Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 4, 2016)
SPORTS THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2016 1B FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @EOSPORTS PENDLETON Bylenga revitalized by new event Pendleton runner captures elusive PR, places 5th at national championships By MATT ENTRUP East Oregonian Photo courtesy of Herman Bylenga Nolan Bylenga competes in the 800 meter run at the Junior Olympic National Championships held July 25-31 in Sacra- mento, Calif. Nolan Bylenga didn’t want to begin his collegiate running career with a monkey on his back. The recent Pendleton graduate had gone his entire senior season without a personal record in his signature event, the 800 meters, and wasn’t enamored with the thought of joining his new team more than a year removed from his best race. “During the (high school) season I don’t know if I was all mentally there when it came to racing,” said Bylenga, who recently placed fi fth at the USATF Junior Olympic National Championships. “I think I was easily in the best shape of my life, but I think it was hard for me to get in the mental mode of racing.” It also didn’t help matters that his new team is the reigning national champion. After a junior year in which he placed second at state with a time of 1:53.49, Bylenga was awarded a coveted spot on the University of Florida men’s track and fi eld team. The Gators were coming off a second- place fi nish at nationals that year, and would go on to win the title this past June in Eugene. Florida distance coach Paul Span- gler just wanted to see one thing from Bylenga as a senior: “At the beginning of the year he said to try to get into the 1:52’s or faster, so basically PR,” Bylenga said. “I hadn’t PR’d so I was just kind of stressed out about that.” Despite placing second a the OSAA state meet for the second year in a row, his fastest time during his senior PENDLETON season was a district-winning 1:55.85. In just a few months Bylenga would shatter that mark while earning All-American status at the Junior Olympic National Championships. But for now, mentally, he needed a break. Bylenga found his escape in a new event, and took up the 400-meter hurdles after helping Pendleton hurdles coach Ben Bradley create a fi lm tutorial. “He had to make a video for a college class … he had to show how to teach the hurdles,” Bylenga said. Bylenga had never attempted the event, but was a fast learner. He caught on so quickly, in fact, that in late June he was able to place second at the state level of the Junior Olympics while representing Bradley’s Pendle- ton-based Rising Phoenix Track Club. “He was out, up on the track every morning and ready to go to work and helped push his (Rising Phoenix) teammates to work hard every day,” See BYLENGA/2B Olympics AP Photo/Eugenio Savio United States’ Morgan Brian, second right, celebrates with her teammates after Alex Morgan score her side’s 2nd goal against New Zealand during a women’s Olympic opener at the Mineirao stadium in Belo Hori- zonte, Brazil on Wednesday. United States won 2-0. US women shut out New Zealand Staff photo by E.J. Harris Bill Norwill, of Omak, Wash., leans over while watching his put roll towards the 18th hole Wednesday during the Senior Oregon Open at Wildhorse in Mission. Amateur shares lead at SOOI Karns, Erwin tied at four under headed into fi nal round East Oregonian The professionals began to take control of the lead- erboard Wednesday during the second round at the Senior Oregon Open Invi- tational, but an amateur still shares the lead at Wildhorse Resort and Casino. Brad Karns of Vancouver, Washington, shot a 67 to move into a tie with PGA pro Todd Erwin of Tacoma, with both men sitting at 4-under par. Erwin, who won this event in 2014, shot a 69 as golfers enjoyed fair weather Staff photo by E.J. Harris Leroy Bowser of Hidden Lake Valley, Calif., tees off on the 1st hole Wednesday during the Senior Ore- gon Open at Wildhorse in Mission. after a windy fi rst round drove most scores above par. Only nine players shot par or better in Round 1. That number more than tripled in Round 2 with 28 shooting 72 or better. None had a better day than 2008 champion Rob Gibbons who shot 65 to move into a three-way tie for fourth at 1-under. The pro from Molalla was tied with amateurs Craig Larson and Mike Senatra. Joe Carranza of Seattle is third heading into today’s fi nal round after shooting 71 to come in at 2-under. Defending champion Billy Bomar (Post Falls, Idaho) and four-time cham- pion Jeff Coston (Blaine, Washington) were in a six-player group four shots off the lead at even par. First-round leader Bob Christensen, an amateur from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, shot 76 to fall back to 14th place at 1-over. Wednesday also marked the end of the team compe- tition, which was won after a tiebreaker by the team of PGA pro Roger Wallace and amateurs Dave Cottington, John Kelley and Steve Lucas. They edged the team of pro Mike DeLong and amateurs Christensen, Joe Stumph and Mike Kirk. Lloyd, Morgan score for Americans By TALES AZZONI Associated Press BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil — Carli Lloyd and Alex Morgan scored a goal in each half as the U.S. women’s soccer team defeated New Zealand 2-0 in its debut at the Rio Games on Wednesday, getting off to a solid start in its attempt to win a fourth straight Olympic gold medal. Lloyd put the Americans ahead with a header in the ninth minute and Morgan added to the lead with a low shot from inside the area less than a minute into the second half at the Mineirao Stadium in Belo Horizonte. The U.S. dominated from the start to earn the convincing victory and remain unbeaten in 2016, with 14 shutouts and only one draw in 16 games. Near the end of the game, many of the nearly 10,000 fans at the stadium chanted “Zika, Zika” at goalkeeper Hope Solo, who before Soccer USA New Zealand 2 0 coming to the Olympics upset some Brazilians by tweeting a photo of herself wearing a hat with mosquito netting in a reference to the virus. The chants were repeated after the fi nal whistle. The Americans are trying to become the fi rst team to win the Olympics after succeeding at the World Cup. The Olympic tournament is the fi rst major competition for the U.S. since the retire- ment of key players such as Abby Wambach and Lauren Holiday following last year’s world title in Canada. The revamped Americans next play France on Saturday, again at the Mineirao. France and Colombia play the other Group G match later Wednesday, also in Belo Horizonte. New Zealand, playing in its third consecutive Olym- See US WOMEN/2B Sports shorts Phelps to carry U.S. fl ag at Rio Opening Ceremonies RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — The most decorated athlete in Olympic history will carry the United States fl ag during the opening ceremony for the Rio Games. FACES Michael Phelps was selected in a vote by members of the U.S. Olympic team. Phelps was a logical choice heading into his fi fth Summer Games. He has won 18 golds and 22 medals overall, far more than any other athlete. Phelps Phelps skipped the opening ceremony at the last three Olympics to rest up for the grueling 400-meter individual medley, which is held the next day. But with that event no longer a part of his program, Phelps is available to carry the fl ag in Friday night’s ceremony at the Maracana. “I always wanted to look like: ‘Is he homeless or is he rich? That’s my No. 1 goal.“ — Michael Bennett Seattle Seahawks defensive end explaining his facial hair groom- ing habits in an interview with ESPN The Magazine. The out- spoken Bennett and his brother Martellus spoke on a variety of topics ranging from NFL owners and players, their childhood and early playing days, and their thoughts on fatherhood. Broncos to take over own stadium sponsor payments DENVER (AP) — The Denver Broncos are taking over the naming rights to their stadium from Sports Authority but no signs are coming down. After missing its latest contract payment, Sports Authority asked a bankruptcy judge Tuesday to allow it to transfer the rights to the team. The company says it hasn’t found anyone interested in paying cash for the rights. The Broncos and the stadium district maintained they had veto power over any potential deal. The Broncos are still sizing up the value of a deal and say there’s no timetable for a new name. There’s no word on whether a new deal would require that the name of the stadium include the phrase “at Mile High” in deference to the Broncos’ original home. THIS DATE IN SPORTS 1945 — Byron Nelson wins his 11th consecutive PGA Tour event, beating Herman Barron by four strokes. 1985 — Tom Seaver, 40, becomes the 17th 300-game winner in major league history as the Chicago White Sox beat the New York Yankees 4-1. 2007 — Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees becomes the youngest player in major league history to hit 500 home runs. Rodriguez’ homer comes eight days after the slugger celebrated his 32nd birthday. Contact us at 541-966-0838 or sports@eastoregonian.com