1.) Atlantan Christian Coleman helps U.S. win 4×100 heat
RIO DE JANEIRO — As a child, U.S. Olympian Christian Coleman dreamed of sharing a track with U.S. track stars Justin Gatlin and Tyson Gay. On Thursday, he got his chance — running the 4×100 meter relay preliminary heat with Gay.
“It is an experience of a lifetime,” Coleman said. “It is the highest stage you can get as a track athlete and to be here at such a young age, I am extremely blessed.”
Coleman ran the second leg of the heat. He kept the team on pace for a season-best mark of 37.65 seconds. The U.S. qualified in first place for the finals.
Continue reading more at this link: http://www.ajc.com/sports/college/atlantan-christian-coleman-helps-win-4x100-heat/HrnbivnaYog0DeDJRrUtqM/
2.) Sandy Creek’s Taylor seeks Olympic mark (and second gold)
RIO DE JANEIRO–U.S. triple jumper Christian Taylor won a gold medal at the London 2012 Olympics, but at the Rio Games he has his eyes on more than just a second gold medal.
Taylor, who attended Sandy Creek High School in Fayette County, aims to break the 21-year-old record of 18.29 meters set by Great Britain’s Jonathan Edwards. His best jump is 0.08 meters from the record and ranks second all-time.
“It took a special guy to do it and the reason I am here today is because I believe I can do it as well,” Taylor said. “That is what drives me every day. A medal will be great but I think if I come out with a world record, then it is a win-win.”
Continue reading more at this link: http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/sandy-creeks-taylor-seeks-olympic-mark-and-second-/nsFxJ/
3.) Women’s hoops team reflects on historic 1996 Olympic run
ATLANTA--Former U.S. women’s basketball coach Tara Vanderveer stills remembers sharing a bus with Brazil, 22 years after the Brazilians won their first world championship.
“We shared a bus with them as we were in the back and they were in the front of the bus,” Vanderveer, who is the head coach at Stanford, said. “They were all partying, and there was a lot of kids on that bus, and myself included, that were angry.”
Continue reading more at this link: http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/womens-hoops-team-reflects-on-historic-1996-olympi/nrzK3/
4.) Bill Thorn continues streak of running every AJC Peachtree Road Race
ATLANTA-- Bill Thorn no longer dodges cars along Peachtree Street as he runs The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road Race.
Instead, he made his 47th appearance Monday as one of the only people to run every race since it debuted in 1970.
Continue reading more at this link: http://www.ajc.com/sports/bill-thorn-continues-streak-running-every-ajc-peachtree-road-race/vDUEOOrJ9NmqgNg1q0bcNI/
5.) Georgia athletes focused in final preparations for Olympics
ATLANTA--Georgia swimming head coach Jack Bauerle is slowly building his own dynasty of Olympic swimmers.
ATLANTA--Bauerle will join the U.S. Olympic team as an assistant coach. However, he was more excited about seeing his athletes reach the apex of their careers.
“It’s a neat thing and it sort of sneaks up on you a little bit,” he said. “I’m proud of them and happy that this experience changes their life. In a way, we have already gotten through the rough part and making the team. Just going down there is like a cherry on top.”
Continue reading more at this link: https://www.dawgnation.com/football/dawgnation/georgia-athletes-focused-in-final-preparations-for-olympics
6.) Falcons assistant Raheem Morris finds his way in new role
FLOWERY BRANCH —With the Falcons OTAs set to end Thursday, Raheem Morris is getting comfortable in his new position. In fact, he compared it with being a grade-school educator.
“It’s like being a math teacher and an English teacher,” Morris said Wednesday about his move from coaching the defensive backs to wide receivers this offseason. “If you are a teacher, you can get the curriculum and go teach whatever you need to teach. Everybody has their teaching styles. I am going to teach it this way — whether it is a walk-through or video session.”
Continue reading more at this link: http://www.myajc.com/sports/football/falcons-assistant-raheem-morris-finds-his-way-new-role/bM1zDH8pNbQCeK763jRyvI/
7.) Lessons learned pay off a year later for Grambling State
ATLANTA-- Grambling State coach Broderick Fobbs still remembers the 2015 Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship game against Alcorn State.
The Tigers lost 49-21 and missed out on a trip to the inaugural Celebration Bowl at the Georgia Dome. In the game, Grambling State was forced into several mistakes, including three interceptions. Fobbs said the game taught him a lesson. He had to get his team bounce back from their mistakes.
“We don’t look at losing as losing, but we look at it as learning,” Fobbs said. “Anytime we go through different things, we learn from it and become a better team. I think our team has learned from that.”
Continue reading more at this link: http://www.ajc.com/sports/college/lessons-learned-pay-off-year-later-for-grambling-state/muvwb1MmsCAR4SihDCU1nO/