Friday, 27 June 2025
FAITH KIPYEGON NARROWLY MISSES SUB-4 MILE IN PARIS, BREAKS HER OWN RECORD
Faith Kipyegon missed out on the four-minute mile but broke her own world record as she starred in Breaking4 and Nike’s quest to help the celebrated athlete create history as the first woman to breach the mythical mark.
The event in Paris saw Kipyegon run the mile in an official time of 4:06.42, just over four laps of the track.
The event was inspired by Kipyegon’s compatriot, Eliud Kipchoge, who shattered the two hour barrier in the marathon with a similar experiment, known as Ineos 1:59 Challenge, in Vienna in 2019.
The time will not be recognised as an official record because Kipyegon was assisted by a team of male and female pacemakers and wore technologically advanced kit and shoes at the Nike-sponsored ‘Breaking4’ event.
Kipyegon’s official women’s mile record of 4:07.64, set in July 2023, remains almost five seconds faster than any other female athlete in history has run for the distance.
“I have tried; that is why I was coming here to try to be the first woman to run under 4 minutes, but I have proven it’s possible. I will not lose hope; I will still go for it.” Faith Kipyegon said after the race.
World Athletics hailed the performance, posting: “Chasing history, creating legacy. Still the fastest mile run by a woman in history. Faith Kipyegon gives everything in her quest to break the 4-minute mile and stops the clock at 4:06.42. Thank you, Faith, for making us dream. Maybe not today, but soon.”
Faith Kipyegon now turns her attention to the upcoming World Championships in Tokyo this September, where she will look to further cement her legacy as one of the greatest middle-distance runners of all time.
- CALLEN OMAE
IRAN NOT TO COMPETE AT 2025 SITTING DUTCH TOURNAMENT
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| EHRAN – The head of Iran’s sitting volleyball team announced that the team will not participate in the 2025 Men's Sitting Dutch Tournament. |
Rezaei addressed the situation regarding the National Team's intended participation in the event in the Netherlands.
He explained that the Dutch embassy is currently closed, and as a result, no passports have been issued.
Additionally, there are no available flights. More critically, the absence of training camps and practice sessions and has effectively ruled out the team's participation in this competition.
Rezaei also noted that last year, the team were unable to compete due to visa issues stemming from the Dutch embassy's inability to issue visas. However, he remarked that this year's circumstances have changed.
- Teheran Times
REPORT:ASAI UJIRI OUT AS RAPTORS' VICE CHAIRMAN, PRESIDENT
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| Sep 30, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Toronto Raptors Vice-Chairman and Team President Masai Ujiri speaks to the media during media day at Scotiabank Area. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images |
Masai Ujiri is out as vice chairman and president of the Toronto Raptors, ESPN reported Friday.
Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment made the move with one year remaining on Ujiri's contract, per the report.
Ujiri, 54, has been identified as a candidate in Atlanta's search for a president of basketball operations, according to NBA reporter Marc Stein.
After being named the NBA Executive of the Year in 2013 with the Denver Nuggets, Ujiri joined the Raptors as executive vice president and general manager. Six years later, Toronto won the franchise's lone NBA title by defeating the Golden State Warriors in six games.
Ujiri was instrumental in acquiring star Kawhi Leonard and sharpshooter Danny Green in the summer of 2018.
The Raptors finished a run of qualifying for the playoffs eight times over nine seasons (2014-22) by missing the postseason in each of the last three campaigns. They finished the 2024-25 season with a 30-52 record.
--Field Level Media
ANOTHER PAINFUL MARQUEZ FAA
A second painful fall of the day for Marc Marquez rounded off a twice red-flagged and incredibly crash-strewn second Assen MotoGP practice session.
Marquez had recovered from an initial fall to go fastest in the morning, and then while on a potential session-topping afternoon lap he lost his Ducati's front end going into the fast Ruskenhoek left-hander and slid at high speed across the gravel.
This is what happened at Turn 7! @marcmarquez93 😱#DutchGP 🇳🇱 pic.twitter.com/XAAl1uxwko
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) June 27, 2025
He initially stood up before immediately crouching back down in the gravel trap, seemingly in pain in his groin area, and needing assistance away from the scene - though he was walking unaided, if somewhat gingerly, when he got back to the Ducati pit. From there he headed to the medical centre for a check-up.
Advancing to Q2: Quartararo, A Marquez, Acosta, Bezzecchi, Bagnaia, M Marquez, Di Giannantonio, Vinales, Morbidelli, Zarco
Will contest Q1: Fernandez, Aldeguer, Rins, Oliveira, Bastianini, Miller, Mir, Binder, Savadori, Ogura, Chantra, Espargaro
That was one of nine high-speed crashes during the session, as rider after rider appeared to misjudge the grip available from the front tyre in particular.
Six of the crashes happened in the first seven minutes of the session.
Alex Marquez started the run of falls and was quickly followed by Gresini Ducati team-mate Fermin Aldeguer, LCR Honda's Johann Zarco, VR46 Ducati's Franco Morbidelli, Tech3 KTM rider Enea Bastianini and Honda's stand-in rider Aleix Espargaro.
The Aldeguer, Zarco and Morbidelli shunts happened virtually simultaneously, all at different parts of the track, with Morbidelli's the most destructive as his Ducati tumbled end over end across the grass without him.
None of those caused a red flag, but Ai Ogura and Lorenzo Savadori's later crashes both did.
Ogura had a ferocious highside into the Duikersloot right-hander in which his Trackhouse Aprilia burst into flames as it bounced across the asphalt. Savadori's Stekkenwal shunt ended with his wrecked Aprilia sat in the middle of the circuit. Both riders appeared unhurt.
Between stoppages and yellow flags, Fabio Quartararo popped in with the fastest time at the end of a session in which all five manufacturers got a bike directly into Q2.
Quartararo's 1m31.156s for Yamaha was 0.102s clear of Alex Marquez, with Pedro Acosta jumping to third for KTM late on and Assen specialist Marco Bezzecchi's Aprilia fastest for a spell before ending up fourth.
Marc Marquez held on for sixth despite his fall, just behind Ducati team-mate Pecco Bagnaia.
Fabio Di Giannantonio, Maverick Vinales, Morbidelli and Zarco completed the automatic Q2 pack.
Raul Fernandez was bumped down to 11th in the final seconds, while Alex Rins looked like he might get his Yamaha straight through to Q2 via a massive tow from Bagnaia before being edged down the order.
- Matt Beer
LA LIGA PRESIDENT WEIGHS IN ON BARCELONA-ATHLETIC CLUB TIFF OVER NICO WILLIAMS - 'WILL HAVE TO COMPLY WITH THE REGULATIONS'
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| Photo by Arnold Jerocki/Getty Images For Sporte |
Barcelona and Athletic Club are at a silent war over the Nico Williams saga. After all, the Catalans are close to signing the Basque superstar and Athletic Club are anything but pleased with the development.
At this point, they have done everything in their capacity to complicate the transfer but they crossed a limit earlier this week by meeting with La Liga representatives to express concern about Barcelona’s financial situation.
Tebas speaks on the case
Speaking to the media via Mundo Deportivo and clarifying the recent incidents in an interview, La Liga president Javier Tebas brought out the truth about the conversation Athletic Club had with him.
“Bilbao complained because Deco’s statement expressed his desire to sign the player,” he said, bringing out the intention behind the Basque club’s approach.
“According to FIFA regulations, he is in a protected period, and we have no authority to interfere with that,” he added.
Elaborating on the implications on Barcelona and what the club must be wary of, he said,
"What we will do, as we have always done, is that FC Barcelona will have to comply with the regulations in order to register players, whether it is Nico Williams, Haaland, Messi, whoever. And we will not change anything.”
Tebas also took an indirect dig towards the Athletic Club for releasing a public statement on the matter and how it was unnecessary.
“Athletic Club Bilbao doesn’t need to issue any statement. It’s our duty to clarify doubts about Financial Fair Play. We are transparent.”
"We don’t reveal the deep economic details of clubs, but it is known that there was a meeting of the Division Committee in February, in which the reasons for the salary caps were explained, and the situation of Barcelona was explained because we have the Olmo case,” he added on how Athletic Club knew of Barcelona’s situation.
Tebas also confirmed that Barcelona are still not in the 1:1 rule but that they are not far from reaching it.
“Barcelona doesn’t have a 1-1 rule, and I hope they achieve it as soon as possible. They already know what they need to do to be in the rule.”
“Bilbao also knows what Barcelona must do, because we were very transparent in February so that no one would question Financial Fair Play,” he concluded.
- Adithya Eshwarla
PROJECTED ROOKIE SCALE 4-YEAR CONTRACT BREAKDOWNS FOR ALL 30 #NBA 1AT ROUND PICKS
Projected Rookie Scale 4-Year Contract Breakdowns for all 30 #NBA 1st round picks.
THE ONLY TWO CARS IN THE ENTIRE STATE OF OHIO THAT ENDED UP CRASHING INTO EACH OTHER 😲
In 1895, there were only two cars in the entire state of Ohio. That’s it. Just two.
And somehow… they managed to crash into each other.
One of the cars was built by James William Lambert, one of America’s early automobile pioneers. The story goes that he hit a tree root, lost control, and ran straight into the only other car in the state. No injuries, just the first recorded car accident in U.S. history.
Let that sink in. With a whole state to drive around in, two people still managed to collide.
If that’s not a perfect metaphor for life, I don’t know what is.
Chaos doesn’t need traffic. Just opportunity.
Thursday, 26 June 2025
SOUTH SUDAN NATIVE KHAMAN MALUACH IN TEARS AFTER BEING DRAFTED 10TH OVERALL
South Sudan native Khaman Maluach was in tears as he was drafted 10th overall
"Living in Africa, I had the whole continent on my back. Giving hope to young kids."
-Khaman Maluach
Born: 14 September 2006 (age 18) Rumbek, Sudan
Nationality: South Sudanese
Listed height: 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m)
Listed weight: 250 lb (113 kg)
#everyone #follower #highlights #trend #TopFans #NBA #basketball #NBADraft
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MILOS KERKEZ MAKES MAJOR LIVERPOOL CLAIM IN FIRST WORDS AFTER £40M TRANSFER
Milos Kerkez speaks for the first time as a Liverpool player after completing his £40m move from Bournemouth
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| Milos Kerkez new signing for Liverpool FC at AXA Training Centre on June 26, 2025 in Kirkby, England. (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images) |
Milos Kerkez says he is privileged to play for "the biggest club in England" after his £40m switch to Liverpool from Bournemouth was confirmed on Thursday.
The 21-year-old defender joins on a five-year deal after the Reds struck a £40m agreement with the Cherries. The Hungary international had been a long-standing target for the Premier League champions, who made their move earlier this month after weeks of speculation around a summer transfer pursuit.
Sporting director Richard Hughes had been in negotiations with friend and Bournemouth counterpart Simon Francis and while the Cherries were initially looking for £45m, a £40m package was eventually agreed upon.
Kerkez, who joined Bournemouth two years ago from AZ Alkmaar in a deal worth around £15.5m, has told Liverpool's official website of his delight at completing a dream move to the Premier League champions.
"I'm really happy," Kerkez told Liverpoolfc.com. "It's a real honour for me, a privilege to come to play for one of the biggest clubs in the world, [the] biggest club in England. I'm just really, really happy and excited.
"After this, I'll go home and in my hometown enjoy a few days, and then I can't really wait to come back and put the training kit on and start to train and prepare for the season."
"I just want to thank everyone for really showing me big love, even before it will be announced now. And keep supporting the team like you support always, because you're the biggest fan base in the world."
Kerkez, who becomes the most expensive left-back in Anfield history, added: "I'm going to give everything - absolutely everything - to win trophies with the club and to hopefully score some goals at Anfield. I can't wait to hear the roar. And see you soon."
He becomes the third signing of a big-spending summer, joining £29m Jeremie Frimpong and £116m Florian Wirtz from Leverkusen, while Girogi Mamardashvili's £29m move from Valencia, that was agreed last year, will see the Georgia international join in time for pre-season alongside the new recruits.
Liverpool report for pre-season training on Monday July 7 before the first friendly of the summer schedule at Preston North End six days later.
SHA'CARRI RICHARDSON SENDS SWEET MESSAGE TO FAITH KIPYEGON AS SHE CHASES HISTORY IN PARIS
Sha’Carri Richardson has penned a message of goodwill to Faith Kipyegon as the Kenyan legend seeks to become first woman to run a sub-four-minute mile.
"Faith Kipyegon is looking to make history in Paris on Thursday night when she attempts to run a mile under four minutes.
Kipyegon is the world record holder over the distance thanks to her time of 4:07.64, recorded in Monaco in July 2023, and she now needs to shave off 7.65 seconds to achieve her objectives.
Ahead of the race, set to be staged at Stade Charlety in Paris on Thursday night, Kipyegon has been receiving messages of goodwill and among those wishing her success is world 100m champion Sha’Carri Richardson.
“HAVE FAITH#Breaking4,” Richardson posted on X, wishing the three-time Olympics champion success.
Who Else Has Achieved the ‘Impossible’?
Kipyegon is attempting to do what no woman has ever done, seeking to emulate Roger Bannister’s heroics of May 1954, when he ran a mile under four minutes (3:59.4) at a time it was seen as impossible.
The 31-year-old has been training and learning from Eliud Kipchoge, who also achieved his own milestone, having become the first man to run a marathon under two hours during the INEOS I:59 Challenge in October 2019.
Kipyegon’s feat is powered by her sponsors Nike, who have lined up 12 pace-setters to help her achieve her milestone.
Richardson is among Nike athletes who have been on the forefront of promoting the brand and will hope to see one of her stable-mates make history in Paris.
- Joel Omotto
BRAD PITT CLOCKS 197 MPH IN LANDO NORRIS' MCLAREN
Brad Pitt revealed he reached 'three miles short' of 200mph in a recent drive of Lando Norris' 2023 McLaren 😳
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