Semi-Annual Triathlon Event a Success
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SECTION B VISIT SAMOA NEWS ONLINE @ SAMOANEWS.COM MONDAY, JULY 24, 2017 CLASSIFIEDS • CARTOONS • ALOHA BRIEFS & MORE ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ Semi-annual C M Y K Triathlon event a success by Mark Espiritu tion every year and it can actu- Special to Samoa News ally be used to create an Amer- The American Samoa Tri- ican Samoa National Triathlon athlon Association – a collabo- Olympic Team. ration between South Pacific It will weed out the island’s Watersports and American competitors and those with a Winners of Saturday’s Triathlon Olympic Division: Scott Alpuerto (first place) and Matt Bracken Samoa Prosthetics – held its natural gift in sports, and will (2nd place). The Olympic challenge featured a mile swim, twenty-four-mile bike route, and a six- ‘twice a year’ triathlon this past hopefully result in American mile run. See story for full details. [photo Mark Espiritu] Saturday. Samoa being represented in According to Joe Tavale, this event during the Olympics owner of American Samoa someday. Prosthetics, “The event started The triathlon consists of 2 as a way to keep people busy categories: the Olympic and and fit, and also to remind them the Sprint. The Olympic is the about good health habits.” more challenging of the two, He continued, “We want with the course including about people to be active and healthy, a mile swim, twenty-four-mile and also to come out and enjoy bike route, and a six-mile run. the sports. It’s an open invite to The sprint consists of a half- everyone.” The semi-annual tri- mile swim, a twelve-mile bike athlon is held every in January course, and a three-mile run. and July since 2014 and the Over the past years, there goal is to keep people physi- has been a noticeable increase cally active, and at the same in the number of participants time remind them about the with twenty showing up last importance of healthy habits Saturday. Last year, only three like exercise. people took on the Olympic This event is also dedicated course challenge but that to people with diabetes, to number doubled to six this past remind them that they are not weekend. alone in their fight against a dis- The organizers of the pro- ease that is perhaps the biggest gram told Samoa News last killer in the territory. Saturday that their hope is It serves as a way to band to have people come out so the together to prevent diabetes by program can continue to grow living and eating right. and with more participants in Though the program pro- the future, there is a chance that motes the battle against diabetes hidden talents and triathletes Matt Bracken, who took home second place during Saturday’s Triathlon Olympic Division, is and other diseases, the triathlon amongst our people will be seen pushing Miracle, one of the Special Olympians on a stroller during the running portion of the is gaining more and more atten- discovered. competition. [photo: Mark Espiritu] C M Y K Some of the territory’s Special Olympians who participated in last Saturday’s Triathlon sponsored by South Pacific Watersports and American Samoa Prosthetics. [photo: Mark Espiritu] Page B2 samoa news, Monday, July 24, 2017 Jesse Gonzalez goes with heart, switches from Mexico to US PHILADELPHIA (AP) — By then, Mexican team Jesse Gonzalez started in the scouts had noticed Gonzalez at 2015 Under-20 World Cup for a showcase in Sarasota, Florida, Mexico, his parents’ homeland. and asked whether he had Then last month, the 22-year- interest in playing for El Tri. old FC Dallas goalkeeper “Richard Sanchez, one of my switched his affiliation to join old teammates, he was there. He the United States, his home talked very well about them,” country. Gonzalez recalled. Gonzalez just felt more com- Gonzalez started Mexico’s fortable in the red, white and first four matches at the 2015 blue. CONCACAF Under-20 Cham- “The U.S. has given me a pionship, then had a pair of lot. I’m grateful for what they saves during penalty kicks to have given me and the oppor- lift Mexico over Panama in the tunity they have given me,” he final. At the Under-20 World said after joining the U.S. roster Cup in New Zealand, he played for the knockout rounds of the in Mexico’s second and third CONCACAF Gold Cup. games, Tim Howard, now 38, The following January, Gon- remains the top U.S. goalkeeper zalez turned down an invitation as the Americans try to qualify from U.S. coach Jurgen Klins- for next year’s World Cup. mann to attend a national team Brad Guzan, who will be 33 in training camp in Carson, Cali- September, is entrenched as the fornia. Instead, Gonzalez went No. 2. to a Mexican Under-23 team After that, no keepers have camp ahead of the Olympics, emerged at the top level in the but he was not picked for El next generation. Gonzalez, Tri’s Rio de Janeiro roster. and fellow 20-somethings Gonzalez spent a long time Sean Johnson, Bill Hamid, before deciding this spring to Cody Cropper and Ethan Hor- apply to FIFA for a change of vath all figure to compete with affiliation. Because he had not Guzan for the starting job in the played a competitive match for 2019-22 World Cup cycle. Mexico’s senior national team, “I don’t have any doubt he was allowed a one-time that he will be one of the best switch. keepers in America,” Dallas “Whatever you decide, coach Oscar Pareja said of Gon- you’re going to be right, because zalez after discovering the teen that’s going to be your heart,” prospect when he was playing Pareja recalled telling him. in a youth tournament. “Any time a soccer player is Gonzalez’s parents emi- making a choice, whether it’s grated from Mexico, and he club or country, it’s important was born in Edenton, North that they analyze the options Carolina. carefully, they seek input from “My parents didn’t really people they trust, and that they find anything around North Car- come to a decision that they’re olina,” Gonzalez said. “They happy with,” said Gonza- thought it was a lonely state, so lez’s agent, Richard Motzkin. they got out of there.” “That’s the process Jesse took His family moved to in making his decision and, rest Houston and then on to Dallas assured, it wasn’t done lightly when Gonzalez was a child. or without a lot of forethought. After spotting Gonzalez on a Ultimately, Jesse was fortunate recreational team, Pareja per- in that he had two very good suaded the family to switch the choices.” keeper to the FC Dallas youth After the switch was academy. announced, Gonzalez received He played there alongside text messages from surprised midfielder Kellyn Acosta, who friends. has broken into the U.S. starting “They were funny,” he said lineup this year. without going into detail. “They taught me how to be Howard is the U.S. starter more responsible,” Gonzalez as the Americans head into said. “It was almost like a job Wednesday’s Gold Cup cham- at the time, just waking up early pionship against Jamaica, and and being on time to training.” Hamid is the backup while Pareja, a Colombian national Guzan settles in with Atlanta. team midfielder in the early For now, Gonzalez’s role is 1990s, said the 6-foot-4 Gon- limited to training and pushing zalez’s long arms and quick others on the practice field. reflexes immediately reminded “We just want to see what him of late Colombian keeper he’s about,” U.S. coach Bruce Miguel Calero. Gonzalez Arena said.Gonzalez is with the debuted for Dallas’ under-16 national team to learn. A full team in September 2010 and international debut might take a was signed to a professional while.“He’s not much of talker, homegrown player contract in which is good. I think young March 2013. guys talk too much nowadays,” Just more than two years Howard said. “You’re naive in Female winners of Saturday’s semi-annual Triathlon - Olympic Division: Renee Sattler later, he became the youngest a good way and you think you (first place) and Trina Rovelli (2nd place). keeper to start in team history: know it all, and really it’s the [photo; Mark Espiritu] at 20 years, 89 days. opposite. samoa news, Monday, July 24, 2017 Page B3 Contreras homers as Quintana, Cubs beat Cards, tie Brewers CHICAGO (AP) — Willson starts against St. Louis. Contreras yelled as he rounded “Try to be focused inning by first base and the ball landed in inning and, like I said, get my the bleachers at Wrigley Field. team in good position for a W,” The Chicago Cubs are he said. having fun again, led by their After Contreras went deep, exuberant catcher. the Cubs’ bullpen took over. Contreras hit a tiebreaking Hector Rondon and Carl two-run homer, handing another Edwards Jr. each got three outs victory to Jose Quintana, and before Wade Davis finished for the Cubs beat the St. Louis Car- his 20th save in 20 opportuni- dinals 5-3 on Sunday night to ties, breaking the club’s single- move into a virtual tie for first season record for most consecu- in the NL Central. tive saves. Kyle Schwarber also con- The Cardinals pulled Matt nected as the Cubs won for the Carpenter in the second inning eighth time in nine games since with right quad tightness, the All-Star break.