Olympic Weekend Preview Team USA’s Night Train is about to start up.The Night Train four-man bobsled team, piloted by 2010 Olympic and World Cup champion Steven Holcomb will begin competition in the 2011 World Championships.
USA Indoor Track & Field Championships, Feb. 26-27, Albuquerque, N.M.
Two-time Olympic medalist Adam Nelson will attempt to win his third national indoor title Sunday in the shot put when he battles 2009 and 2010 NCAA outdoor champion Ryan Whiting at the Albuquerque Convention Center. Among the other competitions to watch include the men’s high jump, which will feature 2008 Olympian Dusty Jonas, 2004 Olympian Jamie Nieto and reigning national indoor and outdoor champion Jesse Williams. The Indoor Championships also will feature two-time indoor champion Brittney Reese in the long jump, two-time Olympic medalist Bernard Lagat in the 3,000-meter run and David Oliver, the world’s No. 1-ranked high hurdler.
TV: 4:30-6 p.m. ET Sunday, ESPN
SPEEDSKATING
ISU World Junior Speedskating Championships, Feb. 25-27, Seinajoki, Finland
ISU World Junior Short Track Speedskating Championships, Feb. 25-27, Courmayeur, Italy
Competition begins Friday in both world championship events for junior speed skaters, including the 500-, 1,500- and 3,000-meter races at the World Speedskating Championships in Finland.
CURLING
World Wheelchair Championships, Feb. 22-March 1, Prague, Czech Republic
Paralympian Augusto Perez’s squad looks to get its second win of the World Wheelchair Championships on Friday, when it meets Sweden. The U.S. lost four of its first five matches in round-robin play. Its lone victory came Wednesday over Germany, 9-3. Ten teams are playing in a nine-game round robin, with the top four teams advancing to the playoff round on Monday.
SOCCER
CONCACAF U-17 Championships, Feb. 14-27, Montego Bay, Jamaica
The U.S. U-17 Men’s National Team will play host nation Jamaica on Friday night in the semifinals of the CONCACAF U-17 Championships. A capacity crowd is expected at Catherine Hall Stadium. A U.S. victory would put it in Sunday’s title game against Panama or Canada; the team has already qualified for the U-17 World Cup. Marc Pelosi’s goal in overtime carried the U.S. to a 3-2 win over El Salvador in the quarterfinals.
TV: U.S. vs. Jamaica, 7 p.m. ET Friday, ESPN3 and ESPN Deportes
CYCLING
Vuelta Independencia Nacional, Feb. 20-27, Dominican Republic
Six cyclists who are a part of the USA Cycling National Development Program are racing in the eight-stage Vuelta Independencia Nacional, which concludes Sunday. Rob Squire finished ninth in the opening stage of the event.
FENCING
England Saber World Cup, Feb. 25-27, London
Two-time Olympic gold medalist Mariel Zagunis is among 11 U.S. women competing in this weekend’s England Saber World Cup. Other U.S. athletes include Ibtihaj Muhammad, Daria Schneider and Dagmara Wozniak, teammates of Zagunis on the 2010 team that placed fourth in the Senior World Championships. They will compete in the team championships Sunday, following two days of individual competition.
Also in fencing:
Women’s Epee Grand Prix, Feb. 26-27, Budapest, Hungary
SNOWBOARDING
World Cup, Feb. 26, Calgary, Canada
Competition will be held in half pipe and slope style.
FIELD HOCKEY
Test Series, U.S. men vs. Canada, Feb. 26-27, Chula Vista, Calif.
Team USA will play Canada in the final two games of the men’s
