Sports Today: Athletics Worlds | NASCAR | Silver Ferns v Proteas Game 1

Huge weekend of big time sport lightning quick both on foot and stock cars sports.

We saw a lot of green flag racing with less yellows while the final of the Athletics Worlds was so difficult to control under wet conditions but there were still feel good moments in the end either way.

We also waved green with the start of the Silver Ferns 2025 Season in Netball over the first of three matches v South Africa aka Proteas on New Zealand home soil.

NASCAR Cup Series: USA Today 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway 

Josh Berry had a weekend to remember in the iconic Wood Brothers outfit at New Hampshire from Top 3 qualifying into a runner-up finish to Penske’s Ryan Blaney.

Imagine if it’s the start of the opening 16 (unlucky) and not the second 12? Had he got away with the win where he just couldn’t hold much longer under pressure for the lead and had to settle for 2nd best.

Job well done though by keeping top track of his Team Penske’s supported No.21 Ford Mustang, especially when he was spun out at one point and later recovered with the long run advantage under green.

Spire had two of their own Chevy Camaros finishing well at Top 10 with Michael McDowell 9th & Carson Hocevar 11th. 

Did point out that they love running under green long enough to justify a good enough result that suits them so well.

Both drivers were Top 15 all afternoon like back-to-back 1st half Top 5 stage runs for Carson even though things didn’t quite work out later in the 2nd half. 

But huge teamwork effort at the end of the day by the two Spire Cup teams.

It’s been a while seeing Ross Chastain finish Top 10 for Trackhouse after his placed 9th run who hopes to bring front row surprises sooner than later.

With thanks to his win earlier in the year like the Coca Cola 600, he’s still in Playoffs despite sitting just one place shy right now from the next Round of 8 bubble. 

There’s two races left in this second round Playoffs as he’s gotta keep on grinding for consistent Top 7-10 results as long as others ahead of him crash out or finish poorly.

You never know if Ross clean sweeps the Charlotte Motor Speedway double both the one of the crown jewels and the Roval (road course). 

Elsewhere, unlucky outing by the Toyotas like when Denny Hamlin spun his Gibbs team-mate Ty out into the wall along with a few mistakes by others including Legacy MC’s John Hunter Nemechek.

Tyler Reddick tops the latest mid-run Camry for 23XI Racing in 21st as the last few lead up drivers just ahead of his other team-mate in the No.35 Riley Herbst.

He started from 4th following a top qualifying performance but then he had issues with the car all along unfortunately.

Tyler barely stayed sight of Top 10, tried to remedy some adjustments even under yellow, and unable to make the most out of his track position – with the long green flag runs left him a slim chance for a good finish.

Silver Ferns v Proteas: Game 1 from Auckland

Grace Nweke back in the Silver Ferns colours following a huge goal scoring spree with thanks to their well-structured passage of play full 60.

No need for an intro when she wanted to test herself at the best domestic competition earlier this year in Australia with the NSW Swifts at the time Netball New Zealand were against with overseas-based selection until 2-3 months ago.

Even though she had some setbacks like the team’s major semi-final loss v West Coast Fever, she’s still your go-to shooter who will give the best amount of goals possible as seen from Game No.1.

Martina Salmon deserves a wow off the bench during the 2nd Quarter on her Silver Ferns debut at GA with ANZ Premiership Finals experience & was able to transfer that intensity onto the International stage.

Now she may have played second fiddle when the 2025 champions Tactix were reliant on the experienced shooting duo of Ellie Bird and Te Paea Selby-Rikit. 

But again, Martina fits that kind of big match pressure at where she will getting used to be playing regularly as the Stars front-line goal attack across 10 weeks. Glad Yvette McCausland-Durie made the right decision to throw Martina at the deep end like now when the Ferns were way comfortable & confident v South Africa. 

We’ll see if she starts over Georgia Heffernan on Wednesday for Game 2 and should she keep that up, Ferns will surely back Martina 100% for the supporting role with Grace next month v the Diamonds.

Kelly Jackson also on top of her game marking and deflecting balls along with a sharp read as if she was playing Aussie Rules or Rugby at Goal Keep.

Sure she will learn all about Queensland & Brisbane with their lifestyle along with their strong hold sporting teams like the Brisbane Lions in Footy when she will be Firebirds bound under another Kiwi coach Kiri Wills next year. The men’s team are now on their way to yet another AFL Grand Final this time v Geelong after they defeated Collingwood in the Preliminary Final.

Best Protea on ground goes to Kamgelo Maseko who made a huge 2nd half impact off the bench at WA where late improvements were there than it was in the first half. I did see the starting WA having to haul off right away with a nasty shoulder complaint when that push and shove between opponents leaned more on a wrestling match than trying to compete with a Gilbert ball in a team sport itself.

We can see how South Africa were toe-to-toe with the Ferns from the beginning. 

Sometimes they need to be fearless in and out the attacking circle next time where Kelly & co. stepped in to steal the show every time Proteas were hesitant & there goes their missed opportunities. 

These kinds of tactics with no clear shortcut to run down the Ferns backline will lead nowhere & that was a heavy price to pay by a 26 goal deficit, 77-51.

And on Ferns including Netball New Zealand, happy for them to stick together amid off-field chaos with Dame Nolene Taurua (currently suspended) 12 days ago. 

There’s still a long way to go as let’s take one game at a a time – you never know what could come next month.

Part 2 of the 2025 World Athletics Championships from Tokyo: Days 5-9

Forget about setting expectations, we’re all here for big time sport like the World Athletics Championships from Gout Gout to Torrie Lewis plus women’s javelin Bronze Medalist Mackenzie Little.

We may have our Aussie Dolphin swimmers go toe-to-toe with Team USA when it comes to the best at elite-level competitions but at least a few of our track and field athletes were at their own personal bests irrespective if it’s Top 3 medals or not.

That includes Nicola Olyslagers: the one and only 2025 World Champion gold medalist for the Aussies.

She too was simply outstanding and courageous last night in the women’s high jump final where she did earn that world-class golden moment in front of world-class fans. 

Thought we could say the same for Matt Denny in the men’s discus final when things were so unlucky also due to heavy rain as said from the beginning but he should be still proud though in 4th.

Lots of moments were also made over the last nine days where you feel those goosebumps from whisker long-distance finishes to so hyped up sprint finals. But sometimes there’s also heartbreak in the process where it’s up for the disappointed athlete to bounce back next time.

Team USA always out on top like Noah Lyles’ successful title defense in the men’s 200m to Melissa Jefferson-Wooden’s women’s 100m & 200m double – and many more like Anna Hall’s first-time Worlds gold medal breakthrough in the women’s heptathlon program. 

Gotta say the hard work has finally paid off with the same to Ireland’s Kate O’Connor who finished overall second as brilliant stuff with a smile on her face.

Can’t forget the Kenyans going the distance with the long-mile races where both the men’s and women’s 800m finals were all theirs to take home the other day from Night 8. They finished 2nd on the medal tally with a total of six gold, two silver & bronze behind Team USA.

And also got to see a bit of the men’s triple jump final that stunned everyone at the last turn by Portugal’s Pedro Pichardo when not only he jumped his way for gold out of nowhere, he went straight up and said right live on camera. 

His reaction says it all in 1000 words & this place was also a familiar one to Pedro, having also won the Olympics gold there in the same category a few years ago! 

What a way to finish off with all-time golds at the one place on both Olympics and World Championships levels!! He’s a living legend I’d say.

Thank you Tokyo for being such a great host once again five years on from the 2020 Summer Olympics (in 2021 due to COVID) & glad we saw the best of both Swimming & Athletics World Championships.