U.S. women's national soccer team co-captains Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe said they were shocked after their team's claims for equal pay were dismissed by a court.

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The duo, who helped the U.S. to a record fourth World Cup title last year, said they planned to appeal the decision, after a California judge on Friday threw out the players' claims that they were underpaid in comparison with the men's team.

"This decision was out of left field for us," said forward Morgan, appearing on a remote live feed on the "Good Morning America" program on Monday.

"We are fighters and we will continue to fight together for this."

The World Cup-winning team's long-running feud with U.S. Soccer has been a very public and bitter battle, and the players had been seeking $66 million in damages under the Equal Pay Act.

"The WNT [Women's National Team] has been paid more on both a cumulative and an average per-game basis than the MNT [Men's National Team] over the class period," the court said in its summary judgment.

Last year's Ballon d'Or winner Rapinoe said she questioned the logic of the summary judgment.

"If I earn one dollar every time I play and a man earns three dollars, just because I win 10 games and he only wins three games -- and so I make 10 dollars and he made nine dollars -- I'm not sure how that's me making more money," she said.

The court allowed complaints of unfair medical, travel and training to proceed to trial, which is scheduled to begin June 16.

Some of the players' high-profile backers, including women's sports pioneer Billie Jean King and presumptive U.S. Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, leapt to their defence after news of their legal setback broke.

"Don't give up this fight. This is not over yet," Biden wrote in a tweet to the team on Saturday, then telling U.S. Soccer: "Equal pay, now. Or else when I'm president, you can go elsewhere for World Cup funding."

The U.S. Men's National Team Players Association reiterated its support for the female players in a statement Monday.

"The USMNT players continue to stand with the WNT players in their efforts to secure equal pay," the group said.

"For a year and a half the USMNT players have made proposals to the Federation that would achieve equal pay for the USMNT and USWNT players."

U.S. women's national soccer team co-captains Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe said they were shocked after their team's claims for equal pay were dismissed by a court.

- Stream new episodes of ESPN FC Monday-Friday on ESPN+
- Stream every episode of 30 for 30: Soccer Stories on ESPN+

The duo, who helped the U.S. to a record fourth World Cup title last year, said they planned to appeal the decision, after a California judge on Friday threw out the players' claims that they were underpaid in comparison with the men's team.

"This decision was out of left field for us," said forward Morgan, appearing on a remote live feed on the "Good Morning America" program on Monday.

"We are fighters and we will continue to fight together for this."

The World Cup-winning team's long-running feud with U.S. Soccer has been a very public and bitter battle, and the players had been seeking $66 million in damages under the Equal Pay Act.

"The WNT [Women's National Team] has been paid more on both a cumulative and an average per-game basis than the MNT [Men's National Team] over the class period," the court said in its summary judgment.

Last year's Ballon d'Or winner Rapinoe said she questioned the logic of the summary judgment.

"If I earn one dollar every time I play and a man earns three dollars, just because I win 10 games and he only wins three games -- and so I make 10 dollars and he made nine dollars -- I'm not sure how that's me making more money," she said.

The court allowed complaints of unfair medical, travel and training to proceed to trial, which is scheduled to begin June 16.

Some of the players' high-profile backers, including women's sports pioneer Billie Jean King and presumptive U.S. Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, leapt to their defence after news of their legal setback broke.

"Don't give up this fight. This is not over yet," Biden wrote in a tweet to the team on Saturday, then telling U.S. Soccer: "Equal pay, now. Or else when I'm president, you can go elsewhere for World Cup funding."

The U.S. Men's National Team Players Association reiterated its support for the female players in a statement Monday.

"The USMNT players continue to stand with the WNT players in their efforts to secure equal pay," the group said.

"For a year and a half the USMNT players have made proposals to the Federation that would achieve equal pay for the USMNT and USWNT players."

Wales’ James Heneghan leads the overall standings at the end of the first day of virtual mile action

As dawn struck on May 4, the inaugural British Milers’ Club Bannister Virtual Miles got under way, with the domestic middle-distance community finding an outlet for pent up frustrations in the absence of competition by taking the opportunity to embark on solo time trials while exercising responsibility in terms of social distancing.

The event looks to have appealed to both elite and recreational runners and in a further nod to diversity, at this early stage runners from all age-groups have completed the classic distance, from the youngest category right up to an M65, Roger Homyer, who returned an eye-catching 6:18.

Under-13 Jonathan Bennett has clocked a fine 5:13 while under-20 Maisie Grice has shown her considerable talent with a 4:49 effort.

Fourteen males have gone under five minutes, while seven females went below the six-minute barrier.

Darrell Hastie posted a great time of 4:34 to top the male masters clockings. Guy Smith returned a superb 4:11 on Monday afternoon only for fellow Welshman James Heneghan to storm to a 4:07 to lead the overall standings overnight.

Claire East, who is the wife of 3:52 miler and 2002 Commonwealth 1500m champion Mike East, clocked a W50 time of 6:24, which is currently the fastest female masters time.

The East family had their daughters out of the house early too with under-15 Olivia posting the third-fastest female time overall of 5:34 and under-13 Florence running 5:55.

Second-fastest female after the first session was Ruby Sykes of Holmfirth with 5:15.

More importantly in this time of global crisis, over £800 has been raised for the Turn2Us charity, who are doing invaluable work for those in poverty during the pandemic. Donations can be made at justgiving.com/fundraising/british-milers.

The event will reach a climax on May 6, which is the 66th anniversary of Sir Roger’s ‘Everest on the Track’ defining achievement. Read more about the virtual event here.

Results can be found here.

Report by event co-organisers Steve Green and Matt Long and Matt de Freitas, event support.

Youssef Hossam has been banned for life by the Tennis Integrity Unit after being found guilty of multiple match-fixing and other corruption offences.

The TIU found that the Egyptian, 21, had committed 21 breaches of anti-corruption rules between 2015 and 2019.

It also ruled he conspired with others to carry out betting-related corruption at the lower levels of the sport.

Hossam reached a career-high singles ranking of 291 in December 2017 and is currently ranked 820.

He was provisionally suspended from tennis in May last year and was found to have committed eight cases of match-fixing, six cases of facilitating gambling and two cases of soliciting other players not to use their best efforts.

He was also found guilty of three failures to report corrupt approaches and two failures to co-operate with a TIU investigation.

"As a result of his conviction, Mr Hossam is now permanently excluded from competing in or attending any sanctioned tennis event organised or recognised by the governing bodies of the sport," said a TIU statement.

His elder brother, Karim Hossam, was banned from tennis for life for multiple match-fixing offences in 2018.

The British and Irish Lions are open to moving the 2021 tour of South Africa to the autumn to fit in with the new global calendar which is set to emerge after the coronavirus pandemic.

The tour to face the world champions is scheduled for 3 July to 7 August.

However, leading administrators are looking to refresh the international calendar in the aftermath of Covid-19.

Moving the July Test window to September or October is firmly under discussion.

While the Lions still expect the tour to proceed as planned, it's understood officials have discussed the possibility of shifting to later in the year, not only in case of health restrictions which might still in place because of the pandemic, but also to align with any proposed new international schedule.

This would also avoid an overlap with the re-arranged Tokyo Olympic Games.

On Sunday, re-elected World Rugby chairman Sir Bill Beaumont reiterated the "appetite" for shifting the international windows so that they ran back-to-back in the autumn, and said that talks were ongoing, although sources at the governing body insist plans remain at an embryonic stage.

But Beaumont's comments came after RFU boss Bill Sweeney stated in April he was confident that a "different structure and different shape" would be formed following the pandemic.

"We are looking at things now in terms of all bets are off, and a blank sheet of paper," Sweeney told the BBC.

"While we continue to look forward to an incredible Tour against the world champions in the summer of next year, and there are no planned changes, it would be remiss of us not to explore various scenarios for a possible date change caused by the Covid-19 pandemic," said a Lions spokesperson.

RICE LAKE, Wis. – Rice Lake Speedway has postponed the WISSOTA Late Model Trackside Collectibles 30 that was scheduled for May 9.

With the continued shut down of racing in the state due to the COVID-19 outbreak, it become impossible to host the event as scheduled. Track and series officials are hoping to reschedule the event for later in the summer.

Racing at Rice Lake Speedway continues to be on hold as track officials wait for further developments at the national, state and county level for clarification.

DODGE CITY, Kan. – Dodge City Raceway Park has shifted its open practice to a tentative date of Saturday, May 23, rather than the previously scheduled date of May 16.

Additionally, with the May 23-24 NOW600 and POWRi Midget events at Garden City canceled, the NOW600 Micro Sprint Brandon Barbo Classic set for Friday, May 22, atop the seventh-mile Little DCRP clay oval has been canceled.

Following the tentative practice session set for May 23, pending further developments, Dodge City Raceway Park will now kick off the season with a URSS vs. DCRP Sprint Car showdown along with a full slate of championship chase action including IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sport Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars and IMCA Hobby Stocks on Saturday, June 6.

In an additional schedule adjustment, the seventh annual Sport Modified Mayhem North vs. South Duel will now take place in conjunction with the Lubbock Wrecker Service DCRP Sprint Car Nationals on Aug. 20-22.  The Thursday portion of the event will serve as a practice night for the IMCA Modifieds with heats and qualifiers on Friday and then the $1,500-to-win main event on Saturday.

Sprint Cars will be in action during all three nights of the Lubbock Wrecker Service DCRP Sprint Car Nationals with a $3,000 winner’s share up for grabs in the Aug. 22 event championship feature.

Originally slated to run in conjunction with the DCRP Sprint Car Nationals, the eighth annual Modified Stampede has been shifted off of the Aug. 20-22 date due to scheduling conflicts. The track is actively searching for an alternative date for the event.

The Aug. 15 event that was the originally scheduled IMCA Sport Modified Mayhem event will now serve as a Prelude to Mayhem with the IMCA Sport Modifieds accompanied by IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars and IMCA Hobby Stocks.

GAS CITY, Ind. – A test and tune session is set for this Saturday, May 9 at Gas City I-69 Speedway.

The session, which is open to all classes of race cars, will run from noon to 4 p.m. The pit entrance gate will open at 10 a.m.

“We have consulted with Gas City town officials and appreciate their approval and support in getting race cars on the track for the first time this season,” said Jerry Gappens, track promoter.

“As part of Governor Holcomb’s Back On Track Indiana plan — released last Friday — we are all working together to move forward as we try to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic in a cautious, responsible manner,” Gappens added. “We are continuing dialogue with state, county and city officials to determine when racing may resume, including events where fans will be allowed to return to the grandstand seating area. We will hopefully have more to share later this week, as well as a revised 2020 schedule of events.”

The race program scheduled for this Friday night, May 8, has been canceled due to COVID-19 crowd restrictions.

For Saturday’s test and tune, the main grandstand will be closed to spectators.

Individuals will be admitted through the pit entrance only. Pit passes are $30 per person. New and sanitized ink pens will be utilized for each individual waiver signature. No concessions will be open. Sanitized restroom facilities will be available with only two people at a time allowed inside, with 6-feet social distancing. Team trailers shall be parked in such a way as to maintain 20 feet between the trailers. Passenger cars must park at a distance of at least 6 feet apart in the main parking lot.

It’s highly recommended those attending wear their own personal protection equipment, including facemasks, and maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet. Sanitizing stations will be available in the pit area and restrooms.

Each class of race car will run in its own group sessions (i.e. sprint cars with sprint cars, street stocks with street stocks, etc.). Car sessions will rotate throughout the four-hour time span.

KNOXVILLE, Iowa – McKay Group, a longtime supporter of Knoxville Raceway, along with Nationwide Insurance, will be the presenting sponsor of the May 8 World of Outlaws Invitational at Knoxville Raceway.

With offices just one mile from Knoxville Raceway, McKay Group offers insurance products and policies to individuals and businesses in Knoxville and across the country.

“We’ve been longtime sponsors of Knoxville Raceway and we’re proud to be a partner of this unique event,” said Todd Chambers, president of McKay Group. “We’re race fans at heart and in these unprecedented times we want to show that we still stand behind dirt track racing and specifically racing at Knoxville. We’re just like all of the fans out there. We wish we could be at the track, too, but we’re happy racing is back and we’ll be tuned-in to DIRTVision to watch every lap.”

The World of Outlaws Invitational presented by McKay Group with Nationwide Insurance, will be the first race for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series since the Coronavirus pandemic halted all live sports in mid-March. In compliance with state restrictions, spectators will not be able to attend. The race will be broadcast live by DIRTVision.

McKay Group is offering a $100 Knoxville Raceway gift certificate good toward any ticket purchase(s) in 2020 or 2021. Any fan who contacts McKay Group today through May 17 for a quote on any new insurance business and asks to be entered into the drawing, will be entered to win. McKay Group can be contacted via phone at 1-800-942-0283 or by email.

FLEMINGTON, N.J. — It’s amazing the things one can find if one looks hard enough.

That is particularly the case for Dennis Tretter, who recently uncovered a piece of racing history in the back a 53-foot shipping container on a New Jersey farm.

The item he discovered was a vintage sportsman small-block coupe that was raced by the late Barry Adler, a regional competitor in the Northeast who campaigned the car at two New Jersey tracks — Flemington Speedway and East Windsor Speedway — during the 1970s.

Tretter is the president of the Flemington Speedway Historical Society, a non-profit, 501(c)(3) that is focused on preserving, protecting and documenting the faces, names, actions and events that make up the history of the Flemington Fairgrounds and Speedway.

Flemington Speedway was located on the Flemington (N.J.) Fairgrounds and hosted auto racing from 1915 until it closed in 2002. Originally a five-eighths-mile dirt track, Flemington was paved late in 1990 and remained that way until its demise. It’s widely considered one of the region’s most influential race tracks and even hosted the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series from 1995 to ’98.

Every August the Flemington Speedway Historical Society hosts a car show during the Hunterdon County (N.J.) 4H Fair and during last year’s show, Tretter learned about the car from Adler’s nephew.

“Barry just passed last year and one of our board members introduced me to Barry’s nephew, who was there selling sheds,” Tretter explained. “We started to talk and he actually said, ‘Well, my Aunt Joan might want to get rid of the car.’”

Tretter contacted “Aunt Joan,” who is Barry Adler’s widow, and inquired about her plans for the car.

“After several phone calls last summer with Joan we came to an agreement,” Tretter said.

The original plan was for Tretter to take possession of the car last year, but as the weeks went by it became difficult for that to happen due to the changing of the season in New Jersey.

“It was on her nephew’s farm and we started to head into winter and he was harvesting corn and one thing led to another where our timeframes didn’t match up,” Tretter explained. “Last week he called me one day and said, ‘Hey, it’s getting warm. Let’s get this car out.’”

So on April 29, Tretter watched as the coupe slowly emerged from the back of the container, where it had been for an unknown amount of time. Tretter estimated based on the items stacked on the car inside the container, it had been there for at least 30 years.

“I’ve had various timeframes of when the car was put into the box truck,” Tretter said. “I’ve heard 20 years ago, and I’ve heard 40 years ago. I’m going to lean more toward 30 or 40 (years) because there was so much stuff. I was actually the one that pulled the car out and there was stuff that hadn’t been moved in a very, very long time.”

Tretter said his research shows that prior to Adler acquiring the car, it belonged to a Flemington Speedway racer named Red Walker, who was a competitor in the modified division at Flemington during the early 1970s.

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