Back-To-School: How to Prevent Sports Related Eye Injuries
It’s back to school time! Kids are feeling excited and maybe a little nervous. New teachers, new friends and new sports seasons. Parents are scrambling to buy back-to-school clothes and equip their children with all the sports gear they need, like helmets, pads, braces and mouth guards. Parents are taking that extra step to prevent broken bones, bruises and chipped teeth, but what are they doing to prevent possible permanent vision loss, a scratched cornea, or fractured eye sockets?
A serious eye injury can leave your child on the side lines or bench longer than they would like. The Pennsylvania Association for the Blind encourages you to take the following steps to ensure your child can enjoy their favorite sports this season safely.
– Wear proper eye guards (lensed polycarbonate protectors) for racquet sports, basket ball, tennis or volleyball;
– Use batting helmets with polycarbonate face shields for baseball and softball;
– Use helmets and face shields approved by the U.S. Amateur Hockey Association when playing hockey.
Regular reading glasses or sunglasses or even safety glasses don’t provide the necessary eye protection for many sports. Purchase eye guards at sports stores or your local optical store. Ask someone familiar with your child’s eyesight to fit them properly and make sure the eye guard contains cushioning along the eyebrow and the edge of the nose to help prevent athletes from cutting or damaging his or her face.
Almost all sports related eye injuries can be prevented. Whatever your sport or age, protect your eyes! Contact the Pennsylvania Association for the Blind or your local blind agency for more information.
Record numbers to race in SunTrust National Marathon
The fifth running of the SunTrust National Marathon and CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield National Half Marathon and Relay Races will be held in Washington D.C. on March 20, 2010. The marathon is the only one to be run entirely within the District of Columbia and has the fastest looped course in the country.
The speed of the course draws elite runners including those trying to qualify for the US Olympic Trials and for the Boston Marathon. Joan Benoit Samuelson, 1984 Olympic Gold medalist and two-time Boston Marathon title holder, will try to break a world record for her age group in the half marathon. Bill Rodgers, one of the pioneers of American marathon running, will also run the half marathon.
Army Athlete of the Year, Matt Cavanaugh, will run the marathon as part of the Team Wounded Warriors Project. He plans to run 300 miles in races throughout the year to raise money for Wounded Warriors. Marine Jeremy Soles will run the half marathon in a gas mask to raise awareness and funds for Wounded Warriors. He is attempting to break his previous world record time for running a half marathon in a gas mask.
“We are really impressed with the growth of the race each year and the quality of the runners,” said race director Bill Reifsnyder. “This year we will host runners from 50 states and 30 countries, and we are proud to be able to showcase Washington D.C.’s monuments and diverse neighborhoods as our races run through six of the city’s eight wards.”
Local elite runner Michael Wardian, of Arlington, Va., is a favorite to win this year’s marathon. He is a three-time champion of the SunTrust National Marathon and is the 2008 and 2009 USATF Ultra Runner of the Year and the 2009 New York Road Runners Club’s Ultra Runner of the Year.
Other men’s favorites include Patrick Moulton the 2009 winner of the marathon and former New England Road Race Grand Prix Champion; Mohammed Awol, thirteenth place finisher in the New York Marathon; Lars Juhl, a second place finisher in the Champaign Marathon; and Mark Furin, Stephen Haas, and Jeff Powers, members of Team Indiana Elite who are trying to qualify for the Olympic Trials; as well as Demesse Tefera the reigning 2009 National Half Marathon winner.
Women’s favorites in the marathon include Tamara Karrh who finished twenty fifth in the Boston Marathon; Shannon Saunders of Charlottesville, Va., who was a James Madison University Top 10 Female Athlete of the Decade; and Muliye Gurmu who finished second in the Bermuda Marathon.
Women’s favorites in the half marathon include Dani Prince of Team Indiana Elite who is trying to qualify for the Olympic Trials and her teammate Jessica Gall who qualified in 2008; Phoebe Ko who finished in the top five in last year’s half marathon; and Carly Shea who is attempting to get her third qualification for the Olympic Trials.
Ten thousand five hundred runners are expected to compete in the three races. Among them, many runners with inspirational stories including a number of contestants from the NBC television show the “Biggest Loser.”
Crowds will gather along the race route, and at the six official Community Spirit Festival locations which include Dupont Circle (SunTrust Branch), Adams Morgan (SunTrust Pavilion – 18th & Columbia Road, N.W.), Bison Bend (Howard University – 5th and Harvard Streets, N.W.), North Capitol Street at R Street, N.W. (Bloomingdale), Randle Circle (Minnesota Avenue, N.E.), and Anacostia Park (Anacostia Drive SE & Nicholson Street, S.E.). The festival locations will provide refreshments and noisemakers and the first 200 fans will receive free t-shirts.
Runners can register for the race online until midnight March 14 and then again the day before the race, on March 19, at the D.C. Armory at the National Health & Fitness Expo, from 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. Volunteers are needed for race day.
For more information, visit www.nationalmarathon.com
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
Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association says deaths of three Detroit Marathon runners underscore need for more public awareness
The tragic deaths of three runners in Sunday’s Detroit Marathon underscore how frequently and indiscriminately sudden cardiac arrest strikes Americans, the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association said.
“Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) can happen any time and anywhere, even impacting seemingly healthy athletes, young adults, and those without any known signs of heart disease,” said Dr. Vince Mosesso, medical director for the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association (SCAA). “Our sympathies are extended to the families of the three Detroit runners, and we will defer to the local medical examiner for conclusive reports on the cause of death, but the collapse of three runners in one race only heightens the importance of greater public education and awareness about sudden cardiac arrest.”
Mosesso said that nearly 300,000 U.S. deaths are attributed to SCA each year, resulting in the collapse of an American about once every two minutes. While early bystander and immediate CPR and AED use have been shown to significantly improve survival, still many SCA victims do not receive treatment fast enough and the overall survival rate remains tragically low at eight percent.
He urged the public to remember these basic facts about sudden cardiac arrest:
– SCA is different than a heart attack, and involves an electrical disruption of the heart that results in a very rapid but extremely weak heart beat, prohibiting the heart from circulating blood and oxygen to the body (as compared to a pumping malfunction from a blocked artery that is often the cause of a heart attack)
– SCA requires immediate CPR and often the shock of a defibrillator to restore the heart’s natural rhythm
– A previous heart attack, coronary artery disease and a family history of sudden death or unexplained syncope (fainting) are among the risk factors that should always be shared with a personal physician, as well as other risk factors such as obesity, smoking and diabetes
– Implanted cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) provide round-the-clock protection for more than a million Americans identified as at risk of SCA.
www.suddencardiacarrest.org
Source: Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association
U.S. Navy athletes compete in 2009 Ford Ironman World Championship Triathlon
Navy triathletes to join world’s top endurance athletes in 31st annual competition
Honoring over 30 years of tradition, six active duty triathletes commanded the strength, courage and commitment learned from years serving with the U.S. Navy to battle one of the most grueling race courses at the 31st annual Ford Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.
“Our six Navy athletes accepted this challenge of physical and mental stamina in pursuit of competitive excellence and dedication to serving our nation,” said Senior Chief Petty Officer Tom Jones of Navy Recruiting Command. “The Navy is honored to continue its relationship with Ironman and we are excited to see our athletes – all with diverse backgrounds- remain highly committed and push themselves to the limit in this awesome athletic event.”
The race will air at 4:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, December 19 on NBC.
The six U.S. Navy athletes are among an elite group of 1,800 professional and amateur athletes participating in one of the most prestigious world championship races the sport of triathlon has to offer: 2.4 miles of ocean swimming, 112 miles of biking and a 26.2 mile marathon run through the hot, windy terrain on the Big Island of Hawaii.
This year’s Navy triathletes represent a diverse mix of Navy professionals:
– Captain (Select) Scott Jones, currently serving as the commanding officer of a theater Anti-Submarine Warfare unit in Southern California, is an avid triathlete. An 8-time Ironman finisher, he was named an All-American by both Inside Triathlon magazine and USA Triathlon.
– Commander David Haas, a Naval Academy graduate, is the commanding officer of the USS Thach. Having completed over 20 triathlons including two Ironman-distance races, this is his first time at the Ford Ironman World Championship.
– Commander Wendy Towle, a Naval Academy graduate, will soon take command as the Meteorology and Oceanography Officer embarked on USS Blue Ridge in Yokosuka, Japan. A lifelong athlete, this is her second full Ironman triathlon and first time at the Ford Ironman World Championship.
– Lieutenant Commander Don Cross, an officer with strong Navy family history and a current MBA candidate at Brenau University, currently serves as a Strategic Weapons officer for Commander Submarine Squadron Twenty. Inspired by the annual Navy SEAL Superfrog Triathlon in 1996, he has actively competed in the sport of triathlon since with this being his first Ford Ironman World Championship.
– Lieutenant Nick Brown, an NROTC graduate of the Pennsylvania State University, is a qualified Seabee Combat Warfare Officer and has been selected to serve in the Civil Engineer Corps’ Ocean Facilities Program. A competitive swimmer since youth, this is his third Ironman distance triathlon.
– Chief Petty Office Marty Taylor, a U.S. Navy SEAL, currently serves as Training Leading Chief Petty Officer for the Naval Special Warfare Preparatory Course at Naval Station Great Lakes. Since 2004, he has participated 60 triathlons, marathons and other endurance events including ultra marathons.
Source: U.S. Navy