Women sport news

The Great Britain (GB) Flat water racing team for the European Championships (which is also a second round Olympic qualification event) has been announced, after two gripping weekends of selection events at the Watersports Centre in Nottingham.

Was really looking forward to the 114 mile challenge of 4 steep long climbs collectively called Breathless Agony, what I did not bargain for was……

British Long Distance runner Heather Foundling Hawker has been suffering for 9 months with a stress fracture in her right ankle, and now has suffered further complications. MRI scans on both ankles have shown three stress fractures present in the right foot and also one in her left.

In the women's 100m hurdles, 2006 USA Indoor and Outdoor runner-up Damu Cherry edged out Kelly Wells to win in a world-leading 12.70 to Wells' 12.71. Two-time U.S. Indoor champion Danielle Carruthers was fourth in 12.94.

Watch for Joanna Hayes, the 2004 Olympic gold medalist in the 100-meter hurdles. Hayes, who competed for John W. North High School in Riverside and then UCLA, broke the Olympic Record in her victory in Athens.

Making her debut at 10,000 meters, Shalane Flanagan (Pittsboro, N.C.) smashed the American record by 17 seconds, running 30:34.49 Sunday at the Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational in Palo Alto, Calif. plus Q&A from Shaylane

LaShinda Demus set world leading marks in the 400m hurdles action Saturday night at the 2008 Jamaica International Invitational in Kingston, Jamaica.

Osaka triple gold medalist Allyson Felix and two-time IAAF Golden League winner Sanya Richards will go head-to-head in the women's 200 and 400 meters at the 2008 Weltklasse Zürich, meet organizers announced Monday. photo PA

South African Natalie du Toit has become the first amputee to qualify for an Olympic Games. After qualifying in the 10-Kilometres open water event.

The Firebirds defeated West Coast Fever, Colourplus defeated Suzuki Pulse, more matches today....stay tuned. photo Micheal Bradley

Two victories in the same Beach Volleyball event over the three-time SWATCH FIVB World Tour champions Juliana Felisberta and Larissa is a rarity, but Talita Antunes and Renata Ribeiro achieved the feat here Sunday by winning the All-Brazilian finale at US$350,000 China Shanghai Jinshan Open. photo FIVB

Kelly Smith says that Arsenal will not underestimate their opponents as they look to lift The FA Women's Cup for a third successive season. photo FA

Kristina Tucker of Stockholm, Sweden, broke a first-day tie and posted a round of 68 (-4) to take a slim lead during second-round play today at the El Paso Golf Classic. photo Futurestour.com

With a birdie on the second play off hole at The SemGroup Championship presented by John Q Hammons Paula Creamer defeated Juli Inkster to take home her 6th LPGA Victory. Creamer finished on a 70-71-69-72=282 (-2) photo Bret Douglas

England’s golfers – led by Gloucestershire’s Hannah Barwood (right) – scored a double success in the Welsh 54-hole open strokeplay championship at Pyle & Kenfig. photo ELGA

It wasn't quite the typical Gatorade shower athletes and coaches receive, but it was close enough for Kristina Tucker of Stockholm, Sweden, as she captured her first professional title in the United States on Sunday at the El Paso Golf Classic. photo Futurestour.com

Britain's long distance swimmers gained an excellent start to the 5th FINA World Open Water Swimming Championships with both Cassie Patten and Keri-Anne Payne finishing in the top ten to qualify their place at this year's Olympics against a world-class field.

In the women’s race, Russia’s Larisa Ilchenko (2:02:02.7) won after trailing behind Cassandra Patten (GBR) (2:02:05.8) for the entire 10km. With her victory, Ilchenko succeeded in defending her 10km title from the 4th FINA Open Water Swimming Championships in 2006. Bronze went to Yurema Requena (ESP) in a time of 2:02.07.2.

Émilie Heymans of St-Lambert, Que., beat out the reigning world champion for the silver medal on Saturday in the women’s 10-metre tower at the 2008 Maple Leaf Simply Fresh Canada Cup diving competition. photo diving.ca

The pre-race favourites in the Womens K2 500m event were Rachel Cawthorn and Hayleigh Mason who won in April, but they were pushed back into 4th place this time with an impressive win for 6 times World Marathon Champion, Anna Hemmings and Junior European Sprint Champion Jess Walker.

Carolyn Murray of Canada pulled off quite an upset, winning today's Richards Bay BG Triathlon World Cup, the first world cup title of her career. Aussie Felicity Abram took the silver with a strong finish while last year's silver medalist Magali Di marco of Switzerland made the podium for the second straight year, holding on for bronze. photo Silke Wechsel/triathlon.org

Vera Zvonareva won her first Sony Ericsson WTA Tour singles title of the year and the sixth of her career on Sunday, beating Victoria Azarenka in straight sets in the final of the ECM Prague Open.

Gisela Dulko won a tense two-setter over Anabel Medina Garrigues on Sunday afternoon for the Grand Prix de SAR La Princesse Lalla Meryem title. It is her third career Sony Ericsson WTA Tour singles title. Qatar Telecom German Open starts tomorrow

Round 5 action of ANZ Championship is set to explode this weekend, with pride on the line and rivalry at its fiercest as the intra-nation battles are fought. Watch out for the match of the round with the highly anticipated top of the table clash between the NSW Swifts and the Melbourne Vixens in Newcastle on Monday night.

Hosting an international netball test in Canberra is now a possibility following the announcement this week of a major re-vamp of the ACT Netball Centre in Lyneham.

Like their male counterparts, teams from Brazil and host China earned the first two spots in this week’s SWATCH FIVB World Tour event after winning a pair of Beach Volleyball matches each here Friday, but the South American entry of Talita Antunes and Renata Ribeiro was a “surprise”. photo FIVB