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Updated July 25, 2007 NEW USA-NKF Photos!

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The 2007 USA National Karate-do Federation National Championships and Team Trials

Charleston WV

Simply put this National Championships was an amazing event. The past ten months has been a preparation for bringing together the karate community here in the United States like never before. President Jarrett succeeded in championing this overwhelming task.

- NEW Photo highlights from the 2007 USA-NKF Nationals held in Charelston WV.

July 25, 2007

Nicole.Jomantas@usajudo.us

PAN AM GAMES – KARATE: Billy Finnegan Places Sixth in Pan American Games Debut

(Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) – Billy Finnegan (Port Washington, N.Y.) placed sixth in the karate’s +80kg division at the Pan American Games on Wednesday.

Finnegan’s division was conducted as a two-pool round robin with the top two athletes coming out of each pool and advancing to the semifinals and the remaining four athletes competing for fifth through eighth places. After a first-round loss to Leandro Monzon (ARG), Finnegan fought hometown favorite, and eventual champion, Juarez Santos (BRA). Finnegan fought Santos well, holding the score tied at three until Santos picked up two more points in the final 20 seconds of the match to win it.

“I knew he was a favorite to win. Usually against tough opponents I tend to step it up and I thought I fought him well,” Finnegan said. “If I would’ve beaten him, maybe I would’ve been in a position to medal later, but it was a good match and he’s a good fighter, so we’ll see each other again in the future.”

With only a few minutes rest, Finnegan rolled straight into his next match against Andres Heredia (ECU). Trailing by two after the first minute, Finnegan picked up four points in 10 seconds, including three off an impressive takedown. The last minute belonged to Heredia, however, who scored four more times to end the match at 7-4.

Although out of medal contention, the day wasn’t done for Finnegan as he fought twice more in the fifth-eighth place contests. Finnegan defeated Manuel Costa (URU), 6-4. Costa only scored on Finnegan once, but he was given penalties for excessive contact in the final 10 seconds when he knocked out Costa.The win moved Finnegan up to fight for fifth place against Midiet Roque (CUB). The match was close throughout with Finnegan earning multiple scores, but Roque pulled out the win in the end at 7-5.

“I’ve had a great year, winning the World University Championships and the North American Cup, and was hoping this would’ve topped off the season,” Finnegan said. “I really wanted to cap this season off with a medal here, but I’ll keep training and hopefully in another four years I’ll be here again.”

For more information, contact Nicole Jomantas, Karate Press Officer, at 011-55-21-8890-3155 or Nicole.Jomantas@usajudo.us. –END–

Coach Tokey Hill and Billy Finnegan send greetings from Rio. Billy will be fighting on Wed July 25 @ 10 am – Preliminaries. This will be carried by ESPN - Live.

On a separate note from Coach Hill.

My staff & I have received many calls & emails concerning the terrible accident in Brazil and we can assure you that we were not on that flight. We could not respond to your emails because of traveling and Internet issues, for this we are very sorry to alarm you by not responding. I want to thank everyone that has contacted my office & the emails concerning are safety.Billy Finnegan & I had reported to USA Team / Pan Am processing in Washington, DC and were making final arrangements to leave on the 21st of July for the Pan Am Games.

More on Finnegan in the article below.

(Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) – At six feet, two inches tall and 187 lbs., Billy Finnegan (Port Washington, N.Y.) is an unlikely heavyweight, but will take on players who may have more than 50 lbs. on him

“I compete in the Open division a lot which is guys of all weights and I do pretty well. A lot of these guys will be bigger, but hopefully I’ll use my speed to get through,” Finnegan said. “I’ve fought a lot of these guys before. Some have beaten me; I’ve beaten them… It’s anybody’s game and everybody’s a threat.”
Finnegan, the only U.S. athlete competing in the karate competition this week, is one of the top candidates for a trip to the podium after winning the prestigious World University Championships in August in 2006 as well as the North American Cup in Monterey, Mexico earlier this year where he qualified to compete at the Games.

“Since I’m the only American, I’m really pushing for a gold medal. I’m trying not to let [the pressure] get to me, but it’s very important for me to win. I really want to do well for my country,” he said. “Four years ago I had an injury, so I watched a lot of my teammates go to the Games… It’s been a great experience so far and I’m really looking forward to Wednesday.”

Competition begins with preliminary rounds at 10 a.m. and concludes with finals at 4 p.m. at the Miecimo da Silva Complex.

For more information, contact Nicole Jomantas, Karate Press Officer, at 011-55-21-8890-3155 or Nicole.Jomantas@usajudo.us

Volume 17 Has Been shipped - Single Copies are available online. If you are distributor or would like to be a distributor please contact use reguarding your shippmet.