U.S. Athletes Take on Venezuela World Cup This Weekend

Nicole Jomantas June 18, 2010

(Colorado Springs, Colo.) – Twenty-four U.S. athletes will compete at the first World Cup ever to be held in Venezuela on Saturday and Sunday in Isla de Margarita.

The team of athletes is competing in the third qualifying event for the 2012 Olympic Games to be held in South America. 

Three weeks after winning her first World Cup title at the Sao Paulo World Cup, 19-year-old Kayla Harrison (Wakefield, Mass. / NYAC / USA Judo National Team FORCE) is seeking her fifth World Cup medal in the 78kg division during the past year. 

Marti Malloy (San Jose, Calif. / USA Judo National Training Site at San Jose State University) also medaled at the Sao Paulo World Cup.  The 57kg player earned a bronze in Brazil – her first World Cup medal – and could add a second in Isla de Margarita.  

In addition to Malloy and Harrison, who both won medals at the Pan American Championships, three other Pan Am medalists will be competing in Venezuela as well with each looking for his or her first trip to the World Cup podium.  

Brad Bolen (Glenville, N.Y. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Jason Morris Judo Center) was the only U.S. player to win gold at the Pan Ams in El Salvador in April.  Competing in the 66kg division, Bolen got his first two World Tour events under his belt in Brazil in May when he also earned his first match win at the Brazil Grand Slam.

A former Pan Am medalist as a 48kg player in 2007, Jeanette Rodriguez (Davie, Fla. / USA Judo National Training Site at South Florida) moved up to 52kg in 2008 and has placed as high as fifth at a World Cup. 

Kyle Vashkulat (Glenville, N.Y. / NYAC / USA Judo National Training Site at the Jason Morris Judo Center) had two career firsts this spring as he earned his first Pan Am bronze in April and his first Senior National title in the 100kg division in May.

Competition schedule is as follows:

Saturday, June 19
Men’s 81kg, 90kg, 100kg and +100kg
Women’s 63kg, 70kg, 78kg and +78kg

Sunday, June 20
Men’s 60kg, 66kg and 73kg
Women’s 48kg, 52kg and 57kg

A complete roster of athletes competing is as follows:

Women’s 48kg
Ann Shiraishi (San Francisco, Calif. / East Bay Judo Institute)
Veronica Prado (Coral Springs, Fla. / USA Judo National Training Site at South Florida)

Women’s 52k
Angelica Delgado (Miami, Fla. / USA Judo National Training Site at South Florida)
Jeanette Rodriguez (Davie, Fla. / USA Judo National Training Site at South Florida)

Women’s 57kg
Marti Malloy (San Jose, Calif. / USA Judo National Training Site at San Jose State University)
Hannah Martin (Burnt Hills, N.Y. / NYAC / USA Judo National Training Site at the Jason Morris Judo Center)
Anna Palmer (Colorado Springs, Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center)

Women’s 63kg
Christal Ransom (Colorado Springs, Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center)

Women’s 70kg
Samantha Bleier (Colorado Springs, Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center)

Women’s 78kg
Kayla Harrison (Wakefield, Mass. / NYAC / USA Judo National Team FORCE)

Men’s 60kg
Nick Kossor (Glenville, N.Y. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Jason Morris Judo Center)
Joshua Prado (Coral Springs, Fla. / USA Judo National Training Site at South Florida)

Men’s 66kg
Brad Bolen (Glenville, N.Y. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Jason Morris Judo Center)

Men’s 73kg
Michael Eldred (Fruitland, Idaho / Western Idaho Judo Institute)
Nick Delpopolo (Wakefield, Mass. / NYAC / USA Judo National Team FORCE)
Andrew Porras (Hialeah, Fla. / USA Judo National Training Site at South Florida)

Men’s 81kg
Harry St. Leger (Brooklyn, N.Y. / NYAC / Legrosports Starrett)

Men’s 90kg
Jake Larsen (Lafayette, Colo. / Team FORCE / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center)
Aaron Cohen (Buffalo Grove, Ill. / NYAC / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center)

Men’s 100kg
Shintaro Higashi (Scarsdale, N.Y. / NYAC / Kokushi)
Kyle Vashkulat (Glenville, N.Y. / NYAC / USA Judo National Training Site at the Jason Morris Judo Center)

Men’s +100kg
Mike Prieditis (Colorado Springs, Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center)
Anthony Turner (Miami, Fla. / USA Judo National Training Site at South Florida)

Tags: Aaron Cohen, Anna Palmer, Anthony Turner, Christal Ransom, Marti Malloy, Michael Eldred, Shintaro Higashi