American athletes claim shuttle hurdles and 2x2x400m titles on day one in Yokohama, while Britain’s 4x100m men run a world lead

There were some thrills, spills and an impressive juggling act on the first day of the IAAF World Relays in Yokohama, with American teams claiming the two titles on offer.

Both the mixed shuttle hurdles and 2x2x400m were making a debut at the event, which was being held in Japan for the first time after three editions in The Bahamas.

As well as World Relays titles, athletes were also racing for IAAF World Championships qualification and Britain’s men’s 4x100m team plus the 4x400m squads all secured their spots for the global event taking place in Doha later this year.

On an evening dominated by heats, the 2x2x400m was the first final and it saw American 800m indoor record-holder Donavan Brazier team up with Ce’Aira Brown to clock 3:36.92 for victory ahead of Australia (3:37.61) and Japan (3:38.36).

The shuttle hurdles final brought the first evening of action to a close and after some exciting racing in the heats, the final ended up being a two-way battle for the win.

While the Jamaica team did not take to the starting line, Australia were disqualified for a false start, leaving an American quartet of Christina Clemons, Freddie Crittenden, Sharika Nelvis and Devon Allen to race against the host nation team of Ayako Kimura, Shunya Takayama, Masumi Aoki and Taio Kanai.

The event required each of the two male team members to race over 110m in one direction, handing over to one of their two female team-mates to hurdle back up the straight over 100m, running out an extra 10 metres at the end of their legs.

After a close start, a strong third leg by national indoor champion Nelvis made an impact and she handed over to 2016 Olympic 110m hurdles fifth-placer Allen, who crossed the line with 54.96 on the clock to win ahead of Japan’s 55.59.

Interview with @SheTheMann_ing after forming part of the @usatf team to win the inaugural World Relays shuttle hurdles title at @IAAFYokohama19 pic.twitter.com/yi28qeHyFX

— Athletics Weekly (@AthleticsWeekly) May 11, 2019

Great Britain did not field teams in either of those events but of the five events the nation did contest on the first day of action, teams qualified for the world championships in four of them.

Ahead of the event CJ Ujah had told AW how the men’s 4x100m team was looking to “put down a marker” and they started strongly by running a world-leading time of 38.11 to win their heat.

Ujah was joined in the team by his fellow world gold medallists Adam Gemili and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake, plus Harry Aikines-Aryeetey.

Brazil were second in that heat in 38.22, while other heat winners were Italy (38.29) and USA (38.34). The Jamaica team of Nesta Carter, Julian Forte, Rasheed Dwyer and Tyquendo Tracey just qualified for the final after running 38.51 for third behind GB.

“It was a cold night and we just wanted to get through,” said Gemili. “We wanted to be sensible so we were pretty safe with the check marks, relying on foot speed.

“Now we can play around with it tomorrow. But we have qualified for Doha and that is the main thing.”

There was disappointment for the GB women’s squad however as they were unable to get the baton around and will now look to secure a world championships place via world ranking at the end of the qualification period.

A late line-up change saw the withdrawal of Asha Philip, who had a tight hamstring, and Kristal Awuah replaced her on leg one. After she handed the baton to Desiree Henry, the changeover to Ashleigh Nelson did not go to plan and anchor Daryll Neita was left without the chance to run.

The US team went quickest in the heats with a world-leading 42.51, while Germany clocked 43.03, Brazil 43.07 and Jamaica 43.08.

The top 10 teams in the men’s and women’s 4x100m and 4x400m all secure world championships places for Doha, along with the top 12 teams in the mixed 4x400m.

Britain’s Zoey Clark, Laviai Nielsen, Amy Allcock and Emily Diamond finished second in their 4x400m heat with 3:28.31 to qualify for the final and Doha as third-fastest overall behind the US team (3:25.72 WL) and Poland (3:28.05), while the GB’s men’s 4x400m team of Rabah Yousif, Dwayne Cowan, Cameron Chalmers and Martyn Rooney ran 3:03.11 to finish third in their heat and sixth overall to also advance and qualify for Doha.

The American squad clocked 3:02.06 to go quickest overall in the men’s heats ahead of world champions Trinidad and Tobago with 3:02.49.

“It was hard, I felt rusty,” said Rooney. “It is early in the season and I think our guys need a couple more races and we would be winning heats like this.

“The Czech guy [Michal Desenský] ran in front of me and I had to take a step inside. I am not very good at stop start running any more. It was enjoyable and I enjoyed having a go.”

The GB mixed 4x400m quartet of Alex Haydock-Wilson, Finette Agyapong, Anyika Onuora and Jamal Rhoden-Stevens missed out on a place in the final after running 3:20.49 but that time placed them 12th overall to secure a spot for Doha.

Poland were quickest in the heats with 3:15.46 from the USA (3:16.01) and Italy (3:16.12).

There was great support for the host nation in the Yokohama International Stadium but among the most talked-about performances was an impressive, but illegal, baton change between Yuki Koike and Yoshihide Kiryu in their men’s 4x100m heat.

In a great position approaching the final bend, the two athletes were unable to get a smooth changeover and ended up juggling the baton, with Kiryu somehow managing to catch it to allow them to finish, though they were later disqualified.

New Olympic sport for Tokyo 2020: baton juggling. pic.twitter.com/ehKXU50cMt

— Steven Mills (@Trackside2019) May 11, 2019

SAPULPA, Okla. — The Lucas Oil National Open Wheel 600 Series presented by Tel-Star Technologies championship point leader in all three premier divisions was victorious on Friday evening at Creek County Speedway.

Frank Flud extended his lead in the championship standings in both the Stock Non-Wing and Winged ‘A’ Class divisions by virtue of his trips to Victory Lane and Ryan Timms added to his Restricted ‘A’ Class points lead thanks to another triumph.

Flud captured his fourth straight NOW600 Series Stock Non-Wing win and his second of the season at Creek County Speedway. Timms placed second with Chase Randall third, Justin Patocka fourth and Seth Shebester fifth.

Flud also continued his dominance in the Winged ‘A’ Class division by posting his seventh win in eight NOW600 Series races this season. Randall earned a runner-up result with Gage Laney third, Cole Roberts fourth and Timms fifth.

Timms scored his series-leading fifth Restricted ‘A’ Class triumph. Rees Moran edged Laplante for the second-place position with Elizabeth Phillips fourth and Timothy Watson III fifth.

WATSONVILLE, Calif. — Justin Sanders won his first Taco Bravo 360 Sprint Car Series feature of the season at the Ocean Speedway on Friday night.

Sanders led all 30 laps in his familiar yellow No. 17 after starting on the front row.

A surprised Koen Shaw finished in the runner-up spot followed by two-time feature winner Bud Kaeding. Shaw started in the next to the last row of the 14-car field and took full advantage of a lap-28 caution to advance thru the field surprising both Kaeding and polesitter J.J. Ringo Jr.

Ringo had his best performance of the season by winning his heat race and then the dash, putting him on the pole for the main event. But it was Sanders who used a cross over move going into the first turn who would take command of feature and surviving a late-race caution.

Sanders showed why he is a master of the Santa Cruz Fairgrounds track, building up a comfortable lead until the race’s only caution with just two laps to go, would slow the field. Jason Chisum and Jayson Bright had an issue in the first turn.

Chisum had a fine run going after making the dash putting him in the third starting spot for the feature. His night would end however as he was towed off the track.

With a green-white-checkered restart, it was Shaw who would move past both Ringo and Kaeding to take a surprising second-place finish.

It was Sanders who was the last of 14 cars to qualify, who set fast time.

The 20-lap midget feature was won by David Prickett, his second win of the season at Ocean.

The finish:

Justin Sanders, Koen Shaw, Bud Kaeding, J.J. Ringo, Brad Furr, Jake Andreotti, Kurt Nelson, Jeremy Chisum, Kyler Shaw, Jayson Bright, Keith Day Jr. Jason Chisum, Richard Fajardo, Chris Nelson

MORRIS, Ill. — Illinois stock car veteran Eddie Hoffman captured the 30-lap late model feature race at the Grundy County Speedway Friday night, which highlighted the 49th season-opening program at the northern Illinois raceway.

Hoffman, the speedway’s defending late model track champion, wheeled his Feece Oil Co./Advanced Generator /Ronco Trailer Sales-sponsored Mustang to the victory. A five-time late model titlist and the winningest late model driver in the speedway’s history, Hoffman scored his 135th career feature win at the third-of-a-mile paved fairgrounds oval.

Hoffman got by early leader Nathan Kelly as the race approached the half-way mark with Hoffman stretching his lead to a 1.211-second advantage at the checkered flag.  David Einhaus, Scott Koerner, James Gregait and fastest qualifier Keith Tolf were chasing the leading duo at the finish.

“I was going to try and take my time (to take the lead),” said Hoffman. “There were a lot of laps left.  He (Kelly) was actually pretty fast, but he had to really drive it. We were able to be fast and not kill the car. He ran real well, but bobbled in turn four. It’s not the easiest track to get a hold of on a cool, damp night. My car was really good. I haven’t been this happy with a car in a while.”

The night featured for the first-time late model racing on the smaller, treaded, Hoosier D800 series tire – compared to the wider, 10-inch, slick Hoosier tires used in the past.  After the race, Hoffman commented about the new tire rule, “The tire seemed fine to me.  They’re a little slower and they don’t look like the normal tire that we’ve run forever.  My car was good on them.  Personally, I don’t have any complaints (about the tires).  I’m fine with the tire, but it’s easy for the guy in victory lane to say that.”

Aaron Shelton won the 25-lap Mid-American sportsman feature race, which was slowed by numerous caution flags. Shelton worked his way by Luke Baldwin for the top spot with Baldwin and fast qualifier Kevin Murphy tangling up, bringing out a caution flag as they battled for second place. Last year’s division champion, Chad Proctor finished second, followed by John Ventrello, Ted Diangikes and Tristen Batson.

Matt Chester did “double duty” and came home a “double winner” during the night as he won both the street stock and four-cylinder division feature races.

In the 25-lap street stock headliner, Chester held off the challenges of defending division titlist John Senerchia to pick up the win. Finishing behind the top two were Randy Weese, Seth Blommaert and James Dean. Chester closed out the evening of racing by winning the 15-lap four-cylinder division main event.

SAPULPA, Okla. — Laying down a dominating performance on Friday night, Sean McClelland led non-stop at Creek County Speedway for his 18th career victory with the American Bank of Oklahoma ASCS Sooner Region presented by Smiley’s Racing Products.

Trailing through the first start, the caution flew for the No. 2c of Wayne Johnson to bring the field side by side. Getting the better of Tucker Doughty on the next attempt, McClelland stuck to the cushion at both ends of the Creek County Speedway unless traffic forced a change in a line.

Keeping a consistent straightaway ahead of the runner-up spot, that positions changed hands in the closing laps as Sam Hafertepe Jr. rolled by the No. 2x of Tucker Doughty and made up a full second on the D&E Supply No. 22, but it was not enough as the checkered flag fell with McClelland winning by 4.142 seconds.

Hafertepe was trailed by Tucker Doughty to make the night’s podium. Alex Sewell crossed fourth with Steven Shebester making up five spots to finish fifth.

The finish:

Feature (30 Laps): 1. 22-Sean McClelland, [2]; 2. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr, [5]; 3. 2X-Tucker Doughty, [1]; 4. 8-Alex Sewell, [4]; 5. 22S-Steven Shebester, [10]; 6. 23X-Grady Chandler, [6]; 7. 15D-Andrew Deal, [11]; 8. 11G-Mike Goodman, [14]; 9. 47-Seth Bergman, [18]; 10. 52-Blake Hahn, [19]; 11. 50Z-Zach Chappell, [17]; 12. 2C-Wayne Johnson, [8]; 13. 7F-Noah Harris, [12]; 14. 26M-Fred Mattox, [7]; 15. 20G-Jake Greider, [9]; 16. 2-Joseph Miller, [16]; 17. 90-Lance Norick, [20]; 18. 31-Casey Wills, [13]; 19. 53-Brett Wilson, [3]; 20. 17W-Harli White, [15]

ATTICA, Ohio — Ryan Missler defended the home turf Friday at Attica Raceway Park.

The Bellevue, Ohio, driver — a five time Attica track champion — scored the biggest win of his career, besting the American Ethanol Late Model Tour to nab the $4,000 payday in the Buckeye 40 on Stillwater Metal/Bazell Race Fuels Night.

Missler battled with Doug Drown early in the 40-lap affair and then had to deal with Greg Satterlee as well later on. With 14 laps to go, Missler used lapped cars to his advantage and charged from third to first and drove to his 14th career victory at Attica, placing him in a three way tie for third on the track’s all-time win list for the UMP late models.

“After the restart (on lap 13) I thought, ‘Oh crap the car isn’t firing the way it was before.’ But as the laps went on the car kept getting better and better and better and I was so comfortable in that thing…it was awesome. The car just picked where it wanted to go and it was good anywhere I wanted to put it. I have to thank all my guys. Matt Carmody for putting this thing together…it’s his birthday and his wife’s birthday on the same day…how about that for a present? This is the biggest race I’ve ever won. We’ve only ever won a $2,000 to win race. We defended our home turf,” said Missler.

Satterlee would hold off Drown for the runner-up finish, though blaming himself for “making too many mistakes.”

“Drown and Missler were both really good. I just made too many mistakes. Drown pushed off the corner there once and needed to take advantage and had made a bad corner myself and I let him get back by me. I got to where I was hanging at the end and just couldn’t go near as hard as I could the first 25 laps. It’s a step in the right direction. We haven’t had a real good season so far. It was a lot of fun and and an awesome race track tonight,” said Satterlee.

Drown came home third.

“I just cruised too long. I was looking over my shoulder and saw them and they were down on the bottom and normally on the bottom you will wear out a tire so I was just cruising. Ryan had a good car and could maneuver anywhere,” said Drown.

Kyle Capodice was in the right place at the right time to capitalize when early race contenders suffered mechanical woes in the Fremont Fence 305 sprint feature. For much of the 25 laps main event it looked like the race would come down to Jamie Miller or Kyle Peters but first Peters retired with mechanical problems and then Miller suffered the same fate with just six laps remaining and Capodice drove to the win, the fourth of his career at Attica.

“We were better on the long runs and I just really wanted to win. We went through a drought last year and I can’t thank Franlin Sanitation, Greber Racing Components, Barnes Nursery, Fred Wolf, Rob Butts and Lynette Lawless, Burns Electric, my fiancee Kylie, my Dad and Tyler Crump who isn’t here tonight because he just became a dad,” said Capodice.

Shawn Valenti knows a great race vehicle when he drives one and his dirt truck was unstoppable at Attica as he drove to a dominating feature win, the 16th of his career in the division at the track.

The finish:

Feature (40 laps):  1. 50-Ryan Missler[2] ; 2. 22-Gregg Satterlee[7] ; 3. 12-Doug Drown[1] ; 4. M14-Brandon Thirlby[11] ; 5. 51-Devin Shields[8] ; 6. 17-Zack Dohm[5] ; 7. 5M-Ryan Markham[10] ; 8. 87M-David Mielke[6] ; 9. 77-Steve Kestter[3] ; 10. 27-Eric Spangler[14] ; 11. CJ1-Rusty Schlenk[15] ; 12. 21B-Rich Bell[17] ; 13. 2S-Travis Stemler[20] ; 14. 21A-Logan Arntz[21] ; 15. RH21-Gregg Haskell[9] ; 16. X3-Dan Wallace[13] ; 17. 44-Matt Shipley[4] ; 18. 79-Nick Kurtz[19] ; 19. C9-Steve Casebolt[16] ; 20. 42-Chad Finley[12] ; 21. 36-Matt Irey[18]

Despite missing out on an automatic promotion spot, a place in the Premier League remains tantalisingly close for four Championship clubs via the playoffs.

But only two teams can advance to the final, dubbed "the richest game in football," at Wembley on May 27 (live on ESPN+). (Oh, and unlike the Champions League, away goals don't matter here.) Will it be playoff heartbreak yet again for fallen giants Leeds when they face Derby? Who will win the Midlands battle between former European champions Aston Villa and last season's top-flight dropouts, West Brom?

Here's everything you need to know, from the managers to the potential match-winners, who can decide the ties to the keys for victory.

Jump to: Derby vs. Leeds | Villa vs. West Brom

Derby County vs. Leeds United

WHEN:
-- First leg: Saturday, 7:30 a.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. BST (Live on ESPN+)
-- Second leg: Wednesday, 2:45 p.m. ET / 7:45 p.m. ET (Live on ESPN+)

The backstory: Frank Lampard's Derby face Marcelo Bielsa's Leeds for the first time since "Spygate," the furore sparked in January when a Leeds employee was sent to covertly scout a Derby training session. Leeds were aiming for automatic promotion until the last few weeks of the season but fell away alarmingly and only just finished third, while Derby secured their place in the top six on the final day of the regular season. Leeds won both of their previous league fixtures, 4-1 at Pride Park in August and 2-0 in the return at Elland Road.

This would be a tasty enough tie -- two great clubs of the 1970s with enmity going back decades -- even without two of the biggest names who have ever managed in the Championship in either dugout. But when you throw in the spying controversy -- questions about which Lampard wearily tolerated and Bielsa angrily rejected this week -- as well, then this has the potential to be one of the spiciest playoff games in recent memory.

How they match up: Lampard noted last weekend that Leeds will be favourites, on the basis that they finished third, nine points ahead of Derby, but recent form might point the other way. Leeds have looked weary for months, Bielsa's intensely demanding style possibly taking its toll on a young and relatively shallow squad, and they lost three of their last four games of the campaign. Derby, on the other hand, have lost just one of their last 12 and reacted superbly when put under pressure by West Brom in that crucial final game.

Derby star to watch: Derby's best players this season have been loanees, in defender Fikayo Tomori and midfielder Mason Mount (both from Chelsea), but their biggest attacking threat is probably Harry Wilson, borrowed from Liverpool, who possesses a cannon of a left foot and can rip through defences.

Leeds star to watch: Pablo Hernandez has been not just Leeds' best player this season but arguably the best in the whole division, the former Swansea and Valencia winger now acting as one of Bielsa's attacking central midfielders in his 4-1-4-1 formation.

X factor -- Derby: Tomori, a silky smooth defender with a calmness and sense of timing that allows him to dominate strikers despite not being that physically imposing, has improved all season and will be in the Premier League next season either way. If he maintains his form and keeps out Leeds, it might just be with Derby. If Ashley Cole is fit, he could provide coolness and experience in these most high-pressured of games.

X factor -- Leeds: Kemar Roofe was the club's star man in the first half of the season but was injured in February and wasn't able to get back into the team after returning to fitness. However, with Patrick Bamford suspended, Leeds will rely on Roofe for goals.

Derby need to ... keep a close eye on Hernandez, particularly as Bradley Johnson, their holding midfielder, has probably been their weak link in recent weeks.

Leeds need to ... finish their chances. In their last four games, which yielded just a point and cost them automatic promotion, Leeds took 108 shots, 25 of which were on target, but they scored only four goals. They will need to be more clinical.

Prediction: Derby County. They should win the first leg at home, and then have enough to close things out at Elland Road.

Aston Villa vs. West Bromwich Albion

WHEN:
-- First leg: Saturday, 12:15 p.m. ET / 5:15 p.m. BST (Live on ESPN+)
-- Second leg: Tuesday, 3 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. ET (Live on ESPN+)

The backstory: Local rivals face off in a derby that is usually pretty lively, even without the crushing pressure of the playoffs. Both teams have changed their manager this season, with Villa fan Dean Smith taking over at his boyhood club in October, when Steve Bruce was dismissed with the side 15th in the table and going nowhere, and he's assisted by former England captain John Terry.

West Brom's dugout switch was more unexpected, as Darren Moore paid the surprising price for a winless three games in March, even though they were fourth in the table and with an outside chance of automatic promotion. Caretaker boss Jimmy Shan took charge, and since then has done a very decent job considering the uncertainty over his position and constant speculation over whether a more permanent boss might be appointed.

How they match up: These are perhaps two of the best matched teams that could face each other in a playoff game. After an indifferent start under Smith and a terrible run around the turn of the year, Villa have been in blistering form since March, and come into this game flying. West Brom haven't been as rampant but won the last game between the two, and have a wealth of talent available that means they could have the ability to turn the tie if things are going against them.

Villa's star to watch: It's no coincidence that Villa's recent brilliant run began when Jack Grealish returned from an injury that had kept him out for the guts of three months. Since coming back, Grealish has been made captain and has lead by being the division's outstanding individual player since March.

West Brom's star to watch: West Brom are at their best when Jay Rodriguez and Dwight Gayle combine. The forwards have 45 goals between them this season, which accounts for over half of their overall total. If they're to make it into the final, these two will need to fire.

X factor -- Villa: Tammy Abraham. The Chelsea loanee might turn out to be one of those players who are excellent in the Championship but aren't quite good enough for the Premier League, but he has scored 25 goals this season and will be back after missing three games, thus theoretically well-rested.

X factor -- West Brom: Shan switches between a 3-4-3 and 3-5-2 system, and in both the central midfielders are vital. In Rekeem Harper they have a youngster who is going to be a star, the complete modern midfielder who can run and run and run, but also pass and pass and pass.

Villa need to ... get the ball to Grealish as much as possible. When he has control of the game, he can bend it to his will, and if Villa are to succeed most things will go through him.

West Brom need to ... attack Villa with gusto. Villa's signing of defender Tyrone Mings in January was inspired, and really helped to tighten their backline. But West Brom need to back their excellent forwards to break through, and should do so early on.

Prediction: Aston Villa. To a point, form can go out the window in the playoffs, but Villa's fine run has been more a true reflection of their ability rather than a transient spell of good play.

‘It has been an emotional week and I was very nervous today’
By ELLIE MAWSON in Manchester

England’s former World No.1 Laura Massaro got her 2019 Manchester Open campaign off to a winning start after she overcame compatriot Millie Tomlinson in round two at the National Squash Centre.

The 2013 world champion announced earlier this week that she will retire at the end of the season and she ensured that she put on a strong showing in front of her home crowd as she powered past World No.22 Tomlinson by an 11-8, 11-4, 11-8 margin at the PSA World Tour Silver event.

“I had to adapt as I was on there,” said Massaro following her win. “I went with it, sticking with the bits that were working, and trying to work out the bits that weren’t. I felt pretty focussed on there more than anything, despite it being such a tough week.

“It has been an emotional week, and I was really nervous today, just because I have got so many amazing people and I didn’t want to let them down on what could have been my last performance.”

She will now face top seed and Egypt’s World No.3 Nour El Tayeb in tomorrow’s quarter finals after she conquered France’s World No.35 Coline Aumard in straight-games to advance.

PSA World Championship runner-up El Tayeb was forced to utilise her experience as she battled back from going behind in the third to send out the Frenchwoman by an 11-9, 11-5, 11-8 scoreline.

“I thought we were going to a fourth,” said the 25-year-old Egyptian. “She has improved so much from the last time we played and I could see that because I’ve been following her results recently. She can attack anything that was short and would attack it very well. It was a very hard game and I’m pleased with how I played.

“I’m in the state of mind where the seeding is just a number. I’m just happy to be in the quarter-final of another tournament and hopefully, whoever I play I can play well.”

They will be joined in the quarter finals by English No.1 Sarah-Jane Perry after she toppled eight-time World Champion Nicol David, who like Massaro will also retire at the end of the season, in four-games.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

The tall Englishwoman started strongly, before losing her concentration in the third as David mounted a comeback. The Malaysian continued that momentum into the fourth, but Perry was able to reign her back in to close out in four games.

“When I saw the draw, Nicol had announced she was going to retire and there was that bit of dread in your mind that will the occasion get into my head a bit,” said 28-year-old Perry. “But on the other side I was actually really happy because she is such a fantastic player and I wanted that thrill of competing against Nicol one last time.

“It’s fantastic to have such a big women’s event in England. We haven’t had many of them and so I would like to thank the support of Manchester City Council and the PSA and everyone else who has made it possible.”

Perry will take on Wales’ World No.9 Tesni Evans in the next round after she put in an immaculate display against Dutch No.1 Milou van der Heijden to advance in Manchester.

The Welshwoman, who won her first British Nationals title at the National Squash Centre, proved that she was a contender for the PSA World Tour Silver title after she sent van der Heijden out by an 11-7, 11-9, 11-3 margin.

“Any time I play Milou and come out with a 3-0 win then I’m really happy,” said 26-year-old Evans. “She is playing some really good squash at the moment and it definitely won’t be long until she is moving up more than she already is.

“I think the court suits me and I just love playing here. It’s so close to home and I’ve had good wins here and good memories, so I hope that will have a part this week.

“The women’s tour is amazing at the moment and for us to have standalone events and show what we can do is really important.”

Number two seed Joelle King ensured a safe passage through to the last eight as she overcame a resilient Nele Gilis of Belgium.

The World No.5 started strongly to take the first two games, before Gilis made life difficult for the New Zealander by taking the third. In the end, King’s experience proved to be too much for the Belgian to handle, as her class shone through to take an 11-5, 12-10, 8-11, 11-1 victory.

“I felt like in the first I had my game plan pretty spot on,” said 30-year-old King. “She has had some good results of late and has been pushing the top players so her resilience doesn’t go away. She has improved as a squash player a lot and I know it was going to be tough today and it was.

“It’s like any court, when you are playing well then you enjoy it and when you’re not then it’s not the best day. I felt like I got some good game time today and I found areas on the court that worked well and hopefully it can continue tomorrow.”

Next up for King is England’s former World No.3 Alison Waters after she fought off a comeback from Egypt’s World No.14 Salma Hany.

Waters claimed the brighter start as she opened up a two-game lead, before Hany boldly battled back to claim the next two and push the match to a tense fifth.

It looked as though the tie was going to go in the way of the Egyptian as she raced into a 9-5 lead, however, Waters soon fought back and eventually was able to see out the victory and book herself a place in the last eight.

“I just thought if I’m going to lose this then I need to go out trying something,” said the Englishwoman. “My shots came off and I just tried to be relaxed and I think that was my whole thing for the game.

“Sometimes you just need to not put so much pressure on yourself and let it flow and I did that and luckily I came out the winner.

“We were here each year for the Nationals and so I have some good memories. It feels a bit like a second home and I’m pleased to be back here in Manchester.”

The other quarter final tie will see Egypt’s World No.7 Nouran Gohar face United States No.1 Amanda Sobhy after they secured respective wins over England’s Emily Whitlock and Julianne Courtice.

Gohar was forced to fightback from one-game down against Whitlock as the Englishwoman started strongly to nullify the attacking intent of the hard-hitting Egyptian. However, the World No.7 was able to maintain her composure to come back and secure a quarter final berth.

“Her length was immaculate today,” said 21-year-old Gohar. “Usually I’m the one who plays it in the backside and hit the ball in the right positions, but she did that today and I had to try and find another solution.

“The last two months have been good and I’m trying to play well on court and the results will come for sure.”

Meanwhile, Sobhy took out home favourite and Manchester-based Courtice in a tough battle to move into the next round.

“Last time we played it was on home soil for me, we played in Chicago,” said the 25-year-old from Boston. “I had the home crowd which helps a lot and the home court advantage, it was the reverse this time and she has been playing really well. She has improved a ton since we last played in February, so hats off to her for really making me push this round and I’m really happy to be through.

“I played Nouran a couple of years ago when I came back on tour after being injured. She had a really good week in El Gouna and I had a pretty decent week as well. I’m looking forward to tomorrow and it should be good.”

The quarter-finals take place today (Saturday May 11) at 17:00 local time (UTC+1) and the action will be broadcast live on SQUASHTV (rest of world), Eurosport Player (Europe only) and the official Facebook page of the PSA World Tour (excluding Europe and Japan). 

PSA $76,000 Women’s Manchester Open 2019, National Squash Centre, Manchester, England.

Second Round:
[1] Nour El Tayeb (EGY) bt Coline Aumard (FRA) 11-9, 11-5, 11-8 (35m)
[5] Laura Massaro (ENG) bt Millie Tomlinson (ENG) 11-8, 11-4, 11-8 (38m)
[6] Tesni Evans (WAL) bt Milou van der Heijden (NED) 11-7, 11-9, 11-3 (30m)
[3] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) bt Nicol David (MAS) 11-7, 11-9, 6-11, 11-6 (42m)
[4] Nouran Gohar (EGY) bt Emily Whitlock (ENG) 7-11, 11-9, 11-5, 11-5 (37m)
[8] Amanda Sobhy (USA) bt Julianne Courtice (ENG) 4-11, 11-2, 11-6, 11-9 (33m)
[7] Alison Waters (ENG) bt Salma Hany (EGY) 11-6, 11-9, 9-11, 8-11, 11-9 (49m)
[2] Joelle King (NZL) bt Nele Gilis (BEL) 11-5, 12-10, 8-11, 11-1 (42m)
Quarter Finals:
[1] Nour El Tayeb (EGY) v [5] Laura Massaro (ENG)
[3] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) v [6] Tesni Evans (WAL)
[4] Nouran Gohar (EGY) v [8] Amanda Sobhy (USA)
[2] Joelle King (NZL) v [7] Alison Waters (ENG)

Pictures courtesy of PSA 

BELLEVILLE, Ill. – Leading from start-to-finish, Austin Brown of nearby Millstadt, Ill., was the hometown hero on Friday night, dominating Belle-Clair Speedway to win the 28th annual Knepper Memorial.

The wire-to-wire score aboard the BOSS Chassis/Toyota Racing No. 17 marked the fifth-career POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget League victory for Brown.

Earning the pole position via a strong sixth-to-first heat race win, Brown took the green flag for the 30-lapper with 16-year old Cannon McIntosh of Bixby, Okla., to his outside in the Dave Mac Motorsports/Spike-Toyota No. 08.

Brown immediately shot to the lead as McIntosh fell back and three-time POWRi champion Zach Daum moved into second aboard his Daum Motorsports/Eagle-Toyota No. 5d.

With lap traffic looming, Daum and defending Knepper Memorial winner Tucker Klaasmeyer were hot on Brown’s heels and ready to challenge. However, a lap 11 caution bunched the field back up and allowed Brown to sneak away, while a frenzy ensued behind him.

That frenzy saw Daum, Klaasmeyer, McIntosh and Tanner Carrick all squaring off, while Brown continued to pace the field.

The battle raged for second, with multiple position swaps between Daum and McIntosh. A red flag for top-10 running Tyler Thomas on lap 24, followed by a three-car tangle on the final lap between Klaasmeyer, Logan Seavey and Carrick shuffled the lineup late.

On the final green-white-checkered restart, Brown quickly pulled away, while Daum and McIntosh’s battle reached the boiling point.

As Brown came out of turn four to take the double checkered flags, Daum and McIntosh collided and tangled at the apex, both coming to a stop and ending a chaotic feature event.

Nonetheless, it was Brown’s night, as he climbed atop the BOSS/Toyota No. 17 following his wire-to-wire run and received both a standing ovation and roaring applause.

Escaping the wreckage of the final corner and leaving with a career-best second-place finish was California’s Jesse Colwell, while rounding out the podium with another career-best finish was Oklahoma’s Ace McCarthy, who hauled from 17th-to-third.

Finishing fourth was Oklahoma’s Kaylee Bryson and taking fifth was Jake Neuman.

Dirt modified ace Nick Hoffman crossed sixth in his POWRi debut, with rookie Daison Pursley, Nick Knepper, Presley Truedson and Chance Morton completing the top 10.

The finish:

1. 17-Austin Brown (1); 2. 71-Jesse Colwell (6); 3. 28-Ace McCarthy (17); 4. 11B-Kaylee Bryson (16); 5. 3N-Jake Neuman (21); 6. 21KS-Nick Hoffman (7); 7. 9-Daison Pursley (8); 8. 55-Nick Knepper (15); 9. 5T-Presley Truedson (19); 10. 7M-Chance Morton (23); 11. 67K-Holley Hollan (18); 12. 27-Tucker Klaasmeyer (4); 13. 71K-Tanner Carrick (5); 14. 67-Logan Seavey (9); 15. 5D-Zach Daum (3); 16. 08-Cannon McIntosh (2); 17. 91T-Tyler Thomas (10); 18. 3B-Shelby Bosie (14); 19. 97K-Jesse Love (11); 20. 11-Daniel Robinson (13); 21. 22-Andy Malpocker (12); 22. 30T-Tyler Vantoll (20); 23. 20G-Noah Gass (22).

Lap Leader(s): Brown 1-30.

Hard Charger(s): Neuman (+16)