Short and Sweet: Baseballers fight back, Diamonds star and ironman triathlete wins world medal
THERE was a world silver medal, a stunning win over the mighty US by our baseballers and a sudden retirement. SHORT AND SWEET wrap of sport.
Women's sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Women's sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Ultimate Guide to the Paralympics
- Gold and silver for Aussie iron stars
- What's next for the Diamonds?
- Why Matildas teen won't Wander off
- Opals star returns to breathe new life into Flames
THERE was a world silver medal. A stunning win over the mighty US by our baseballers and a great victory by our Diamonds over an old foe.
There was also the retirement of a top Aussie and the transformation of a tennis player and baseballer into cricketers.
We also have updates from the world’s of triathlon, the WBBL League and rugby union world.
BASEBALLERS FIGHT BACK
Australia’s baseball team, the Emeralds, have produced a stunning performance against the US at the women’s World Cup in Korea.
With 17-year-old debutant Abbey Kelly starring, the Emeralds defeated the US 10-2.
Australia needed to win by five runs or more against the No. 2 ranked USA team to qualify for the Super Round.
The win followed on from an opening loss to Chinese Taipei then a resounding victory against Hong Kong, and has rejuvenated Australians hopes at the event.
TOPS-ALEXANDER BACK IN ACTION AFTER OLYMPICS
Fresh form her Olympic campaign Australian equestrian Edwina Tops-Alexander returns to competition this week.
The Sydney equestrian will ride in Rome at the Longines Global Champions Tour which she currently leads.
Also riding will be her nearest rival for the overall prize, Sweden’s Rolf-Göran Bengtsson.
The Australians rival is the defending champion in Rome and trails Tops-Alexander by just 25 points.
DIAMONDS DAZZLE IN QUAD SERIES
One down, one to go.
The Diamond have won their first outing of the year against the Silver Ferns — and secured the international Quad series title at the same time.
The Australian netballers beat the No. 2 side in Melbourne in their final game of the series which also involved England and South Africa.
Next on the agenda is the Constellation Cup which starts in October.
SILVER LINING FOR MEL
Australian triathlete Mel Hauschildt raced off with a silver medal at the world 70.3 ironman triathlon at Mooloolaba on the weekend.
Hauschildt made the podium for the third time at the world championships after winning the tough event back in 2011 and then again in 2013.
After a poor swim, Hauschildt raced back into contention for a medal on the final leg of the race involving a 1.9km swim, 90km cycle and 21km run. MORE ON THE WORLD TITLE RACE HERE.
BMX STAR CALLS TIME
Multiple world champion Melinda McLeod has made the shock decision to retire from the sport at just 23.
The six-time world champion will instead hit the books as she studies Exercise Science.
McLeod failed to make the cut for the Rio Olympics, instead named as a reserve.
“I had to analyse it honestly. By 2020 I will be 27 and still be in the position I am now with no house, car or career, and I don’t want to be there at that age,” she said.
“Unless you’re at the very top of this sport there is very little funding for athletes, and while my family helped me make it work, me being overseas put a strain on them. I couldn’t ask them to do another four years.
TRI-ING TIME FOR AUSTRALIA
Wins are hard to find for our female triathlete in Olympic distance racing at the moment.
Our women missed a medal in the Olympic arena for the first time ever in Rio.
And in Edmonton on the weekend the US completed a cleansweep of an World Triathlon series podium with Summer Cook, Sarah True and Katie Zaferes.
Australia’s best placed finisher was London Olympian Emma Jackson in eighth.
WBBL’S NEWEST CONVERTS
Former Australian baseballer Renee Straumietis and tennis player Laura Kent have secured rookie training contracts with the Sydney Sixers and Sydney Thunder WBBL teams.
The pair beat a group of 20 elite female sports stars to the punch for the contract.
“These are athletes of the highest level and each demonstrated skills of the highest standard — despite most never having picked up a cricket bat or bowled a ball before,” said Sydney Sixers WBBL coach Ben Sawyer.
“I was particularly impressed with Renee’s bowling today. She was bowling at speed and her pitching skills and experience transferred well.
Thunder coach Jo Broadbent said she was immediately taken with Kent.
“I was running the batting accuracy drill today and Laura was the last person that I saw and her accuracy was 100% which blew me away,” Broadbent said.
ROY HITS THE WINNERS CIRCLE
Former Australian critique champion Sarah Roy has claimed her first victory of the year in the Boels tour in The Netherlands.
Roy, riding for Orica-AIS, outsprinted a group of beak ways riders for her memorable victory.
Matildas loss rugby’s gain as teens help Aussies end long Sevens drought
Grit, a fighting spirit and a pair of young guns - including one that was touted as a future Matilda - have helped Australia end a seven-year-long drought in rugby sevens.
NRLW gun Keeley Davis keeping close tabs on future teammates – and rivals
She is one of the pioneers of NRLW but now this rugby league talent is playing a hand in the development of her future teammates - and potential rivals.