TORONTO -- The Tampa Bay Rays put three new pitchers on the roster Monday before a pivotal four-day, five-game series against wild-card rival Toronto, adding right-hander Cooper Criswell as a substitute player to start the opener.

Tampa Bay also selected righties Kevin Herget and Javy Guerra from Triple-A Durham.

The Rays put unvaccinated left-hander Brooks Raley on the restricted list ahead of their second and final regular-season visit to Canada and optioned right-handers Calvin Faucher and Luis Patino to Triple-A.

Also Monday, the Rays transferred left-hander Brendan McKay (elbow) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL.

To enter the country, the Canadian government requires a person to have received a second COVID-19 vaccine dose -- or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine -- at least 14 days before entry. Unvaccinated players go on the restricted list because they are not paid and do not accrue major league service time, according to a March agreement between Major League Baseball and the players' association.

Raley will lose $93,407 of his $4.25 million salary during the series, which runs from Monday to Thursday. He forfeited the same amount when he missed the Rays' first series at Toronto this year, from June 30 to July 3, bringing his total loss to $186,814.

A 34-year-old left-hander, Raley is 1-1 with a 2.03 ERA and six saves in 52 appearances.

Rays reliever Ryan Thompson, who went on the restricted list for the Rays' first trip to Toronto, is on the injured list with right triceps inflammation.

Tampa Bay (78-61), which lost 3-2 to Toronto on Monday, is a half-game behind the Jays and idle Seattle (79-61) in the standings for the three wild-card spots after play Monday. Baltimore (73-67) was 5½ games behind the Rays.

The Rays trail the Yankees (85-56) by 6 games in the AL East race. Toronto is 5½ games behind New York.

Criswell will face Blue Jays right-hander José Berríos in his Rays debut Monday. Criswell, who was claimed off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels in July, will make his second career appearance and first since Aug. 27, 2021, when he allowed three runs in 1⅓ innings in a loss to San Diego.

Tampa Bay shortstop Wander Franco is not in the starting lineup Monday. Franco returned Friday after missing two months because of a wrist injury and played all three games of a weekend series against the Yankees. Manager Kevin Cash said Franco was available off the bench.

The Rays and Blue Jays will play a doubleheader Tuesday, the second of two scheduled this year to make up for early-season games wiped out by the lockout.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

The latest track and field round-up includes a big hammer throw in Woodford and another masters record for Luton athlete

BRAT JUNIOR FIELD FEST, Birmingham (U), September 11

U17 mixed events: HJ: 1 C Cook (R&N, U13) 1.45

U20 men: HT: 1 C Richardson (A’dare) 44.01

U17: HT: 1 J Callaghan (BRAT) 44.04

U15: JT: 1 O Boon (Yate) 42.86

Women: DT: 1 E Baker (Lon Hth, U15) 27.59

U13: SP: 1 B Pendlebury (Traff) 10.47.

DT: 1 B Pendlebury (Traff) 32.15

KINGSTON SEPTEMBER OPEN, Hull, September 11

U17 women: JT: 1 B Moodie (KuH) 36.23

U13: DT: 1 L Hope (KuH) 21.68

Full results are here

RON BOWDEN AUTUMN MEMORIAL, Woodford, September 11

Charlotte Payne came close to her hammer PB and Anna Purchase’s UK lead of 70.63m with a 70.12m throw.

Kai Barham was another close to his best and he threw 70.03m in the under-17 hammer.

Men: HT:

B: 1 S Thurgood (Ports, M45) 50.39; 2 S Whyte (TVH, M55) 40.47.

C: 1 T Head (NEB) 64.10.

HT: A: 1 S Talbot (Dartf, M50) 34.83

Mixed events:

HT: A: 1 R Robert (Dartf, U15) 35.04.

B: 1 L Moffat (Mil K, U20W) 48.99; 2 S Sikiru (WG&EL, W) 47.26; 3 O Austin (NEB, U20W) 42.43; 5 B Gates (Swale, U15) 36.27.

HT: A: 1 D Presswell (Mil K, W55) 32.40

U20: HT: B: 1 N Wooding (WG&EL) 47.10

U17: HT: C: 1 K Barham (Dartf) 70.03; 2 C Elford Pond (Win) 61.40; 3 F Ogunwolu (Bas) 55.15; 4 W Larkins (Col H) 45.61

M50: HT: C: 1 G Holder (Bexley) 52.86

M60: HT: A: 1 A Rushbrook (Bexley) 36.96

Women:

HT: C: 1 C Payne (Read) 70.12; 2 Z Price (Liv H) 58.98; 3 L Marshall (WG&EL, W40) 50.56; 4 L Murray (Swale, U20) 49.34.

HT: B: 1 H Still (Dartf, U17) 49.18; 2 S Lawrence (Thurr, W50) 37.55

U17: HT: C: 1 W Bedding (Hunts) 53.64; 2 C Harris (WSEH) 45.72

Full results are here

WEST YORKSHIRE LEAGUE, Cleckheaton, September 11

Men: JT: 1 E Hinchliffe (Holm) 55.10

U15: 800: 1 C McAndrew (Wake) 2:03.2; 2 R Mirfin (Sky) 2:03.8

Women: 

SP: 1 L Holmes (Wake) 11.37; 2 J Ibbitson (Wake, W65) 7.92. DT: 2 J Ibbitson (Wake, W65) 25.79. HT: 1 J Ibbitson (Wake, W65) 24.51

Full results are here

TRAFFORD COMBINED EVENTS CLASSIC & OPEN MEETING, Stretford, September 10-11

U13 mixed events: 75: r1: 1 C Peter-Thomas (B’burn, U13W) 10.05; 2 E Anwyl (Sale, U13W) 10.08.

150: r1: 1 E Anwyl (Sale, U13W) 20.10; 2 C Peter-Thomas (B’burn, U13W) 20.35

Men: 100: D (0.1): 1 D Scott (SHS, M50) 11.78.

400: 1 D Scott (SHS, M50) 56.13.

HJ: D: 1 D Scott (SHS, M50) 1.59.

LJ: 1 D Scott (SHS, M50) 5.26

U15: HJ: B: 1 E Adams (NSP, U13) 1.63.

HT: 2 S Gooddy (Bury) 35.59.

JT: 1 I Bromwich (Dees) 45.01

U13: 75H: P2: 1 (Deeside AAC, SEN) 12.62.

HJ: P: 1 (Deeside AAC, SEN) 1.50.

Pen: 1 (Deeside, SEN) 1930; 2 D Oakes (Sale) 1663; 3 O Cooper (Bury) 1610; 4 A Lee (Traff) 1406

M45: Dec: 1 R Cordwell (Chor ATC) 4389

M50: 100H (0.9): 1 D Scott (SHS) 16.67.

Dec: 1 D Scott (SHS) 6386

Women: 100H: Ht: 1 G Bower (Liv H) 14.89; 3 N Rutter (BWF, W35) 16.26.

HJ: Ht: 2 N Rutter (BWF, W35) 1.53.

LJ: Ht: 2 N Rutter (BWF, W35) 4.70.

SP: Ht: 1 N Rutter (BWF, W35) 11.31.

Hep: 1 S Whittaker (Sale) 4089; 2 (Amber V, M) 3109

U17: 80H: Ht: 1 K Jones (Kend) 11.88.

Hep: 1 K Jones (Kend) 4236

U15: 75H: P6: 1 O Schrimshaw (Dees) 11.71; 2 V Anestik (Falk) 11.80.

LJ: PB: 1 O Schrimshaw (Dees) 5.24.

JT: 2 L Oldale (Sale) 38.11.

Pen: 1 O Schrimshaw (Dees) 2804

U13: 70H: P4: 1 M Skelton (York) 11.95.

HJ: P: 1 L Hewitt (Wig D) 1.41.

LJ: P: 1 L Hewitt (Wig D) 4.52.

Pen: 1 M Skelton (York) 2255; 2 L Hewitt (Wig D) 2246; 3 A Ely (Prest) 2135; 4 H Webster (Wirr) 2095

W35: Hep: N Rutter (BWF) 4386

Full results are here

SOUTH OF ENGLAND U15/17 INTER COUNTIES CHAMPIONSHIPS, Horspath, September 10

U17 men:

100 (1.9): 1 O Acquah (Essex) 10.92; 2 R Anthony-Deyemo (Berks) 10.97; 3 V Charles (Middx) 11.11; 4 J Oldham (Hants) 11.14.

r1 (2.6): 1 O Acquah (Essex) 10.99; 2 R Anthony-Deyemo (Berks) 11.10; 3 L Godfrey (Kent) 11.20.

r2 (1.6): 1 J Oldham (Hants) 11.17; 2 V Charles (Middx) 11.20.

400: 4 S Samuel (Sussex, U15) 53.58.

r1: 2 S Samuel (Sussex, U15) 53.18.

800: 1 M Ayling (Suffolk) 1:55.74; 2 G Ward (Herts) 1:55.86; 3 A Riley (Sussex) 1:56.34.

1500: 1 B Peck (Suffolk) 3:59.56.

100H: 1 N Hanson (Essex) 13.1; 2 R Mourtada (Kent) 13.4; 3 D Clarke (Surrey) 14.0.

r1 (0.6): 1 N Hanson (Essex) 13.21; 2 D Clarke (Surrey) 14.01.

r2 (1.3): 1 R Mourtada (Kent) 13.68.

400H: 1 C West (Kent) 57.56; 2 Z Williams (Hants) 58.28.

HJ: 1 C Seago (Essex) 2.00.

PV: 1 O Witcombe (Kent) 3.90.

LJ: 1 H Christian (Surrey) 6.53/1.3.

SP: 1 T Scottow (Hants) 16.15; 2 A Brown (Suffolk) 14.84; 3 T Babatunde (Kent) 14.26; 4 A Abebrese (Surrey) 13.48; 5 A Akende (Essex) 13.42.

DT: 1 T Babatunde (Kent) 53.20; 2 A Brown (Suffolk) 42.76; 3 S Simpson (Berks) 42.63; 4 T Scottow (Hants) 42.28.

HT: 1 K Barham (Kent) 64.00; 2 C Elford Pond (Hants) 61.37; 3 F Hanham (Berks) 52.62; 4 A Brown (Suffolk) 46.27; 5 O Staples (Sussex) 39.69.

JT: 1 F Mcardle Hodge (Kent) 61.61; 2 G Johnson (Surrey) 59.69; 3 B Williams (Essex) 50.19; 4 K Greening (Middx) 49.94

U15:

100 (1.2): 1 Z Azabdaftery (Middx) 11.32; 2 C Fisher (Sussex) 11.36; 3 N Graham (Essex) 11.43; 4 V Redman (Kent) 11.44.

r1 (2.9): 1 C Fisher (Sussex) 11.45; 2 V Redman (Kent) 11.57.

r2 (1.8): 1 Z Azabdaftery (Middx) 11.24; 2 N Graham (Essex) 11.51.

200 (1.6): 1 A Foster (Essex) 23.20; 2 C Presnail (Berks) 23.53.

300: 1 F Hake (Surrey) 37.06; 2 S Brown (Middx) 37.18; 3 T Niewczasinski-Kirkland (Essex) 38.37.

r1: 1 F Hake (Surrey) 37.89.

800: 1 F McLaren (Essex) 2:03.86; 2 J Pepin (Hants) 2:04.19; 3 H Verster (Kent) 2:05.52; 4 N Scott-Donkin (Cambs) 2:05.88.

1500: 1 S Scrase-Field (Kent) 4:16.88.

80H (2.5): 1 W Allinson (Surrey) 11.63; 2 E Hughes (Essex) 11.64; 3 T Croft (Berks) 11.71; 4 H London (Herts) 11.72; 5 H Nmaju (Kent) 11.99.

r1 (2.5): 1 E Hughes (Essex) 11.78; 2 H Nmaju (Kent) 11.85.

r2 (1.7): 1 W Allinson (Surrey) 11.71; 2 H London (Herts) 11.84; 3 T Croft (Berks) 11.86.

HJ: 1 O Horton (Sussex) 1.73.

PV: 1 C Platt (Kent) 3.60.

LJ: 1 H Nmaju (Kent) 6.06/0.8; 2 J Sobrasuaipiri (Sussex) 5.95/0.7; 3 S Silly (Surrey) 5.90/0.9.

TJ: 1 D Osei-Poku (Essex) 13.00/1.6; 2 L Sorhaindo (Middx) 12.00/1.8; 3 N Clarke (Surrey) 11.92/1.6.

SP: 1 S Hatch (Kent) 14.42; 2 S Das (Berks) 12.83.

DT: 1 G Mutandwa (Herts) 45.99; 2 A Henry-Daire (Berks) 40.78; 3 J Burgess (Hants) 36.98; 4 S Hatch (Kent) 33.90.

HT: 1 A Axtell (Hants) 44.05; 2 J Buscombe (Essex) 41.95; 3 S Das (Berks) 41.07; 4 J Campbell (Suffolk) 38.70.

JT: 1 B Hastings (Sussex) 51.12; 2 E Ibrahim (Kent) 50.25; 3 A Henry-Daire (Berks) 43.88

U17 women:

100 (1.1): 1 T Rizzo (Herts) 12.10; 2 K Slater (Berks) 12.16.

r1 (0.6): 1 K Slater (Berks) 12.35.

200 (1.2): 1 E Lucas (Hants) 25.25; 2 H Medlen (Kent) 25.49.

400: 1 C Harvey (Surrey) 57.58; 2 I Wilson (Berks) 59.79.

800: 1 A Hedge (Herts) 2:12.83; 2 M Kent (Hants) 2:14.70; 3 C Wormley (Surrey) 2:15.33; 4 H Watson (Essex) 2:15.86.

1500: 1 R Le Fay (Sussex) 4:44.80.

80H (2.0): 1 P King (Essex) 11.16.

r1 (1.5): 1 P King (Essex) 11.09.

300H: 1 S Okoro (Essex) 43.15; 2 S Osborn (Surrey) 46.43.

HJ: 1 M Judd (Hants) 1.70; 2 M Secker (Kent) 1.65.

PV: 1 A Smith Jarman (Sussex) 3.00; 2 B Norvill (Surrey) 2.70.

LJ: 1 H Lawrence (Essex) 5.39/1.6.

TJ: 1 O Nzekwe (Essex) 11.40/2.9; 2 A Purcell (Sussex) 11.03/1.3; 3 E Algeo (Kent) 10.84/2.1.

SP: 1 M Hopkins (Essex) 13.74; 2 E Bostock (Herts) 13.66; 3 H Bridge (Kent) 13.65.

DT: 1 E McBriar (Hants) 34.05; 2 M Hopkins (Essex) 32.60; 3 C Sarr (Middx) 32.00; 4 H Bridge (Kent) 32.00.

HT: 1 W Bedding (Cambs) 50.52; 2 E MacDonald (Hants) 49.37; 3 H Still (Kent) 48.36; 4 C Harris (Berks) 46.51; 5 N Akyol (Suffolk) 46.30.

JT: 1 D Yelling (Sussex) 47.47; 2 A Palmer (Berks) 39.87; 3 I Law (Hants) 38.17

U15:

100 (1.9): 1 E Taylor (Surrey) 12.38.

r2 (1.2): 1 E Taylor (Surrey) 12.37.

200 (1.4): 1 E Rennie (Surrey) 25.39.

r1 (0.9): 1 E Rennie (Surrey) 25.8.

300: 1 L Brown (Surrey) 40.13; 2 S Omotosho (Essex) 41.04; 3 M Barnes (Berks) 41.22; 4 M Paitoo (Middx) 41.46; 5 A Firla (Kent) 41.63; 6 L Bertacchini (Hants) 41.86.

r1: 1 L Brown (Surrey) 41.51; 2 M Paitoo (Middx) 41.60; 3 M Barnes (Berks) 41.73.

r2: 1 S Omotosho (Essex) 41.40; 2 A Firla (Kent) 42.42; 3 L Bertacchini (Hants) 42.79.

800: 1 N Wynn (Essex) 2:13.90; 2 M Barlow (Kent) 2:15.60; 3 D Hodgson (Hants) 2:15.85; 4 B Taylor (Suffolk) 2:17.97.

1500: 1 K Pye (Surrey) 4:44.17.

75H (0.6): 1 L Wagstaff (Cambs) 11.22; 2 R Wright (Essex) 11.37; 3 E Lacey (Kent) 11.60.

r1 (3.0): 1 L Wagstaff (Cambs) 11.24; 2 R Wright (Essex) 11.42.

r2 (2.6): 1 E Lacey (Kent) 11.52; 2 J Howells (Surrey) 11.79.

HJ: 1 D Corp (Herts) 1.60.

PV: 1 I Clarke (Sussex) 2.80; 2 L Trott (Hants) 2.60; 2 E Pawson (Kent) 2.60; 4 M Dodd (Surrey) 2.60.

LJ: 1 I Amartey (Kent) 5.40/1.2; 2 A Fairmaner (Essex) 5.29/1.2; 3 G Osman (Hants) 5.25/2.2; 4 T Mason (Beds) 5.24/2.0.

TJ: 1 I Amartey (Kent) 10.76/1.0; 2 E Hutton (Hants) 10.22/1.6; 3 A Thomas (Middx) 10.07/1.7.

SP: 1 I Stamp (Surrey) 13.59; 2 M Hewitt (Essex) 11.26.

DT: 1 M Farrar (Surrey) 34.81; 2 A Thomas (Middx) 32.28; 3 R Roberts (Sussex) 29.79; 4 E Simpson (Kent) 29.45; 5 A McBriar (Hants) 26.99.

HT: 1 A Howie (Sussex) 52.46; 2 E Scott (Hants) 34.11; 3 L Webb (Kent) 33.02.

JT: 1 E Christian (Surrey) 41.67; 2 H Court (Kent) 36.90; 3 A McBriar (Hants) 33.25; 4 C McGonnell (Berks) 32.77

Full results are here

GLOUCESTER AC SEPTEMBER OPEN, Gloucester, September 8

Mixed events:

3000: r1: 3 T Whetton (Western Tempo, U17) 8:48.9; 6 C Thornley (Chelt, U20W) 9:46.8; 8 R Hamilton-James (W’bury, W) 9:52.0.

r2: 5 T Hinxman (Glouc, W45) 10:43.3

LATE SEASON OPEN MEETING, Parliament Hill, September 7

Mixed events:

100: r1 (-0.1): 2 A Long (Herne H, M80) 15.68.

800: 4 M Russell (Col H, M50) 2:06.65.

LJ: 3 S Nash (TVH, M50) 5.30

STAN ALLEN MILES, Tooting Bec, September 7

Mixed events:

Mile: r3: 6 L Woolhouse (Vets, W60) 6:14.0.

r4: 2 L Thomas (HW, W55) 5:47.8.

r6: 2 N Sturzaker (Herne H, W45) 5:35.1.

r7: 3 I Harrison (HW, U13W) 5:19.8; 4 T Tuohy (Dulw, M60) 5:20.2; 5 R Beswick (B&B, M60) 5:22.6; 7 C Elms (Kent, W55) 5:26.5.

r8: 2 T Booth (G&G, M55) 4:59.5; 5 D Lewis (Hill, U13) 5:12.6.

r9: 8 G Englefield (S Lon, M45) 4:56.7; 9 A Russell (Dulw, M45) 4:58.5.

r10: 5 G Bell (SB, W) 4:38.1; 9 M de Freitas (HW, M50) 4:52.9

Full results are here

TAVISTOCK AC SUMMER SERIES, Tavistock, September 7

U15 girls: DT: 1 C Doney (Tav) 27.42

U13: DT: 1 I Doney (Tav) 21.57

WATFORD OPEN GRADED MEETING, Watford, September 7

A week after smashing the UK W50 800m record, the hugely versatile Sally Cooke equalled Michelle Thomas’s 100m record with a time of 13.06.

Melissa Courtney Bryant, who competed over 1500m in the World Championships, Commonwealth Games and European Championships, moved back to 3000m and ran 8:47.67 in a mixed race which puts her fourth in the UK rankings for 2022.

Mixed events:
100: r2 (0.8): 1 S Cooke (Lut, W50) 13.06.

r4 (0.4): 5 M Vassiliou (E&H, M60) 12.64.

200: r3 (0.2): 3 M Vassiliou (E&H, M60) 25.54; 5 S Gittens (Herts P, M60) 26.33.

r4 (1.0): 2 A Gibb (Belg, M35) 22.97.

800: r7: 2 J Smith (Mil K, U13) 2:17.27.

r8: 5 O Chilton (Mil K, U15W) 2:16.30; 9 B Rivero-Stevenet (AFD, U13) 2:19.93.

r9: 5 C Kelly-Gordon (B&B, U20W) 2:14.27; 6 L Wright (Herne H, U15W) 2:14.95.

r10: 4 S Atkinson (Phoe, M55) 2:09.86; 5 D Olima (Dac, M45) 2:10.85; 6 M Squibb (B&B, U20W) 2:11.13.

r11: 12 J Elvin (Thurr, U20W) 2:12.19.

r12: 7 P Howard (B&H, M40) 2:04.27; 10 R McClay (Brack, W) 2:06.88.

r13: 6 A Pinder (Chilt, U17) 1:59.93.

r14: 3 J Hiorns (Notts, M35) 1:58.24; 7 I Jessop-Tranter (Chilt, U17) 1:59.42.

r15: 1 C Foley (K&P, U17) 1:55.55.

r16: 2 P Grange (Ilf, M40) 1:55.12; 7 G Ward (Herts P, U17) 1:58.11.

3000: r1: 2 E Lewis (Oxf C, U15) 9:48.39; 6 H Greenwood (THH, W) 9:57.19; 8 D Taylor (B&B, M55) 10:06.03; 9 M Fieldsend (Brack, U15W) 10:07.71; 12 M Barker (Have, U20W) 10:18.94; 13 K Webb (Mil K, U15W) 10:23.25; 16 L Webb (Mil K, U15W) 10:39.79.

r2: 1 S Gebreselassie (Belg) 8:25.26; 3 S Maund (Strag, U20) 8:32.26; 4 S Stevens (Norw) 8:35.68; 5 N Boase (Orion, U20) 8:39.17; 6 T Crockett (Wyc P) 8:39.58; 11 M Courtney-Bryant (Poole, W) 8:47.67; 12 E Taylor (C&C, U17) 8:50.24; 15 S Beedell (PNV, U17) 8:53.00; 16 O Denson (WSEH, U17) 8:54.23; 17 L Jolly (Read, M40) 8:54.30; 18 D Shattock (AFD, U17) 8:58.84; 20 L Dunham (Herts P, U15) 9:08.75; 21 R Johnson (High, W) 9:13.80

Full results are on Power of 10 here

CARDIFF THROWS MEETING 8, Aberdare, September 6

Men: SP: 1 J Matthews (Halesowen ACC) 14.36

U20: DT: 1 J Knight (Card Arch) 41.32.

HT: 1 T Conibear (Yate) 59.77

Women: DT: 1 L Harris (Swan, U17) 35.00; 2 L Gregson (Card, U20) 31.87

U17: HT: 2 E Cooper (Neath, U15) 39.83

Full results are here

ENGLAND THROWS CAMP THROWS FEST, Moulton, September 3-4

Nick Percy threw 63.72m in a discus competition and also won a separate event with 63.36m ahead of European bronze medallist Lawrence Okoye’s 61.38m.

Men:
DT: Oa: 1 N Percy (SB) 63.72; 2 J Martin (Gate) 48.38; 3 J Hedger (Bir, M35) 46.72; 4 R Vaughan (Croy) 44.42.

Ob: 1 N Percy (SB) 63.36; 2 L Okoye (Croy) 61.38; 3 J Martin (Gate) 51.42.

HT: O: 1 T Head (NEB) 61.97.

Oa: 1 T Head (NEB) 62.35.

JT: Oa: 1 B Pearson (Bir) 66.06; 3 S Walker (Bath, U20) 49.00

Mixed events:
JT: Oa: 1 E Dibble (Liv H, W) 46.23; 2 O Boon (Yate, U15) 43.83; 3 S De Kremer (Corby, W) 42.56; 4 L Wilkinson (Salis, U20W) 41.85; 5 H Watson (W’bury, U15) 41.78; 6 N Emerson (NEB, W) 37.90; 7 H Arnold (B&B, W) 37.50

U23:
SP: E: 1 K Aubrey (Harrow) 15.83.

Eq: 1 K Aubrey (Harrow) 15.66.

DT: E: 1 C Osammor (Shef/Dearn) 57.46.

Eq: 1 C Osammor (Shef/Dearn) 54.84.

JT: Ob: 1 O Wright (York) 58.23

U20:
SP: E: 1 I Delaney (Prest) 17.82; 2 D Pawlett (P’broke) 16.90.

Eq: 1 I Delaney (Prest) 16.79; 2 D Pawlett (P’broke) 15.96.

Oa: 1 A Williams (W Norf) 14.37; 2 F Zamparelli (Corn) 14.28.

DT: E: 1 C Uzoigwe (Traff) 52.19; 2 M Jenkins (P’broke) 49.30.

Eq: 1 C Uzoigwe (Traff) 52.49; 2 M Jenkins (P’broke) 48.26.

Oa: 1 F Zamparelli (Corn) 42.25.

Ob: 1 F Zamparelli (Corn) 44.11; 2 Z Grinsted (Lut) 39.71; 3 P Harewood (SB) 39.42.

HT: E: 1 O Merrett (Yate) 65.53; 2 H Ricketts (Read) 64.18.

Eq: 1 O Merrett (Yate) 68.21; 2 H Ricketts (Read) 62.72.

O: 1 C Richardson (A’dare) 46.61.

Oa: 1 C Richardson (A’dare) 48.62.

JT: E: 1 B East (Team K) 69.76; 2 C Taylor (Ports) 64.20; 3 C Evans (Banb) 62.07; 4 A Padaruth (Hill) 61.18.

Eq: 1 B East (Team K) 69.36; 2 C Evans (Banb) 66.73; 3 C Taylor (Ports) 63.02; 4 A Padaruth (Hill) 61.41

U18:
SP: E: 2 T Scottow (Soton, U17) 15.69; 3 A Brown (W Suff, U17) 15.28.

Eq: 2 A Brown (W Suff, U17) 15.21; 3 T Scottow (Soton, U17) 14.70.

DT: E: 1 T Babatunde (Dartf, U17) 56.43; 2 T Gannon (WSEH, U17) 53.58.

Eq: 1 T Babatunde (Dartf, U17) 55.54; 2 T Gannon (WSEH, U17) 52.40.

HT: E: 1 K Barham (Dartf, U17) 68.09; 2 C Hendry (VPCG, U17) 58.15; 3 C Elford Pond (Win, U17) 58.12; 5 S Thomas (Neath, U17) 41.93.

Eq: 1 K Barham (Dartf, U17) 67.30; 2 C Elford Pond (Win, U17) 58.65; 3 C Hendry (VPCG, U17) 56.18; 5 S Thomas (Neath, U17) 41.93.

JT: E: 1 L Jones (Swan, U17) 57.12

U17: HT: O: 1 A Merrett (Yate) 47.81.

Oa: 1 J Berry (Hale) 55.94; 2 A Merrett (Yate) 43.46.

JT: Ob: 1 G Johnson (HW) 56.75

U15: DT: Oa: 1 L Nash (Mil K) 36.87.

Ob: 1 L Capes (PNV) 41.31; 2 H Beard (Shef/Dearn) 34.12

Women:
SP: Oa: 1 N Emerson (NEB) 13.33; 2 M Joseph (Harrow, U20) 13.00.

DT: Oa: 1 A Baltazar-Hall (SB, U20) 43.28; 2 K Ennis (Have, U17) 32.36.

Ob: 1 K Woodcock (Oxf C) 44.45; 2 O Austin (NEB, U20) 40.95; 3 E Beardmore (Harrow) 40.77; 4 E Darvell (Banb, U20) 36.01.

HT: Eq: 1 N Tuthill (Bandon AC, U20) 58.18; 1 Z Price (Liv H) 53.57; 2 L Moffat (Mil K, U20) 47.13.

O: 1 C Payne (Read) 65.98; 2 L Marshall (WG&EL, W40) 53.63

U23:
DT: E: 1 Z Obamakinwa (B&B, U20) 52.50; 2 E Botham (WG&EL) 46.27; 3 A Gavigan (LSA, U20) 45.51; 4 M Porterfield (VPCG, U17) 44.00; 5 S Evans (Carm, U17) 41.95; 6 E Lovett (Ports, U20) 39.83; 7 L Harris (Swan, U17) 35.15.

Eq: 1 Z Obamakinwa (B&B, U20) 55.13; 2 E Botham (WG&EL) 45.96; 3 A Gavigan (LSA, U20) 44.98; 4 M Porterfield (VPCG, U17) 44.81; 5 S Evans (Carm, U17) 42.65; 6 E Lovett (Ports, U20) 40.74; 7 L Harris (Swan, U17) 31.77.

HT: E: 1 Z Price (Liv H) 59.93; 2 N Tuthill (Bandon AC, U20) 59.79; 3 L Moffat (Mil K, U20) 50.06.

Oa: 1 C Payne (Read) 68.75.

JT: Eq: 1 L Farley (B&B) 44.01; 2 S Hamilton (B&W, U20) 40.96.

Ob: 1 C Colbert (Here, U20) 43.92; 2 J Brown (Amber) 41.22; 3 A Sutcliffe (Oxf C, U20) 36.83

U20:
SP: E: 1 C Agyepong (B&B) 14.94; 2 T Tchoudja (Shett) 13.77; 3 A Kennedy (Jag) 13.53.

Eq: 1 C Agyepong (B&B) 14.88; 2 T Tchoudja (Shett) 13.23; 3 A Kennedy (Jag) 13.09.

JT: E: 1 S Hamilton (B&W) 41.54

U18:
SP: E: 2 M Porterfield (VPCG, U17) 14.39; 3 J Gray (Law, U17) 12.45.

Eq: 2 M Porterfield (VPCG, U17) 14.28; 3 J Gray (Law, U17) 12.38.

HT: E: 1 A McAuslan-Kelly (A’deen, U17) 57.94.

Eq: 2 A McAuslan-Kelly (A’deen, U17) 56.67.

JT: E: 1 A Jones (Mil K, U17) 44.67; 2 L Lloyd (P’broke, U17) 40.67.

Eq: 1 A Jones (Mil K, U17) 44.59

U17:
HT: O: 1 L Ellis (Gate) 47.68.

Oa: 1 L Ellis (Gate) 46.04.

JT: Oa: 1 P Radford (Dac) 37.89

Full results on Power of 10 here

British middle-distance man ran the race of his life at London 2012 but still finished last. Here he explains why he looks back with mixed emotions on the monumental two-lap event

The men’s 800m is widely regarded as the best race of the London 2012 Olympics. From winner David Rudisha through to last-placed Andrew Osagie, the race oozed quality. The event saw seven PBs, three national records, one world junior record and a world record of 1:40.91. There wasn’t a pacemaker or super shoe in sight, either.

Osagie’s time of 1:43.77 would have been good enough to win gold at the previous three Olympics and was not beaten by another British athlete for almost a decade. “It was,” he says, “a pure test.”

Looking back fondly on arguably the greatest 800m race of all time, he continues: “Rudisha was unbelievable. What a guy! Off the track he’s an incredible person – a family man and always willing to chat. As a competitor he was able to switch his smile into an aggressive racing style where he was able to push himself to a level which was almost unattainable. I’m really happy that I was around to be around to race him and to be part of his legacy.”

The race on August 9, 2012, saw Rudisha blast into the lead full of purpose. As the Kenyan went through the first 200m in a blistering 23.6, Osagie settled into seventh place with only five-time US champion Nick Symmonds behind him. Pressing on relentlessly, Rudisha passed 400m in 49.28 and 600m in 1:14.30, by which stage he was drawing away from his rivals.

#OnThisDay David Rudisha broke the World record. #London2012 @rudishadavid @iaaforg pic.twitter.com/Wpv30qCN3K

— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) August 9, 2019

Rounding into the home straight with the aim of breaking his own world record of 1:41.01, which was set in Rieti two years earlier, Rudisha strode through the finish in 1:40.91 as his opponents recorded a raft of red-hot times.

Osagie went into the Games in the form of his life. “I was on the crest of a really positive wave,” he remembers. “I was happy, content and confident. I’d run PBs and under 1:45 four times and I’d had an incredible build-up.”

Lining up against Rudisha at a home Games would have been a terrifying proposition for many but Osagie says he had no nerves. “Even now I have such a smile on my face thinking about it,” he says. “I absolutely revelled in that position. I love pressure.

“Craig (Winrow, his coach) and myself had been through tough times due to injuries. I was seemingly injured every three to six months. Shin splints, stress fractures and all sorts that I had to manage. But for about a year and a half before the Olympics we nailed the ability to do more consistent training and it allowed me to do what I enjoy best, which is to race.”

Osagie was drawn against Rudisha in his heat and semi-final, too. The latter was particularly pleasing as he clocked 1:44.74 behind the Kenyan and ahead of Symmonds to make the final.

His sharpest memories are a little random. He remembers enjoying a slice of pepperoni pizza with his lunch as a treat after his heat, for example. Then, before the final, he recalls lying on the floor in the call room with his feet up watching Symmonds put tape over a tattoo on his arm.

“The semi-final was incredible and from the moment I finished it through to the final I was on cloud nine. I felt this contentment. The weight was off. I’d crossed the final hurdle as I couldn’t really screw up from that point.”

Osagie was sharing an apartment with athletes like Chris Tomlinson, Robbie Grabarz, Ross Murray and Chris Thompson. “They really helped as it kept me grounded during the rounds,” he remembers. “Looking back, I loved every minute.”

When introduced to the crowd on the start line in the final, Osagie did his trademark ‘Osagie boom!’ gesture with a big smile on his face. “My target time was low 1:44 and thought it might place me about fifth and, if so, I’d be in with a chance of a medal. But obviously David and the others had very different plans. I didn’t imagine he would front-run a world record in my home city!”

Osagie had mixed feelings with his own result. “At the time I felt I could have run significantly quicker if it hadn’t been for badly timed injuries and (lack of) consistency. But that’s the mentality of an athlete – to always want more.

“It was a shock that I’d run that time and still finished in eighth and last place. I didn’t dip at the line and was really pissed off that I’d underperformed on my home track. So that’s one of the hardest and biggest things I took from that day.

“On the good side I know I gave my all on the day and yet couldn’t really change anything. It was a pure test and that was the best I was on the day.”

Despite running the fastest time of his life, the race was a humbling experience. “One of the hardest things was that I pushed myself to my absolute limit and came last. It took me some years to get over that mentally. Where did I go from there?

“Also, it was such a big occasion. I would never have that much support and attention again. I spoke to a lot of athletes from those Games who also found it quite tough afterwards. It sounds really ‘spoiled’ to say this, but when you’re going to a stadium that only has 40,000 people instead of 80,000, it is a comedown.”

Now aged 34, Osagie was still running 1:46 indoors just days before the pandemic struck in 2020. His wife – the former athlete Emily Pidgeon – was about to give birth to their first child, so he prioritised his family and got a job in marketing.

Things are going well as he has become European brand manager for a tech company called ATG which provides software to auction houses. He is still running, too.

Clearly not the retiring type, he smiles: “I think you only retire if you have a title, a bit like a boxer. I’m never going to retire and I might do some races again at some stage in my life.”

Yet nothing surely will ever top that memorable Thursday night in the London Stadium 10 years ago.

Olympic 800m final, London, August 9, 2012

1 David Rudisha (KEN) 1:40.91 (WR)
2 Nijel Amos (BOT) 1:41.73 (WJR)
3 Timothy Kitum (KEN) 1:42.53 (PB)
4 Duane Solomon (USA) 1:42.82 (PB)
5 Nick Symmonds (USA) 1:42.95 (PB)
6 Mohammed Aman (ETH) 1:43.20 (NR)
7 Abubaker Kaki (SUD) 1:43.32
8 Andrew Osagie (GBR) 1:43.77

Seb Coe recalls that record-breaking run

“It is still jaw-dropping. When we had the events I would often ask somebody to come and sit next to me that I knew it mattered to so I asked [Kenyan former steeplechase and 1500m Olympic champion] Kip Keino to come and sit with me to watch the 800m.

“He came up to his seat minutes before the race because he had been on the warm-up track to talk to the two Kenyan 800m runners. He’d asked what the team tactics were and the youngest [the 17-year-old Timothy Kitum] had pointed at David Rudisha and said: ‘I’m going to follow him’. Rudisha took one look at him and said: ‘Don’t do that. I’m going to break the world record today and if you do [follow me] you will die’.

“Kip relayed this story to me and that was when I sensed [something special was coming]. He said: ‘I’ve never seen a guy so focused on one thing’.

“It was an extraordinary performance. The mental presence and supreme physical confidence going into an Olympic final, thinking ‘actually, it’s not about winning, it’s about breaking the world record today’ – I think that’s what most athletes like me were so stunned by. 

“And then to execute it, without pacemakers … it was not just the best athletics performance – for me it was the single best performance of the Games in any sport.”

Exercising restraint has been one of the key lessons for the British distance runner to learn after joining the NN Running Team as he targets future success

“Jake tells us off sometimes, like: ‘Hey, come on, I want to race’,” he laughs, “but we’re trying to look after him, not break him down. He’s not one of those you need to push to go for training. You need to hold him back, put him in a cage sometimes.”

Smith smiles in the background. He is not known for his restraint – at least not yet. 

Following his 18th place – in a PB of 60:31 – at the 2020 World Athletics Half Marathon Championships in Poland, he admitted that he had wanted to see how much TV coverage he could get as part of the lead group. 

His performance took him to third on the British all-time list and rightly gained plaudits, but he made an even greater name for himself when he ran 2:11:00 at the 2021 Chester Elite Marathon after pacing through halfway and opting to finish. It wasn’t planned, but it was classic Smith – fearless and fun.

Van der Velden and NNRT were aware of his talent, but his impromptu marathon brought him back to their attention: “We thought, ‘Why would he run a marathon?’ Then we got the story and thought, ‘okay, let’s dig a little bit deeper, let’s try to understand who he is’.

“There were so many things, we thought if we can help him be a better athlete and understand the sport better – because he’s still so young and so new to it – we can add so much as long as it’s step-by-step and progressive. We can hopefully help him be one of the best European runners ever, and I truly think that’s possible, but of course he still has a long way to go, and he knows that. We’re pretty open and honest about that!”

Smith announced that he had joined NNRT – a project which also features the likes of distance greats Eliud Kipchoge, Kenenisa Bekele and Joshua Cheptegei –  in January 2022, and while he laughs at Van der Velden’s assessment, he knows it’s frighteningly accurate. He has a lot to learn. 

“When I got the call saying, ‘We’ll take you out to Uganda to train with Cheptegei,’ it was incredible,” he says.

“It’s so different [out there]. In the UK you take everything for granted, whereas in Uganda it makes you really think. You have kids running with you barefoot on every run, similar to Kenya … there’s like 150 Ugandan runners, guys that have run 2:04 for marathons, just turning up. 

“It was great fun, but it was very tough. It was very hilly. I was climbing 10,000ft at altitude over 100/110 miles per week and running constantly on trails. I loved the whole experience, but I pushed my body to the absolute limit out there and, I put my hands up, I did overtrain because it was my first time there.”

Smith’s training in Uganda – which included shorter sessions with increased recovery due to the altitude and challenging terrain, and significantly slower recovery runs compared to what he was used to – was overseen by Dutch coach Addy Ruiter, the endurance lead for NNRT.

True to his enthusiastic nature, however, the pupil did more work than he was given. Additionally, while the food provided to fuel his hard work was “amazing”, he found he couldn’t handle the iron-rich red meat and came close to suffering from anaemia. 

“I think I lost 6-7kg in the space of four to five weeks,” Smith admits. “When I came back, I went through a bad couple of weeks… I remember doing a session the week before the half [Ghent Half Marathon, from which he eventually withdrew] and after the first lap I just called it, I just couldn’t do anything else. I knew there was something wrong with me, but I’ve bounced back really quickly.”

Born in Bermuda to British parents before moving to Hong Kong, Smith is used to adapting to change. His family relocated to England when he was 16 and he joined Exeter Harriers before moving to Cardiff, his current base, for university. 

Having made significant progress through his university years under the guidance of coach James Thie, Smith returned from Uganda intent on exploring his potential over longer distances. He is now coached by Gavin Pavey, husband and coach to world, European and Commonwealth medallist Jo Pavey. 

“In terms of mileage, it’s still very similar to what I was doing previously, but there’s a focus on speed right now,” he says. “Some of the sessions I’m given are horrible and I just want to do the marathon stuff at an easier, slower, pace, but I know it’s going to help me in the long run and mentally I’m just getting stronger and stronger.

“I’m a big fan of cross training, so at times during the week I take the run out and it just saves my legs. I know what works for me. Gavin is also implementing new things; I had a rest day two days before the British Champs [5000m], I’d never done that before and I felt incredible in the race, so it’s just little things that are really helping me and benefiting me.”

Coincidentally, Smith’s parents are based in Devon not too far from the Paveys, so when he’s in Exeter he has the opportunity to link up with them at his former club. “I had heard of Jo,” he says, “but it’s going to be hard to get one up on her when she’s been to five Olympics.” 

He hopes that Paris 2024 will be his first. Good things come to those who wait, and restraint – once an unknown phenomenon to this charismatic young athlete – is becoming one of his strengths. 

“I was offered the chance to run at the Worlds, Euros and Commonwealth Games this year for the marathon, but I turned them down because, at the end of the day, my ambition is to win a medal at 2024/2028 [at the Olympics] and I need to get quicker,” he says. 

“That’s why I’m doing the 5/10km now. You look at the likes of [Eliud Kipchoge, world record-holder and fellow member of NNRT] and you see how fast they were when they were younger, so that’s why I’m trying to get my leg turnover now, I need that leg speed. It’s like little stepping stones working towards the marathon.”

Smith, who paced Olympic and world bronze medallist Bashir Abdi to the European record at the Rotterdam Marathon last year, was selected to be part of NNRT on the basis of his potential to become one of the best runners in Europe. He’s not there yet, but that was never the plan.

“We do that [team] selection carefully,” says Van der Velden. “It’s a small group and it should feel special. It’s early days [for Jake]. I think he’s already changed quite a lot, but it’s just waiting for results to come. We all know in athletics it’s an honest sport, so you need to put in a lot of work before something comes out so it’s mentally sometimes a little bit tough, but if Jake has patience… like 60:30 is really nice, but it won’t win him any medals, so there are still a lot of steps to take, and he knows that, we talk about it quite a lot. We try to keep him with both feet on the ground.

“He’s made a lot of progress over the last six months. You can’t really see it in the races he’s doing right now, but I think next year at this time if you did the same interview, it would be very different, also in terms of performances.”

For Smith, all eyes are now on the big picture. This isn’t Cheshire Elite Marathon. This time he’s pacing his own race – and he’s exactly where he needs to be. 

Study shows a short-term, high-protein diet can change your gut microbiome

Highly-trained endurance athletes were shown to display “microbial instability” in their gut when they followed even a short-term high protein diet, report researchers from Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) in the American Society for Microbiology’s journal mSystems. 

This gut disturbance was accompanied by a 23.3 per cent drop in time trial performance on a treadmill test, says Justin Roberts, associate professor in Health and Exercise Nutrition at ARU and co-author of the study. Conversely, when athletes followed a short-term, high-carb diet, their time trial performance was boosted by 6.5 per cent.

Roberts and his team assessed microbiome imbalance by analysing the diversity and altered composition of the gut, as well as monitoring levels of viruses and bacteria present. 

In some people gut disturbance can cause cramps, nausea and sickness.

“While we cannot be certain that the high amount of protein in the body was entirely responsible for the significant drop in time trial performance, it was found that there were certainly changes to the gut microbiome following a short-term, high-protein diet which appeared to be associated with performance,” he says. 

“These results suggest that consuming a high-protein diet may negatively impact the gut via an altered microbial pattern, while a high-carbohydrate intake, for example containing a variety of grains and vegetables, was associated with greater gut microbial stability.”

READ MORE: Antibiotics lower endurance and motivation

Since the diets were carefully balanced it is unlikely that protein itself was to blame for the downturn in performance. “Instead, we think it is possible that the changes to the gut microbiome could impact intestinal permeability or nutrient absorption, or the messages between the gut and the brain, affecting perceived effort and therefore performance,” Roberts says.

Royal jelly CO-Q10 combo brings down muscle damage

Supplements of bee-derived royal jelly and Co-Q10, a molecule that plays a key role in supplying energy to cells, can help to reduce oxidative stress and muscle damage, enhancing performance in elite athletes, according to scientists from Lobachevsky University in Russia reporting in the International Journal of the Society of Sports Nutrition. Both ingredients have potent antioxidant activity and CoQ10 is known to activate AMPK, an enzyme that increases cell survival in the body.

“Co Q10 and some RJ components contain medium chain fatty acids, amino acids, proteins, flavonoids and phenolic compounds which have antioxidant properties,” the researchers write. For their trial, they provided 20 elite swimmers with either 400mg of royal jelly and 60mg of CoQ10 (RJQ) or a placebo once daily for 10 days. Results showed that during and immediately after high intensity interval training “reduced muscle damage in the swimmers and improved their exercise performance”.

Why hunger is held at bay after a tough session

Molecule released in higher amounts during intense exercise seems to stifle appetite and explains why athletes don’t feel hungry immediately following an intense training session, suggests an international team of researchers reporting in Nature journal. 

Gareth Wallis, associate professor of exercise metabolism and nutrition at the University of Birmingham, one of the scientists involved in the research, says the molecule called Lac-Phe is a hybrid of the compounds lactate and phenylaninine that are produced during intense activity.

Eight male athletes were asked to exercise three times – performing a gentle, continuous bike ride of 90 minutes, an indoor bike session with intermittent 30-second sprints or weight training – with blood samples taken during and after each session.

Results showed the interval sprints induced the most dramatic spike in blood levels of
Lac-Phe, followed by resistance training, with the long, slow cycle producing the lowest levels of the molecule. “We know from animal studies that more Lac-Phe leads to fewer calories consumed, a natural conclusion would be to assume that it is involved in the suppression of hunger,” Wallis says.

Emma Raducanu is through to the second round of the Slovenia Open after winning her first match since her unsuccessful US Open title defence.

The 22-year-old Ukrainian, who is 89th in the world, injured her wrist while 30-0 down serving to stay in the match.

Raducanu, 19, went into the WTA 250 hard-court event as top seed but having slid from 11th to 83rd in the world.

Her first-round defeat by Alize Cornet at Flushing Meadows meant she failed to defend any of the ranking points earned in her victory at last year's US Open, which remains her only WTA title.

Raducanu rose as high as number 10 in the world on the back of that surprise run as a teenage qualifier but has found her full-time transition to the WTA Tour a testing one.

She was never really troubled by Yastremska, however, breaking three times to take the first set, then again in the third game of the second set to assume full control of the match.

Raducanu was two points from victory when her opponent, who had lost her previous seven matches on the WTA Tour, seemed to injure her wrist after losing grip of her racquet while following through on a forehand shot.

Her second-round opponent will be either world number 124 Elizabeth Mandlik, from the United States, or Germany's Anna-Lena Friedsam, who is ranked 95th.

A quirk of the seedings at the Slovenia Open, which are based on world rankings before the US Open, means many of Raducanu's potential opponents will now be above her in the world rankings.

Cornet, who ended Raducanu's hopes in New York, is sixth seed, Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina is third seed and Brazil's world number 18 Beatriz Haddad Maia, who won on the grass in Birmingham earlier this year, is second seed.

While Raducanu has been sliding down the world rankings, fellow Briton Harriet Dart has moved up three places to 85th following her run to the second round of the US Open.

Dart, 26, is now just two places below Raducanu and putting pressure on her status as Britain's number one.

Open de France moves to a graffiti-covered warehouse as street grime meets world squash
By JAMES ROBERTS (Squash Mad Correspondent)

The English trio of Declan James, Nick Wall and Charlie Lee all won through on the opening day of the Open de Squash de France in Nantes, with Wall now facing top seed Marwan ElShorbagy in today’s second round at Hangar 45.

Playing best of three scoring, Wall and Lee both caused first round upsets at La Maison du Squash, getting the better of Egypt’s Yahya Elnawasany and Spaniard Bernat Jaume, respectively.

Lee had to fight his way through a tough match against Jaume, winning 11-9, 7-11, 11-4 in 45 minutes and his reward is a second round tie against No.3 seed Saurav Ghosal of France.

Lee said: “Sometimes you’ve got to realise that the hard work will end up paying, although you lose the game. I’m still relatively inexperienced on the World Tour with my time out, but I’m learning every day. And these matches are exactly what you need, especially with a different pressure with a best-of-three.

“I was really happy to win the first, having that mental advantage, and then normally, you relax a little bit, not fully, but a bit more aggressive because they have to take the next game. And although I lost the second game, and then it’s a shoot out, I came out quite well in the third game. That’s when my best squash came up.”

Wall was the victor over World No.44 Elnawasany, taking two tight games 11-7, 11-9 to set up a clash with top seed ElShorbagy today.

Wall explained: “It was my first tournament playing best-of-three, so that was interesting, I think it suits me because I like to play quite explosively, also, putting pressure on with longer rallies. First match of the season as well for me, you don’t know really where your level is. I tried to find my foundation and basics.

“Tomorrow, it’s going to be a tough one against Marwan obviously, but the pressure is off a little bit more. Hopefully, I can let my arm go and really try and take it to him, and see what I can do.”

James, the 2018 Nantes champion, came into this event off the back of a confidence-building run in Doha, and beat wild card Benjamin Aubert 12-10, 11-5 in 26 minutes.

He needed to dig deep in the first game, after being 10-7 down. He won five straight points to win it 12-10, before then a quick start in the second game saw him cruise to victory.

James’s response was: “Relieved! The first game was a little bit tense, I made five errors which you just can’t do at this level. You can’t give anyone a five point lead and then I found myself at 10-7 down.

“When you’ve got the confidence and the momentum, you can get yourself out of those situations, and I think that is what happened there. I am feeling good and I got myself out of trouble, and then the second was more straightforward. I put a big push at the start of that one, so I am happy to get off 2-0.”

With the glass court venue a closely guarded secret, the location turned out to be a graffiti-covered warehouse on the banks of the River Loire.

With the IOC becoming increasingly keen on urban activities, this was a smart and brave move and in contrast to some luxurious earlier venues.

France’s Auguste Dussourd delighted the home crowd in Hangar 45 with a straight games victory over Scotland’s Rory Stewart, and he will now face compatriot and No.2 seed Gregoire Marche in the last 16 of the Bronze level competition.

Stewart did most of the early running and led 6-2 in the first game, but a quick run of points saw Dussourd fight his way back into it, and he would eventually go on to take it on a tie-break. He carried the momentum through into the second, dropping just five points, to take a straight games victory and set up a clash with compatriot Gregoire Marche on Tuesday evening.

Dussourd said: “He is a really tricky player. You never know what to expect from him. He has so many shots, he changes the pace all the time and it is really difficult to play against him, even more so in the best-of-three.

“I saw earlier that so many matches were so close. I knew I had to take the first game, even on a tiebreak, and I knew it would be hard. When you are 1-0 down and you have to win two games, it is so hard, so I am happy to come through this match!

“I had the chance to play here once, in the theatre in Nantes. I lost 3-0 to Gregoire [Marche], the same player I will face tomorrow! It is always amazing to play in France, and in such an amazing venue like this!”

In the first match on the glass court, Egypt’s 18-year-old Salma Eltayeb came through a thrilling three-game battle with compatriot Kenzy Ayman to win an astonishing and decisive tiebreak to take the match 8-11, 11-9, 21-19 in 52 minutes.

It was an amazing way to start the tournament inside this exciting new venue and a delighted Eltayeb, having saved numerous match balls, said said: “We just played two weeks ago and Kenzy has always been beating me in Egypt, but here and at the World Champs, I have beaten her! It is never an easy game with her!

“It is so different playing here, because you are with so many good players, so you want to perform to be at their level. That is what I am aiming for, that is my mission as I finish my junior career, to be there, or to compete against the top players on the PSA World Tour.”

England’s former World No.20 Millie Tomlinson beat German No.1 Saskia Beinhard 12-10,  11-7 to clinch her spot in the next round, where she faces Canada’s Nicole Bunyan.

Tomlinson said: “I’m honestly just super happy to be here especially having Nantes as my first tournament, it’s nice – a lovely city. Really happy to play in the event. Now, physically I’m fine but happy it’s best-of-three!”

The evening concluded with a tribute to French legend Gregory Gaultier. It took the form of an exhibition doubles match with Gaultier and young French player Baptiste Bouin against England’s Nick Matthew and Daryl Selby.

In 2017, 13-year-old Bouin was a court cleaner at the event. Tonight he starred alongside “The General” as all four players entertained a packed crowd.

The second day of the Open de France de Squash will see the seeded players take to the court at both La Maison du Squash and Hangar 24 in Nantes today. The action will begin at 12 noon local time (GMT+2) and all the action will be live on SQUASHTV.

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Open de France de Squash, Nantes, France.

Men’s First Round:
Nick Wall (ENG) bt Yahya Elnawasany (EGY) 2-0: 11-7, 11-9 (26m)
Declan James (ENG) bt [WC] Benjamin Aubert (FRA) 2-0: 12-10, 11-5 (26m)
Lucas Serme (FRA) bt Juan Camilo Vargas (COL) 2-1: 11-6, 9-11, 11-2 (41m)
Charlie Lee (ENG) bt Bernat Jaume (ESP) 2-1: 11-9, 7-11, 11-4 (45m)
Aly Abou Eleinen (FRA) bt Mazen Gamal (FRA) 2-1: 7-11, 11-8, 11-2 (41m)
Leonel Cardenas (MEX) bt [WC] Edwin Clain (FRA) 3-1: 11-7, 10-12, 12-10 (46m)
Mahesh Mangaonkar (IND) bt Faraz Khan (USA) 11-3, 10-12, 11-6 (47m)
Auguste Dussourd (FRA) bt Rory Stewart (SCO) 2-0: 13-11, 11-5 (36m)

Men’s Second Round (Tuesday, September 13):
[1] Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY) v Nick Wall (ENG)
Declan James (ENG) v [7] Shahjahan Khan (USA)
[6] Iker Pajares Bernabeu (ESP) v Lucas Serme (FRA)
Charlie Lee (ENG) v [3] Saurav Ghosal (IND)
[4] Victor Crouin (FRA) v Aly Abou Eleinen (EGY)
Leonel Cardenas (MEX) v [5] Omar Mosaad (EGY)
[8] George Parker (ENG) v Mahesh Mangaonkar (IND)
Auguste Dussourd (FRA) v [2] Gregoire Marche (FRA)

Women’s First Round: 
Satomi Watanabe (JPN) bt [WC] Ana Munos (FRA) 2-0: 11-3, 11-6 (12m)
Millie Tomlinson (ENG) bt Saskia Beinhard (GER) 2-0: 12-10, 11-7 (27m)
Nour Aboulmakarim (EGY) bt Nadia Pfister (SUI) 2-1: 11-7, 6-11, 11-6 (25m)
Fayrouz Aboelkheir (EGY) bt Julianne Courtice (ENG) 2-0: 12-10, 11-5 (17m)
Cristina Gomez (ESP) bt [WC] Elisa Romba (FRA) 2-0: 11-1, 11-7 (18m)
Nardine Garas (EGY): Walkover
Salma Eltayeb (EGY) bt Kenzy Ayman (EGY) 2-1: 8-11, 11-9, 21-19 (52m)
Marie Stephan (FRA) bt Tessa ter Sluis (NED) 2-0: 11-4, 11-4 (14m)

Women’s Second Round (Tuesday, September 13):
[2] Tinne Gilis (BEL) v Satomi Watanabe (JPN)
Millie Tomlinson (ENG) v [7] Nicole Bunyan (CAN)
[6] Enora Villard (FRA) v Nour Aboulmakarim (EGY)
Fayrouz Aboelkheir (EGY) v [4] Melissa Alves (FRA)
[3] Tesni Evans (WAL) v Cristina Gomez (ESP)
Nardine Garas (EGY) v [5] Lucy Turmel (ENG)
[8] Cindy Merlo (SUI) v Salma Eltayeb (EGY)
Marie Stephan (FRA) v [1] Nele Gilis (BEL)

Pictures courtesy of PSA World Tour 

Worcester Warriors officials have reportedly told staff that a buyer has been found for the Premiership club.

But staff have now been told that a sale has been agreed and, subject to legal confirmation, may happen quickly.

The new buyers will also provide an immediate cash impetus to ensure any shortfall in wages are met.

That will ensure this weekend's first home Premiership game of the season against Exeter can go ahead this Sunday.

Warriors staff were told on Monday evening by managing director Peter Kelly that co-owners Jason Whittingham and Colin Goldring should have had legal confirmation by Tuesday - and that a deal could be done inside the next 24 hours.

After fears that they might not even start the season, Warriors began the new campaign with a 45-14 defeat at London Irish on Saturday.

The were wearing last season's strip, as although this season's has been ordered and is ready, it has not yet been paid for.

They also used a coach to travel to the game, the bill for which was footed by one of the club's main sponsors, Adam Hewitt.

Warriors, whose winding-up court appearance to face HMRC has reportedly been set for 6 October, also have to pay back £14m worth of Sports Survival Package money, as sanctioned by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport during the Covid pandemic.

In total, their debts are reported to total £25m. But the deal with the as yet unnamed "interested party" would, subject to Rugby Football Union approval, secure their status both in the short-term, enabling debts to catering staff, stewards and suppliers to be paid, and long-term.

Co-owners Whittingham and Goldring have been under pressure to put the club into administration - both from a deputation of local MPs and a consortium led by former Warriors chief executive Jim O'Toole, who made that a key stipulation of any sale.

But, in an exclusive interview with BBC Hereford & Worcester last week, Whittingham referred to people "jumping up and down making a lot of noise", while making the point that, if the club do go into administration, creditors - including many local ones - would end up not getting paid.

He also explained that one of the reasons why the money transfer to staff for their August wage payments had taken so long were simply down to the automated bank security procedures that have become commonplace for both private and business account holders in recent years.

Analysis - 'Some transparency still needed'

Trevor Owens, BBC Hereford & Worcester sports editor

There has been no official comment from the club as yet, but it is said that broad agreement has been reached on the sale of the Warriors and lawyers have been working through the details.

Assuming all goes according to plan, it's claimed the new owners would then deposit funds into the Warriors account.

That would cover outstanding wages and would also ensure Sunday's Premiership home match against Exeter Chiefs would go ahead.

On the face of it, this is good news but, as always, the devil's in the detail and staff and fans will want transparency on just who the new owners might be."

How Warriors has changed hands

Worcester began their journey to try to become a force in English club rugby when local millionaire boiler manufacturer Cecil Duckworth got involved in 1997.

He injected the funds which led to a first promotion to the Premiership under coach John Brain in 2004.

But Warriors have never really kicked on from there, have twice been relegated - and have never finished higher than eighth in their 16 years in the top flight.

In that time, Exeter, a club of a similar stature, have won the Premiership twice and conquered Europe.

Long-time benefactor Duckworth reduced his involvement in 2013, when Sixways Holdings Limited took over, under Greg Allen.

Duckworth remained part of the new board as club president, until his death in 2020.

By then, the club had been sold again, to a four-man consortium fronted by Jed McCrory in October 2018, but he left in June 2019,, leaving Whittingham and Goldring at the helm.

Wales have made seven starting changes for their final World Cup warm-up Test against England.

Alisha Butchers and Alex Callender come into the back row, while Gwen Crabb joins Natalia John at lock.

Niamh Terry gets a run out at full-back as Ioan Cunningham takes a final look at players before naming the 32-player squad that will travel to New Zealand.

Last month's debutants Carys Williams-Morris and Lowri Norkett retain their places in the backs along with Jasmine Joyce, while Hannah Jones once again leads the side with regular skipper Siwan Lillicrap named among the replacements.

Elinor Snowsill and Ffion Lewis retain their partnership in the half-backs.

England have made 12 changes to the side that beat USA 52-14 earlier this month, and should they win, Simon Middleton's side will become the first team to win 25 consecutive Tests.

Wales head coach Cunningham said facing the world's number one team is ideal preparation.

"Following a big two months of preparation and a tough training and match week in Canada, this is exactly the kind of challenge we need ahead of our Rugby World Cup opener against Scotland in October," he said.

"We will be playing in front of a big crowd and giving some players opportunities to transfer their excellent work in training to a playing environment.

"It will be the last chance for some players to put their hands up for inclusion in the squad. We are discussing the squad daily and we are not far off, but there are probably still four or five places up for grabs."

England will announce their World Cup squad on 20 September, while Wales' will be unveiled the following day.

England: Kildunne; Thompson, Scarratt, Rowland, McKenna; Harrison, L Packer; Cornborough, Davies, Bern, Aldcroft, Ward, Matthews, M Packer, Hunter (capt)

Replacements: Cokayne, Botterman, Muir, Talling, P Cleall, MacDonald, Reed, Aitchison.

Wales: Terry; Norkett, Williams-Morris, H Jones (capt), Joyce; Snowsill, F Lewis; Pyrs, Phillips, Hale, John, Crabb, Butchers, Callender, Harries

Replacements: K Jones, Thomas, Tuipulotu, Lillicrap, B Lewis, Bevan, George, Webb.

Montreal Canadiens forward Nick Suzuki, 23, became the youngest captain in team history on Monday.

Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes announced the appointment, saying the decision was made by the club's hockey management personnel. An alternate captain last season, Suzuki will succeed defenseman Shea Weber, who served as captain between 2018 and 2022, though he did not play last season due to injury.

Veteran defenseman Joel Edmundson and forward Brendan Gallagher will occupy Montreal's alternate captain slots.

Suzuki will begin his fourth NHL season next month and will do so on the first year of an eight-year contract extension signed last October. He will most likely occupy the center slot on Montreal's top line as the Canadiens continue their rebuild.

"He's the heartbeat of our team," Gallagher said. "He's fully ready for this opportunity."

Suzuki made his NHL debut in 2019-20 and was named to the league's All-Rookie team. He has 49 goals and 143 points in 209 career games, and helped the Canadiens to the Stanley Cup Final in 2021, when they lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

An Ontario native, Suzuki was a first-round selection of Las Vegas in 2017, before being dealt to Montreal in a trade that sent former Canadiens captain Max Pacioretty to the Golden Knights.