So, as the USO group was flying back on the C-17 cargo jet, Al Franken decided to have some ′fun′ while Tweeden was sleeping. A publicity photographer attached to the group snapped the photo above. After landing, Tweeden received a copy of a CD disk with all of the photos taken during the trip. She then discovered the creepy, Al Franken groping photo. Needless to say, Leeann Tweeden was not amused.
Now Senator Al Franken (D-MN) apologized twice after the story became public. Tweeden told Jake Tapper that she accepts the apologies, but there is no doubt that this whole episode was upsetting to her. At once during the interview on CNN, Tweeden had to pause to wipe away tears and compose herself. Shortly after Tweeden′s story broke, a second women, Melanie Morgan, has alleged that Franken stalked her. Also, another photo from 2000 emerged showing Franken groping Joy Beyhar. Other stories from Franken′s past are popping up, including statements he has made against homosexuals, wanting to drug and rape Lesley Stahl, and telling ′jokes′ about raping infants.
After making his second apology from the floor of the U.S. Senate and requesting to be investigated by the Ethics Committee, Al Franken went into hiding for the rest of the day. Some of his fellow senators agree that Franken′s behavior should be investigated. Franken has been an embarrassment to the Senate since he was first elected. Now add hypocrisy to the list of his many faults. Unlike in the allegations surrounding Roy Moore, Al Franken has admitted to the accusations against him, and there is actual photographic evidence. I suspect that in the coming days, more women will pile on against Franken and his clownish attitude towards women.
Ekaterina Bleskina, the world leader, appears to be the class of the field. She won her heat in 13.24 followed closely by American Morgan Snow (Texas) who closed nicely and ran 13.31. Dior Hall (Washington, Denver, CO) did not look especially sharp, a poor third through 8 hurdles to Noemi Zbaren (Switzerland) and Sade Greenidge (Barbados). Greenidge, ranked 7th in the world with a best of 13.38, caught the 8th hurdle and went down. Zbaren ran 13.46 and Hall 13.78.
Shelby Ashe (Throw 1 Deep) has had better days. The second-ranked thrower in the world (223-6) could manage only 192-4 and finished 10th. France took 1-2, with Alexandra Tavernier getting the meet record (and #4 all-time junior) at 231-8 and teammate Alexia Sedykh throwing 220-11.
The US easily won their heat but the race may be under protest. The team members running the second leg were not told where the beginning of the zone so each one selected their own spot. We suspect it will have to be rerun. Nonetheless, the splits were as follows: Kendall Baisden (Detroit Country Day, Beverly Hills, MI, 55.1), Robin Reynolds (Jackson, Miami, FL, 51.1), Kiara Porter (VCU, 53.5), Olivia 0was disqualified (as was Romania) for running out of the zone. Apparently it's up to the teams to know where the zone is.
The US won their semi in a #2 world time of 3:06.26. It was the team of Quincy Downing (LSU), Eric Futch (Penn Wood, Lansdowne, PA, 46.7), Chidi Okezie (Hampton, 46.4) and Arman Hall (Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 46.4).
Shaquille Walker (BYU) could not sprint with the Africans at the end and finished 7th in his heat, running 1:51.43. The leading qualifier was Edwin Melly of Kenya, running 1:47.08. Wesley Vazquez of Puerto Rico, who had competed at the Caribbean Scholastic Invitational in 2010, was the second fastest qualifier at 1:47.37.
Shamier Little (Lindblom College Prep, Chicago, IL) started slowly as usual, then gained steam after the 6th hurdle. She was steadily gaining on the field with momentum predicting that she would finish first or second. Unfortunately, she lost her focus for a split second, hit the tenth hurdle and went down, not finishing. Kaila Barber (Notre Dame) finished strong for the bronze, running 57.63. The winner was Janieve Russell of Jamaica, with the world junior leading time of 56.62.
Rudy Winkler (Averill Park, NY), well off his personal best thrown yesterday, managed only 227-6, finishing 9th. The winner was Ashraf Amgad Elseify of Qatar who set a world junior record of 280-9.
A very nice showing for Emily Grove (South Dakota), finishing 6th, jumping 13-7.25. The event was won .
It was the usual East African tactical race with the winner Muktar Edris of Ethiopia in 13:38.95. The US athletes finished within a second of each other, both off their bests, with Kirubel Erassa (Oklahoma State) in 13th (14:19.28) and Kyle King (Virginia) 14th (14:19.97).
The US got a world leading time of 43.89 in winning. It was the team of Morgan Snow (Texas), Dezerea Bryant (Clemson), Jennifer Madu (East, Plano, TX) and Shayla Sanders (Anderson, Lauderdale Lakes, FL). Great Britain was leading after three legs but "blew" the final stick pass.
Almost perfect handoffs certainly make a difference. The US team were only .01 off the world junior record, running 38.67, #2 all-time. The team was comprised of Tyreek Hill (Coffee County, Douglas, GA), Aldrich Bailey (Timberview, Mansfield, TX), Arthur Delaney (Oregon) and Aaron Ernest (LSU). Jamaica, in finishing second at 38.97, set their nation's national junior record.