid off on a late restart with three laps to go. Schatz snuck his way by Sweet to end the race in second.

“It’s (the season) winding down,” Schatz said. “You want to get the best finishes you can when you can’t win. Logan was obviously really good and set a pretty good pace. I pretty much used everything up getting to that point. It was pretty aggressive up there (on the high side) on the tires. I tried to save as much as I could, but at the end I was sliding and moving around a bit and that’s what got us the spots we got.”

To see full results, turn to the next page.