SENATOR WANTS TRUMP TRAVEL POLICIES EASED BEFORE 2026 WORLD CUP

Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon has asked top Trump administration officials to reconsider policies that are impacting travelers arriving in the United States, citing upcoming sporting events like the 2026 World Cup.

Wyden, the top Democrat on the finance committee, wrote Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Friday to air his concerns over recent reports of international travelers being detained and other travel issues.

"This has turned ordinary travel into a needlessly grueling ordeal for tourists, business travelers, lawful permanent residents and U.S. citizens," Wyden wrote.

International travelers appear increasingly wary of the administration's immigration and border policies. Several countries have updated travel guidelines for their citizens planning on visiting the United States.

The travel forecasting company Tourism Economics revised its annual outlook last month to predict a 9.4% decline in international arrivals this year.

In February, a German visitor who attempted to return to the United States with his American fiancé after a road trip to Mexico was detained for 16 days. A backpacker from Britain, Becky Burke, was stopped at the U.S.-Canada border and held for nearly three weeks at a detention facility in the state of Washington, according to her father.

President Donald Trump met with FIFA president Gianni Infantino at the White House last month. Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images

Wyden's plea comes after the federal government's National Travel and Tourism Office released preliminary figures showing visits to the U.S. from overseas fell 11.6% in March compared to the same month last year.

That slump has financial consequences. Tourism Economics expects U.S. spending by international visitors to drop by $9 billion this year.

In addition to the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, Wyden also pointed to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The United States also will host the Club World Cup this summer in 11 cities across the country.

"Ahead of these events, your departments will experience a significant increase in travelers seeking entry to the United States, to include extraordinary athletes, support staff, government officials, journalists, business owners, and spectators," Wyden wrote. "If your harsh and unnecessary approaches to travelers continue, foreign-born athletes who have spent their whole lives training for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity may be unable to travel to the United States to participate in these games."

Border issues have already worried a number of soccer players. Venezuelan forward Deyna Castellanos, who plays in the National Women's Soccer League, did not join her national team for a pair of recent matches because of fears she wouldn't be allowed to return.

Zambia's national team did not call up four women playing in the United States for games in China out of similar concerns.

In a March meeting with FIFA president Gianni Infantino, President Donald Trump announced the formation of a task force to coordinate the federal government's security and planning for next year's World Cup.

- Associated Press

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LYLES, MCLAUGHLIN-VORONE LEAD US OLYMPIC TEAM AFTER IMPRESSIVE TRIALS

USA TODAY Sports 

 Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone's world record run in the 400 hurdles wrapped up the U.S. Olympic trials in style on Sunday in Eugene, Oregon, where Noah Lyles showed he will have a real shot at taking the sprint double in Paris.

McLaughlin-Levrone broke the world record for the fifth time in her career, taking the tape in 50.65 seconds to the delight of track fans at Hayward Field.

"There's something really exciting about trying to figure out how to improve upon history," she told reporters.

Three years after the U.S. men failed to collect a single individual track gold in Tokyo, Lyles emerged as his country's brightest hope in both the 100 and 200.

He equaled his personal best to win the 100m in 9.83 before posting the fastest time of the year - 19.53 - in the longer sprint, his signature event.

"I definitely thrive off pressure. I thrive off big moments," he told reporters. "The bigger the moment, the faster I run."

Sha'Carri Richardson dominated the women's 100 with the season's fastest time 10.71, three years after a positive test for cannabis shattered her dream of competing at the Tokyo Games.

The world champion and U.S. fan favourite left Hayward Field with a smile despite coming up short in the 200, where she finished fourth.

In the 200, Tokyo bronze medallist Gabby Thomas had the world lead in the semi-finals and the second-fastest time of the year in the final, underlining her claim as the top Paris contender.

"In our sport, especially with the women, there are always going to be some really good contenders on the line and I think I've proven I can line up with anyone and come out on top," said Thomas.

Olympic men's 400 hurdles silver medallist Rai Benjamin cruised to victory in 46.46, the fifth-fastest performance of all time.

Three-time world champion Grant Holloway won the 110 hurdles in a blistering 12.86, with Freddie Crittenden (12.93) and Daniel Roberts (12.96) joining him as the only three men to crack 13 seconds this year.

The 10-day trials stuck largely to the script but was not without surprises, with Olympic champion Athing Mu missing out on a trip to Paris when she tripped and fell in the 800 final.

And Masai Russell (12.25) overcame an experienced field that included 2019 world champion Nia Ali and Tokyo silver medallist Keni Harrison to win the 100 hurdles and book her first trip to the Games.

In the field, shot put world record holder Ryan Crouser won his event with a throw of 22.84 metres after overcoming injuries earlier this season.

Tokyo gold medallist Valarie Allman sent a message with a 70.73 throw to win the discus, while world champion Chase Jackson won the women's shot put with 20.10.

Tara Davis-Woodhall overcame early nerves to win the women's long jump in 7.00 metres, underlining her claim as the favourite in Paris.

- Reuters 

LYLES WINS 100M AT US OLYMPIC TRIALS TO BOOK PARIS SPOT

USA TODAY Sports 

 Noah Lyles chased down his rivals to win the 100m final at the U.S. Olympic trials in 9.83 seconds in Eugene, Oregon on Sunday to book a spot at the Paris Games.

The world champion hit the accelerator at the midway point to burst through the field and cross the line ahead of Kenny Bednarek (9.87) and Tokyo silver medallist Fred Kerley (9.88).

Christian Coleman, the 2019 world champion, had the early lead but ran out of steam and finished fourth in 9.93.

Lyles, who won the sprint double at the world championships in Budapest last year, is aiming for four gold medals - two individual and two relay - at the Paris Games.

"Part of the plan," Lyles said. "Might be a shock to everyone else but when you know the goal, you know the goal."

Lyles finished next to last in the 100m final at the trials three years ago in Eugene, and after winning the 200m he could do no better than bronze in the event at the Tokyo Olympics.

Those disappointments still drive him, he said.

"If I didn't get that third place in Tokyo I wouldn't have had that desire, I wouldn't have had that fire burning," he said.

"I wouldn't have accomplished what I've accomplished in the past and now we constantly look to the future with open eyes because anything can happen."

Lyles will next compete in his signature event, the 200m, with the opening heats set to begin on Thursday.

The third day of the U.S. trials at Hayward Field saw Kendall Ellis win the women's 400m final in 49.46, with Aaliyah Butler taking second in 49.71 and Alexis Holmes claiming her spot on Team USA in 49.78.

Sam Kendricks, the 2016 Olympic pole vault bronze medallist, won his final with a meet record of 5.92m but it remains to be seen whether he will travel to Paris after telling reporters he might skip the Games.

Kendricks had travelled to the Tokyo Games but was not allowed to compete after testing positive for COVID. In footage posted on social media on Friday, Kendricks said: "The Olympics screwed me - everybody at Team USA left me behind."

Olympic champion Athing Mu reached the 800m final after winning her heat in 1:58.84. The 22-year-old had not competed in 2024 due to injury before arriving at the trials.

"I felt way more in control this race. The first round was just to kind of to get my legs moving again," Mu said. "I want to make sure I do run my race (in the final)."

Michael Norman, the 2022 400m world champion, won his semi-final in a conservative 45.30, while 16-year-old Quincy Wilson brought the house down as he improved upon his own under-18 world record to qualify for the final in 44.59.

Annette Echikunwoke won the women's hammer with her first attempt, a throw of 74.68m, while 2019 world champion DeAnna Price was second (74.52m) and Erin Reese third (71.21m).

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NO. 3 WASHINGTON RALLIES TO BEAT NO. 5 OREGON 34-31

AP Photo 

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Washington went into what likely was the last Pac-12 Championship living on the edge, and of course the Huskies were going to do it again Friday night.

They blew a 17-point lead, watched Oregon go ahead by four and immediately responded with the drive of the game.

And now the third-ranked Huskies not only are the Pac-12 champions, they secured a spot in the College Football Playoff with a 34-31 victory over No. 5 Oregon.

Washington didn't panic when pressed in the second half, having closed the regular season by winning three consecutive one-possession games by a combined 12 points. Oregon entered with a six-game winning streak, five of them decided by double digits.

“The love and trust we have on our team is unmatched,” said Washington's Michael Penix Jr., the game MVP after passing for 319 yards and a touchdown. “We've been doing it each and every week. We're not going to say we want those games to be close.”

The game was likely the final Pac-12 Championship given 10 of the 12 teams will be playing in different conferences next season. Only Oregon State and Washington State will remain as they try to find a way to keep the tradition-rich conference together in some form.

Washington (13-0) was the last Pac-12 team to make the CFP — in the 2016 season.

The Huskies, who were 9 1/2-point underdogs, scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to take a 34-24 lead. Oregon (11-2) scored a late touchdown for the final score, but failed to recover the onside kick that all but ended its chances.

“That one hurts,” Ducks coach Dan Lanning said. “In a four-quarter fight, you can't start out slow against a really good team.”

Dillon Johnson ran for 152 yards and two TDs for the Huskies. Two Washington receivers had more than 100 yards — Jalen McMillan (nine receptions for 131 yards) and Biletnikoff finalist Rome Odunze (eight for 102) who was returning to his hometown.

Oregon's Bo Nix, the favorite entering the game to win the Heisman Trophy according to FanDuel Sportsbook, passed for 239 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 69 yards.

“It's a lot of emotions, a lot going on that maybe you wish you could change,” Nix said. “That's what is the good and bad about any kind of competition is there has to be a loser. As bad as it feels, that's why you play the game.”

If it was indeed the final title game for the conference, it was quite a way to go out as Oregon and Washington again played a high-scoring game with big plays throughout. The Huskies won the regular-season meeting, 36-33 in Seattle in October.

Washington took a 20-3 lead before the Ducks scored a touchdown with nine seconds left to get to within 10 points.

That score got Oregon going, converting two fourth downs on the opening drive of the second, including a 2-yard touchdown from Nix to tight end Terrance Ferguson to get within three points. The Ducks took the lead at 24-20 with 1:51 left in the third quarter on Jordan James' 6-yard TD run.

The lead didn't last long as Washington scored on its next drive to take the lead for good.

Penix completed a 31-yard pass to McMillan to Oregon's 20, helping set up Johnson's 1-yard run up the middle for the touchdown and 27-24 lead.

“When you've got (Penix) right here, you give him a chance to touch the football and make plays,” Washington coach Kalen DeBoer said. “He's been through it all. He's got all these experiences to draw upon and knows when to take the risk and when not to, how to put the team on his back and keep moving.”

This is the second time both teams have been ranked in the top 10 when they have played each other. The other time was the first meeting this season.

Washington improved to 3-0 in the Pac-12 Championship. Oregon fell to 4-2.

- Mark Anderson 

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