Displaying items by tag: Olympics

The games are about to begin, and Northeast Ohio will be well-represented in Rio.

The Olympics will feature some of the best athletes in the world including many local talents like rugby player and Massillon native Carlin Isles. He and his fellow Americans will take on Argentina in their opening round Tuesday at noon.

University of Akron student Clayton Murphy will run in the 800 meter event starting next Friday August 12.

Green High School graduate Kelsie Ahbe will compete next week in the pole vault for Canada, as she is a Toronto resident.

A few area alumni are also competing for other countries . Women's poll vaulter and University of Akron aluma Annika Roloff will compete for Germany, while fellow Zip Shawn Barber also poll vaults for Canada. Both are in action next week.

Kent State alumni can rally behind William Barnes and Danniel Thomas. Barnes will run in the 110 meter hurdles for Puerto Rico, while Thomas compete in women's shot put for Jamaica.

The Cleveland area will also have a strong showing. 18 year-old Cleveland Heights native Charles Conwell Jr. is the youngest member of the men's boxing team and will fight in the middleweight competition that starts on Monday.

Fencers Jayson Pryor and Lee Kiefer were both born in Cleveland and will also begin their tournaments this week. Pryor in the men's individual epee and Kiefer in the women's individual foil.

Track and field participants Tianna Bartoletta and Emily Infeld are also athletes to watch from the Cleveland area. Bartoletta, who was born in Elyera, will compete in the women's 100 meter , long jump, and 4x100 relay. Infeld, born and raised in University Heights, will run in the women's 10,000 meter .

And of course Kyrie Irving will represent the Cavs as Team USA begins their journey towards a gold medal Saturday evening at 6:00 against China.