Olympian Hunter Kemper wins 2010 Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon
More than 1,800 amateur and professional athletes competed in the 2010 Escape from Alcatraz(TM) Triathlon on Sunday, May 2, with Olympian Hunter Kemper from Colorado Springs, Colo. winning the prestigious event for the second time.
Leanda Cave from Tucson, Ariz., was the top finisher among the females, making her a three-time winner. Featuring a 1.5 mile swim from Alcatraz Island to the shore, an 18-mile bike ride and an eight-mile run through San Francisco, this race is considered one of the most difficult triathlons in the world. Read more
Stanford University is Top School for Academically Minded Athletes
Most Recognized, Comprehensive College Rankings & Resource for High School Athletes Awards Highest Honor to Stanford University for 2nd Straight Year Survey Lists Overall Elite 50 & Individual Team Rankings for 21 Varsity Sports
STACK Media, the leading producer and distributor of sports performance, instruction and lifestyle content for high school athletes, announced the findings from its third annual “STACK Elite 50 College Rankings” – which is the most recognized, comprehensive college rankings and resource of its kind and a powerful research tool for any high school athlete looking to compete and study at the next level. For the second straight year, Stanford University came out on top by finishing number one in seven of the 21 sport-specific rankings. Aside from the overall Elite 50 standings, which highlights the best schools in terms of a strong overall athletic presence, individual team rankings for 21 varsity sports are also listed. The full rankings can be found in STACK Media’s Holiday print edition, which is out today.
In addition to rankings and stories about top ranked schools in the Holiday edition of STACK Magazine, STACK Media has also compiled exclusive interviews with Elite 50 colleges’ coaches, athletes and academic advisors on the dedicated section of the Web site – http://elite50.stack.com/.
“Serious high school athletes want to elevate their game to the next level with credible information on training and performance, but reliable sources on their best options for schools with top academic and athletic programs are extremely limited for them to turn to,” said Nick Palazzo, Co-founder and Co-CEO of STACK Media. “The college recruiting and selection process is demanding, time consuming and stressful, and we aim to make it easier for students in researching and calculating the top colleges out there with the STACK Elite 50 College Rankings. Whatever your sport of choice may be, we’ve listed the right college for you.”
*Stanford University claims top spot
Stanford University was the first ever repeat winner by coming out number one in eight sports and fielding 17 top-15 squads, along with being ranked by U.S. News as America’s fourth best academic college/university. Florida nailed down the number two overall ranking with only one top-ranked sport (softball), but had 15 top-15 squads and was ranked 47 by U.S. News. The school jumped from last year’s number five listing.
The North Carolina Tar Heels, who were number one in ’07 and number three in ’08, claim their third consecutive top-five overall finish. UNC dominates the baseball diamond with an Elite 50 “Triple Crown” – three years running as the top baseball program. This was combined with a well-respected U.S. News spot at 28 and 11 top-15 teams. The Texas Longhorns came in at number four, but dropped from number two overall last year. And rounding out the top five is the University of South Carolina thanks to a sneaky four-sport attack, led by the football squad’s three-peat. Women’s golf, men’s tennis and men’s T&F also ranked number one.
“It was another competitive year for the top spot, with many worthy contenders,” Palazzo added. “We congratulate Stanford University for yet another number one ranking. The men and women of Palo Alto can be very proud for upholding the title of best college for academically minded athletes. And any high school athlete looking to play at the collegiate level has 50 fantastic schools from our Elite 50 list that they should have on their radar screen, as they are all top-notch schools in terms of both academics and sports.”
*College rankings by sport
Below are the top five college rankings in each of the sports that were included in the Elite 50 rankings:
Football
1. USC
2. Florida
3. Ohio State
4. Texas
5. Georgia
Men’s Basketball
1. UNC
2. UCLA
3. Kansas
4. Duke
5. Memphis
Women’s Basketball
1. Stanford
2. UConn
3. UNC
4. Duke
5. Maryland
Baseball
1. UNC
2. Rice
3. Virginia
4. ASU
5. Florida State
Men’s Soccer
1. Wake Forest
2. Maryland
3. Notre Dame
4. Northwestern
5. Indiana
Women’s Soccer
1. UNC
2. Notre Dame
3. UCLA
4. Stanford
5. USC
Men’s Swimming
1. Stanford
2. Michigan
3. Cal
4. Florida
5. Texas
Women’s Swimming
1. Stanford
2. Cal
3. Florida
4. Georgia
5. Texas
Hockey
1. Michigan
2. Notre Dame
3. Boston University
4. Miami (OH)
5. Boston College
Men’s Track
1. USC
2. Texas
3. Stanford
4. Florida
5. Texas A&M
Women’s Track
1. Michigan
2. Stanford
3. USC
4. Texas A&M
5. Florida
Wrestling
1. Michigan
2. Ohio State
3. Northwestern
4. Penn State
5. Cornell
Lacrosse
1. Duke
2. Virginia
3. Notre Dame
4. Cornell
5. UNC
Volleyball
1. Stanford
2. Penn State
3. Florida
4. Nebraska
5. Washington
Softball
1. Florida
2. Michigan
3. Alabama
4. Stanford
5. Arizona State University
In order to determine the sport-specific rankings, STACK Media uses five main indicators of excellence. One source is the 2010 U.S. News & World Report on America’s best colleges, which each year ranks the nation’s top colleges and universities, strictly in terms of academic prowess. Also considered is the Academic Progress Rate (APR) system that measures how well a collegiate athletic team’s members progress toward graduation during their playing careers. A third indicator is the end-of-the-season national rankings and polls from various national outlets that sum up the entire season’s results. A team’s win-loss record is also considered, where the number of games over .500 for each team is calculated over the past three seasons, and then awarded points based on that total. Finally, there’s the ‘STACK Factor,’ or the strength of the overall athletic community in terms of the level of athletic support and ability throughout all 21 varsity sports covered.
Source: STACK Media
H2O Audio unveils advanced waterproof headphones and updated Interval waterproof headphone system
New High-Performance Designs Deliver Superior Sound Quality and Functionality In and Out of the Water
H2O Audio unveiled three progressive new products: the Surge Pro, H2O Audio’s Balanced Armature waterproof headphone featuring a compact design and premium sound quality; the Surge Sportwrap, an ergonomically designed neckband headphone that provides stability and comfort for active sports like running, surfing and wakeboarding; and the updated Interval Waterproof Headphone System specifically designed for Apple’s 3rd Generation iPod shuffle with built-in Surge Waterproof Headphones and convenient “Made for iPod” controls. All new products are available for purchase online at www.h20audio.com, and are scheduled to hit major retailers nationwide including Apple, Best Buy, Sports Authority and Amazon.com later this month.
“The team here continues to raise the bar in waterproof audio design and technology via our collaboration with some of the world’s finest athletes,” said John Paul Cavanaugh, CEO, H2O Audio. “These new products reinforce our commitment to provide the best waterproof headphones and accessories to meet the needs of all types of athletes.”
Precisely designed and rigorously tested, the new products reflect H2O Audio’s roots in watersports and the active lifestyle. Developed using the company’s patented waterproof technology and insight from H2O Audio’s Athlete Ambassadors including Michael Phelps, Natalie Coughlin, and Laird Hamilton, the entire collection features 100% waterproof and sweatproof durability to withstand heavy perspiration, rinsing after active use, and submersion under water up to 12 ft.
“H2O Audio offers a great line of waterproof products and I am excited to see their progress in design and technology,” commented Michael Phelps. “I hope more people get in the pool for exercise now that they can bring their music with them.”
Source: www.h2oaudio.com
Kessler Top 10 important tips on water safety
Summer is here and along with days spent at the pool, lake or ocean comes the increased risk of water-related injuries. In fact, diving is among the leading causes of spinal cord and traumatic head injuries in the United States today.
“Diving is arguably the most dangerous thing a person can do in water,” says Steven Kirshblum, MD, Medical Director and Director of Spinal Cord Injury Services at Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, West Orange, NJ. “Injuries to the head, neck and spinal column are serious and can result in paralysis, or even death.”
Each year thousands of people nationwide suffer spinal cord injuries and head trauma from diving into water that is too shallow. Diving accounts for more than half of all sports-related spinal cord injuries and statistics indicate that 90% of diving-related accidents occur in water that is eight feet deep or less, and a majority of these accidents take place at home in above- or below- ground pools.
Whether you are a pool owner or guest, go to the lake or beach, safety is a priority. Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, one of the nation’s leading rehabilitation hospitals and one of only 6 federally designated Model Systems for the treatment and research of both traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries, offers these Top 10 Water Safety Tips:
- If you are a pool owner, be sure to have clearly marked depth indicators around the entire pool. Post “No Diving” signs – and enforce that rule!
- Watch your guests. More than 90% of injuries occur to visitors, rather than owners.
- Never dive into an above-ground pool and be careful around ladders and other equipment.
- Never drink and dive. “Drinking impairs an individual’s judgment and slows reactions,” explains Kirshblum. “Nearly half of all diving accidents resulting in a serious injury involve alcohol consumption.”
- Don’t swim alone. Ideally, a lifeguard or someone trained in water safety should always be present.
- Always check the depth of water before going in. Levels may be deceptive, especially where drought conditions existed. Be sure that there are no rocks or debris below the surface.
- Enter the water at lakes and ponds feet first to avoid injury.
- Never dive into the ocean. It’s difficult to see what’s under the surf, particularly sand bars. And tides constantly cause the ocean sands to shift.
- Even if areas are marked as being safe for diving, do not dive if your trajectory will place you in less than nine feet of water. When diving from a board, the water should be deeper than 12 feet.
- Educate children. Safe water behaviors should be taught at an early age so children can make smart decisions when involved in water activities.
Night Train Swimmers attempt to break world record with relay swim
157-mile Swim Across Sea of Cortez to Benefit Wounded Warrior Project (WWP)
Night Train Swimmers will attempt to break the world record for the longest continuous relay swim. Departing from La Paz, on the Baja California Sur, the six member team will cross the Sea of Cortez to hit mainland Mexico approximately 157 miles away. The team is using this event as a fundraiser to benefit Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), a non-profit organization whose mission is to honor and empower wounded warriors.
The record-breaking relay swim will commence on June 27th at 8:00am from a beach near La Paz, Mexico, and is expected to take approximately 3-4 days and nights of continuous swimming. Live GPS tracking will be available at www.nighttrainswimmers.com where the team will also keep an updated blog and photo gallery.
Vito Bialla, himself a Wounded Vietnam Veteran, says, “I’m taking it upon myself to try to make the world just a little bit better. By completing this swim and raising money for Wounded Warrior Project, we can make a huge difference for our injured heroes when they return home. It’s a privilege to help our returning Veterans.”
Matthew Davie, another Night Train Swimmer, agreed, “We are very excited to swim the Sea of Cortez, but even more excited for the opportunity to raise awareness and funding for Wounded Warrior Project. It’s a good cause that deserves recognition and support, and it will keep us going when it’s 3am and we can’t see land in either direction.”
Night Train Swimmers has set a goal of raising $500,000 for Wounded Warrior Project with this swim, with donations made directly to WWP through www.nighttrainswimmers.com.
“Wounded Warrior Project is grateful for the recognition and support from the Night Train Swimmers,” said WWP CEO Steve Nardizzi. “We commend their strength and ability to take on such a strenuous endeavor.”
Night Train Swimmers is a group of swimmers dedicated to raising money for charity, having fun and swimming very long distances around the world. They are based in San Francisco and complete numerous ultra swims around the world each year to raise awareness and funds for selected charity partners. Founded in 2008, the team began as a group that swam in the San Francisco Bay every Wednesday evening, much to the delight of people returning home on the ferries. Last September, Night Train has the fastest 5-person crossing of the English Channel for all of 2008, winning the Montserrat Tresserras Shield and raising money for the Lifehouse Agency. In October, the team completed a 100-mile swim from Sacramento to Tiburon, raising money for the local Reed School District.