RIO DE JANEIRO -- Kenyan sprinter Carvin Nkanatas biggest race this week was the 12-hour dash from Florida to the Olympic Stadi

Posted in IYH Forums by jokergreen0220 at 06:29, Feb 27 2020

RIO DE JANEIRO -- Kenyan sprinter Carvin Nkanatas biggest race this week was the 12-hour dash from Florida to the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro to make the starting blocks for the 200-meter heats.He did OK in that first race. In the one on the track? Not so great. He came last.He said it was still worth it.If youre unsure how much the Olympics mean to some athletes, Nkanatas story might help make up your mind:Initially ruled ineligible to compete for Kenya, Nkanata put in an appeal and then, without knowing the result of that appeal, took a chance.He booked his own flights Monday afternoon, made the overnight journey from Tampa to Miami to Rio, and arrived at the Olympic Stadium straight from the airport the next morning just in time to line up. The timeline for Tuesday morning was: Arrived in Brazil at about 9:30. Got to the stadium about 11:30. Ran in the Olympics at about 12:30.That run lasted 21.43 seconds -- not a great time, but he hardly slept on the plane and didnt have time for a proper warmup at the track. Bottom line, Nkanata is down quite a few dollars and exhausted, all for less than 22 seconds of action at the Olympics.Its a dream. This opportunity dont come around every year. So, I just had to (do it), Nkanata said soon after coming off the track. I worked so hard to get here. I put in a lot of man hours, sweat, injuries to get here. So, I was like, I got to get here. I cant give up.Nkanata has an American passport and Kenyan nationality and heritage. But Kenyan officials messed up his accreditation for the Olympics. Hed given up on getting to Rio, Nkanata said, until a lawyer in the United States heard about his story and offered to help him submit an appeal.Nkanata said he didnt know the outcome until he landed in Brazil. The gamble paid off and he learned he was cleared to run after he landed, he said.Now, hes going to get his luggage out a storage room at the stadium, check in to his room at the athletes village, and enjoy the Olympics.Oh, there was one more drama, too, in his race to make his race. His flight out of Miami left late, and this was no time for a delay.I tried to sleep (on the plane) but I couldnt, he said. I closed my eyes. I drank some water. I just prayed.---Follow Gerald Imray on Twitter at https://twitter.com/GeraldImrayAP---Follow the Rio Games at http://www.summergames.ap.org Gale Sayers Jersey . LeBron James and Chris Bosh didnt need any more. Williams scored 11 points in 10 minutes, Alan Anderson scored 17 points, and the Brooklyn Nets finished the exhibition season with a 108-87 win over the Miami Heat on Friday night. 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Fullback Jordan Kahu wants the spluttering Kiwis attack to fire against Scotland and not just because a place in the Four Nations final is at stake.The Test in Workington on Friday is a tricky proposition for New Zealand, who are heavily favoured to beat the winless Scots.The Kiwis are guaranteed a spot in next weeks final in Liverpool if they win by at least 42 points.Any less and they leave open the possibility of being shut out by an unfavourable result when Australia and England meet in London on Sunday.Kahu says the coaching staff havent yet discussed their approach to the game.The Brisbane Broncos back says regardless of the permutations, the Kiwis attack is in need of a rev-up after scoring just 31 points in their four Tests this year.They lost 16-0 and 26-6 in Tests in Australia before a Four Nations campaign which has so far reaped a 17-16 win over England and 14-8 defeat to the Kangaroos.In the last couple of Tests, execution has really disappointed us, Kahu saidd.ddddddddddddA few mistakes have led to missed opportunities.Weve been working on that sort of stuff and making sure everyones in the right place at the right time.Prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and winger Jason Nightingale both trained fully, possibly putting them in contention after missing the Australian Test with injury.Kahu believes the Kiwis selectors face a dilemma over whether to change a team which has been stable through its last three Tests.Five of the tournament squad are still to play - uncapped quartet James Fisher-Harris, Joseph Tapine, Te Maire Martin and David Fusitua and one-Test winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak.They obviously deserve a shot. Theyve been pushing us at training and making sure were fighting for our positions, Kahu said.But I know if Scotland were coming to New Zealand, wed definitely put our best team on the park. ' ' '