Clan-Members » Its going to be an exciting race and Im looking forward

RIO DE JANEIRO -- The pink scar that winds from the bottom of Connor Fields left hand and past his wrist serves as a reminder of the injury that derailed a promising BMX season.It didnt stop him from returning to the Summer Olympics, though.The U.S. BMX team arrived in Rio de Janeiro on Friday with a roster chock full of contenders , with Fields leading the way. While the hand he hurt in the spring isnt fully healed, Fields said it feels well enough to do whatever he needs to do on the bike.Hell wear a specially designed brace when practice starts on Monday. It allows just enough range of motion to allow the 23-year-old Fields to move the handlebars around a course with lots of twists and bumpy hills.They said adversity makes you stronger, Fields said Friday. Not to get too cheesy, but I think that kind of helped me out in that case.He is one of four riders from Team USA returning to the Summer Games, along with Nic Long, Alise Post and Brooke Crain. The fifth rider, Corben Sharrah, was an alternate in London in 2012.Fields was well on his way to easily securing a trip to Rio in April when he hurt the hand while preparing between rounds during a World Cup race. He broke his hand on his handlebar after a jump, not long after he had risen to second in the rankings.An accompanying picture on Facebook after the mishap showed his frustration, with Fields tender left hand resting on his stomach while lying on a hospital bed, his right hand covering his face.A surgery that was supposed to take about 40 minutes lasted for six hours. The damage was worse than what doctors had feared.My road was pretty tough, said Fields, who had to rely on being a coachs selection to make the squad.Long secured one of three spots on the mens side after his third-place finish at the world championships in late May. Sharrah took another spot by winning the U.S. Olympic trials in June.It was the best-case scenario for Fields because Long and Sharrah were also expected to make the team as the United States other highly ranked riders.Fields was still sweating it out at times. He had different scenarios written out on pieces of paper forecasting the points race, and how everything needed to play out.By late June, it was official, and Fields had made the team.It ended up working in my favor, he said. Basically the wrist wasnt going to be fully healed until after the games.But he was medically cleared to return to the bike in June. I had to trust myself that I wasnt going to hit the ground again, he said.So far, so good for Fields.Team is doing awesome, said Jamie Staff, USA Cyclings BMX director. Everyone is excited and just wants to get on with the job at hand.---Online:AP Summer Games: http://summergames.ap.org/ Nike Air Presto Tilbud .S. -- Nikolaj Ehlers registered a hat trick for the third straight game and Jonathan Drouin had a goal and five assists as the Halifax Mooseheads hammered the host Cape Breton Screaming Eagles 10-1 on Tuesday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. Air Force 1 Tilbud . On Tuesday, Ottawa placed forward Cory Conacher and defenceman Joe Corvo on waivers as trade rumours swirl around the Senators. http://www.danmarkairforce1.com/air-force-1-just-do-it-outlet-danmark.html . Then the Pacers gave Oladipo and his Orlando teammates the cold shoulder. Paul Georges buzzer-beating 3-pointer at the end of the third quarter spurred a 21-4 run, finally sending Indiana past the Magic 97-87 in a tougher-than-expected opening night matchup. Nike Air Force 1 Just Do It Kaufen . "Thank you for the warm welcome," Beckham said on an 80-degree February morning. In this case, it was soccer weather. The sport moved a step closer to returning to South Florida on Wednesday, when Beckham confirmed he has exercised his option to purchase a Major League Soccer expansion franchise in Miami. Nike Air Force 1 Dame Tilbud . Jeff Green scored 13 points and Kris Humphries 12 for the Celtics, who nearly blew an 18-point, second-half lead. Sullingers 20-20 was the first by a Celtics player since Kevin Garnetts first game in Boston in 2007. Garnett was dealt -- along with Paul Pierce -- to Brooklyn during the off-season. EUGENE, Ore. -- How great would this be for the opening of a What I did during my summer vacation essay?I went to Rio and ran in the Olympics with USA on my chest!Thats a possibility for high-schoolers Michael Norman, Noah Lyles and Candace Hill, all of whom are trying to make the U.S. Olympic team in the 200 meters.Norman beat Justin Gatlin in their semifinal heat at Fridays U.S Olympic track and field trials, edging him by two-hundredths of a second, 20.21 to 20.23. Lyles won his heat in a time of 20.26. Over on the womens side, Hill finished second in the first heat, but her time of 22.93 matched gold medalist Allyson Felixs winning time in the second heat. Norman and Lyles advanced to Saturdays final in the mens 20,0 while Hill advanced to the womens semifinals.We dont need to brag, but were pretty extraordinary, said Lyles, who is from T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Virginia. We came out here to do our best and definitely try to show off for the crowd. I love putting on shows.The three will all be attempting to make the U.S. Olympic team, something no high-school sprinter has done since 1976.I definitely thought [making the Olympics] was realistic, as long as we came in with the right plan, Lyles said. Weve been training for four years. We have the right team, the right facilities, the right recovery plan. Were coming back at it tomorrow so its definitely paying off because thats two rounds won. One more to go.As the womens hurdles competition showed Friday, finishing in the top three of the finals is no easy task. The high-schoolers will be racing against experienced Olympians, including LaShawn Merritt, who had Fridays best time at 19.74, about a half-second faster than Norman or Lyles. Normans time was the fourth-fastest of the day, while Lyles waas sixth, so they will have to improve.ddddddddddddWe came out here trying to get as far as we can and now were going to the finals, said Norman, who is from Vista Murrieta High School in Murrieta, California. Now its a race to see what happens tomorrow. Its going to be an exciting race and Im looking forward to it.While Lyles and Norman are 18 and graduated this year (they are still officially considered high schoolers by USA Track and Field), Hill is just 17 and will be a high school senior this fall. She said she can see herself competing until she is 30, or long enough to run in the 2028 Olympics.Being 17, I have so much potential, said Hill, who attends Rockdale County High School in Georgia. I have so many years to go faster and improve.After crossing the line in their 200 heat, Norman and Gatlin embraced. Asked what it was like to beat someone of Gatlins age (34) and résumé (2004 Olympic gold medalist in the 100), Young said: I just treat him like any other competitor. I just go out there to compete and try to win.Running against him is a little intimidating, Im not going to lie. Hes huge compared to me. He has man muscles and Im just teeny. Yeah, its a little intimidating, but Im just getting a little more comfortable.Gatlin, who also advanced to the finals, said he hopes he is an inspiration to the younger sprinters. Lyles, meanwhile, wants people to take something from their performances.A lot of people have been coming up and saying, Hey, congrats! to me, Lyles said. I get a lot of messages on Instagram and Twitter. To them I say, Thank you, and you all go out and meet your goal. Dont just watch me, you can do the same thing. ' ' '