Miller and Bernard lose but qualify for repechage rounds in women's freestyle on Sunday
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by Gary Abbott
BEIJING, CHINA - Both U.S. wrestlers competing on Sunday in the women's freestyle competition lost quarterfinal matches at the China Agricultural University Gymnasium. However, both have qualified for the repechage rounds and remain eligible for a bronze medal.
Competing in the 4:00 p.m. session will be Randi Miller (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. and Ali Bernard, (New Ulm, Minn./Gator WC) at 72 kg/158.5 lbs.
In the quarterfinals, Miller was pinned by Kaori Icho of Japan, the 2004 Olympic champion and five-time World champion, 3-0, 1:20. Icho scored a takedown and a gut wrench in the first period. In the second period, after scoring a takedown, Icho sunk in a leg and turned Miller over to her back, adjusting to secure the fall.
In her second match, Miller needed three periods to Yuliya Ostapchuk of Ukraine, 0-2, 2-0, 3-0. Ostapchuk was able to shuck Miller by for two takedowns in the first period. Miller rebounded to get a two-point takedown to exposure in the second period. In the deciding third period, Miller quickly scored a takedown, then hit a two-point ankle lace for three points in the first minute. Ostapchuk was fifth in the 2007 World Championships and 2007 Junior World champion.
Miller quickly pinned Haiat Farac of Egypt in her qualification bout in just 40 seconds. Miller took her down with a front headlock spin behind, put in a half nelson and powered her to her back for the fall. Farac went unconscious on the mat, and medical staff had to revive her.
Miller was pulled back into the repechage round when Icho won her semifinal match against Canada's Martine Dugrenier, 1-0, 0-1, 1-1. Only wrestlers who lose to a gold-medal finalist can compete in the repechage.
Miller will face Olesya Zamula of Azerbaijan in the repechage match. If she wins, she will wrestle Dugrenier in a bronze medal match. Dugrenier is a three-time World silver medalist who has dropped down from the non-Olympic weight of 67 kg for the Olympic year.
Miller is a native of Arlington, Texas. She attended Neosho CC in Kansas, McMurray College in Illiniois and the Northern Michigan Univ. USOEC program. She is now a USOTC resident athlete. She beat 2004 Olympic silver medalist Sara McMann at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials.
Bernard was also beaten in the quarterfinals to Wang Jiao of China, the 2007 Junior World champion who was also fifth in the 2005 World Championships. Wang scored a 3-1, 7-3 decision. In the first period, with the score tied 1-1, Wang came out from underneath and scored a two-point reversal to take the period. In the second period, Wang scored a takedown and an exposure on a scramble to lead 4-2. Bernard tried a desperation duck under in the final 10 seconds and went to her back for the final three points for Wang.
In the first match, Bernard quickly defeated Amarachi Favour Obiajunwa of Nigeria, scoring a pin in 44 seconds. Bernard stepped over Obianjunwa during a scramble and put her to her back for the fall.
When Wang defeated five-time World champion Kyoko Hamaguchi of Japan in the semifinals, Bernard was pulled back into the repechage.
Bernard will face Jenny Fransson of Sweden in the repechage match. If she wins, she will wrestle Hamaguchi in one of the bronze-medal matches.
Bernard was a two-time Junior World champion, and three-time Junior World medalist. She attends the Univ. of Regina in Canada, where she is a four-time CIS champion.
OLYMPIC GAMES
Women's freestyle wrestling
Gold medal match pairings
63 kg/138.75 lbs.
Alena Kartashova (Russia) vs. Kaori Icho (Japan)
72 kg/158.5 lbs.
Wang Jaio (China) vs. Stanka Zlateva (Bulgaria)
U.S. performances
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Randi Miller (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC)
Qualification match - Randi Miller (USA) pin Haiat Farac (Egypt), 0:40
First round - Randi Miller (USA) dec. Yuliya Ostapchuk (Ukraine), 0-2, 2-0, 3-0
Quarterfinals - Kaori Icho (Japan) pin Randi Miller (USA), 3-0, 1:20
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Ali Bernard, (New Ulm, Minn./Gator WC)
First match - Ali Bernard (USA) pin Amanchi Favour Obiajunwa (Nigeria), 0:44
Quarterfinals - Wang Jiao (China) dec. Ali Bernard (USA), 3-1, 7-3
Competing in the 4:00 p.m. session will be Randi Miller (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. and Ali Bernard, (New Ulm, Minn./Gator WC) at 72 kg/158.5 lbs.
In the quarterfinals, Miller was pinned by Kaori Icho of Japan, the 2004 Olympic champion and five-time World champion, 3-0, 1:20. Icho scored a takedown and a gut wrench in the first period. In the second period, after scoring a takedown, Icho sunk in a leg and turned Miller over to her back, adjusting to secure the fall.
In her second match, Miller needed three periods to Yuliya Ostapchuk of Ukraine, 0-2, 2-0, 3-0. Ostapchuk was able to shuck Miller by for two takedowns in the first period. Miller rebounded to get a two-point takedown to exposure in the second period. In the deciding third period, Miller quickly scored a takedown, then hit a two-point ankle lace for three points in the first minute. Ostapchuk was fifth in the 2007 World Championships and 2007 Junior World champion.
Miller quickly pinned Haiat Farac of Egypt in her qualification bout in just 40 seconds. Miller took her down with a front headlock spin behind, put in a half nelson and powered her to her back for the fall. Farac went unconscious on the mat, and medical staff had to revive her.
Miller was pulled back into the repechage round when Icho won her semifinal match against Canada's Martine Dugrenier, 1-0, 0-1, 1-1. Only wrestlers who lose to a gold-medal finalist can compete in the repechage.
Miller will face Olesya Zamula of Azerbaijan in the repechage match. If she wins, she will wrestle Dugrenier in a bronze medal match. Dugrenier is a three-time World silver medalist who has dropped down from the non-Olympic weight of 67 kg for the Olympic year.
Miller is a native of Arlington, Texas. She attended Neosho CC in Kansas, McMurray College in Illiniois and the Northern Michigan Univ. USOEC program. She is now a USOTC resident athlete. She beat 2004 Olympic silver medalist Sara McMann at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials.
Bernard was also beaten in the quarterfinals to Wang Jiao of China, the 2007 Junior World champion who was also fifth in the 2005 World Championships. Wang scored a 3-1, 7-3 decision. In the first period, with the score tied 1-1, Wang came out from underneath and scored a two-point reversal to take the period. In the second period, Wang scored a takedown and an exposure on a scramble to lead 4-2. Bernard tried a desperation duck under in the final 10 seconds and went to her back for the final three points for Wang.
In the first match, Bernard quickly defeated Amarachi Favour Obiajunwa of Nigeria, scoring a pin in 44 seconds. Bernard stepped over Obianjunwa during a scramble and put her to her back for the fall.
When Wang defeated five-time World champion Kyoko Hamaguchi of Japan in the semifinals, Bernard was pulled back into the repechage.
Bernard will face Jenny Fransson of Sweden in the repechage match. If she wins, she will wrestle Hamaguchi in one of the bronze-medal matches.
Bernard was a two-time Junior World champion, and three-time Junior World medalist. She attends the Univ. of Regina in Canada, where she is a four-time CIS champion.
OLYMPIC GAMES
Women's freestyle wrestling
Gold medal match pairings
63 kg/138.75 lbs.
Alena Kartashova (Russia) vs. Kaori Icho (Japan)
72 kg/158.5 lbs.
Wang Jaio (China) vs. Stanka Zlateva (Bulgaria)
U.S. performances
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Randi Miller (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC)
Qualification match - Randi Miller (USA) pin Haiat Farac (Egypt), 0:40
First round - Randi Miller (USA) dec. Yuliya Ostapchuk (Ukraine), 0-2, 2-0, 3-0
Quarterfinals - Kaori Icho (Japan) pin Randi Miller (USA), 3-0, 1:20
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Ali Bernard, (New Ulm, Minn./Gator WC)
First match - Ali Bernard (USA) pin Amanchi Favour Obiajunwa (Nigeria), 0:44
Quarterfinals - Wang Jiao (China) dec. Ali Bernard (USA), 3-1, 7-3
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