commenting on the prosecutions appeal.Pistorius shot Steenkamp multip

BMX racer Maris Strombergs has earned the nickname The Machine.The Latvian is the only man to win BMX cycling gold in the disciplines short Olympic history.In 2008, Strombergs swept through the competition from the quarterfinals. He wasnt quite as strong during the early rounds in 2012, but won the final anyway. Now 29, Strombergs will be one of the older competitors at the Rio Olympics, where the average age of a rider skews closer to the early-to-mid 20s.Strombergs does have that Olympic pedigree , though. USA Cycling BMX director Jaime Staff said Strombergs has the ability to peak toward one or two events a year.A physical specimen for sure, mentally very tough, Staff said. Hes able to switch it on when he needs to.Both the mens and womens fields figure to be as competitive as ever. Here are a few notes and other things to watch in Brazil:MEET MARIANAMariana Pajon is a star in her native Colombia after winning gold in 2012. She took the womens title in late May at the world BMX championships on a track named after her in her home country, and figures to be a top contender again in Rio.Pajon had been dealing with injuries in the months leading up to worlds that limited her typical training regimen. But Pajon can also draw on the experience of international success.She knows exactly what needs to be done to be the best, said Colombia coach German Medina.WHAT A RUSHImagine sitting on a BMX bicycle, staring down a ramp about three stories high while anxiously awaiting a signal to take off. As with horse racing, a gate prevents anyone from getting a head start but this is no flat, oval track. Its winding, nearly quarter mile-long course with groomed dirt hills serving as bumpy obstacles. Someone could be pedaling as fast as 40 mph after clearing the starting ramp.Even the best BMX competitors in the world will have to steel themselves at the Rio Olympics. Team USA rider Alise Post compares BMX cycling to a mix of horse racing and getting in the front car of an amusement park ride.Youre in this starting gate ... and then everybody goes, said Post, a top medal contender . After that youre riding a roller coaster. Everything happens fast out there.The action sport is aimed at attracting a younger audience to the Summer Games, having been introduced in 2008 in Beijing. Post, 25, watched that competition eight years ago. She rode in London in 2012, finishing 12th.OLYMPIAN EFFORTSTwo of the top U.S. riders are bouncing back from recent injuries. Connor Fields and Brooke Crain, who each competed in London, have returned to the track, and they should have plenty of time to prepare since the BMX competition will be held toward the end of the Olympics in mid-August.Fields was the top-ranked American in the world before hurting his wrist this spring. He was cleared to start training again in mid-June , and returned to the Rio-replica track for the first time on June 27. Crain came back after five weeks away following a broken left leg. She fractured her fibula while extending the leg while trying to brace herself from a crash during a race.TEAM USAThe United States is looking for its first BMX gold and was shut out of the podium entirely in 2012. Fields and Crain were discretionary picks to the U.S. team . Post was an automatic qualifier after finishing third at worlds. On the mens side, Fields will be joined by automatic qualifiers Nic Long, who placed third at worlds; and Corben Sharrah, who won the U.S. Olympic trials. Its the strongest squad that Team USA could field, headlined by some of the top-ranked racers in the world.Probably the best team we could wish for, Staff said.OTHERS TO WATCHNiek Kimmann of the Netherlands, who won the time trials at worlds, is atop the world rankings on the mens side. Joris Daudet of France, who won the elite title, is fourth in the world. Australias Sam Willougby took silver in 2012 and remains a medal favorite. ... Australian teammate Caroline Buchanan, who took the time trials at worlds, is the top-ranked womens rider internationally. Laura Smulders of the Netherlands is back after winning bronze in London.---Follow Genaro Armas at http://twitter.com/GArmasAP Cheap Frank White Jersey . The Cleveland Indians, Tampa Bay Rays, and Texas Rangers all won on Sunday meaning the Rangers will host the Rays in a play-in game on Monday. Cheap Royals Jerseys Authentic . Three came down to the fourth quarter while quarterbacks continued to shine in all four games; so important to the overall quality of the game. http://www.cheaproyalsjerseys.com/ . It might not have mattered. While the Dodgers are preparing for the playoffs, the Padres showed their future has promise behind two rookies. Cheap MLB Jerseys Authentic . Kiriasis and brakeman Franziska Fritz finished two runs in one minute 55.41 seconds -- a mere 0.01 seconds ahead of Meyers and Lolo Jones, who likely bolstered her Olympic hopes by helping give USA-1 a huge push in the second heat. Cheap Royals Jerseys . -- Devin Hester is done returning kicks in Chicago. CAPE TOWN, South Africa -- South African prosecutors announced their intention to appeal against Oscar Pistorius six-year jail sentence for murder on Thursday, calling it shockingly lenient and a decision that could bring the countrys justice system into disrepute.The announcement prolongs the three-and-a-half year legal saga of Pistorius, the once-acclaimed double-amputee runner who fatally shot girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp at his home in 2013.The National Prosecuting Authority said it would file its appeal papers on Thursday -- the day of the deadline to appeal.Pistorius was sentenced to six years in prison by a judge on July 6, a sentence that is much shorter than the prescribed minimum of 15 years in jail for murder in South Africa. He could be released on parole after three years.We respectfully submit that the sentence of six years imprisonment, in all the circumstances, is disproportionate to the crime of murder committed, the prosecuting authority said in a statement announcing it would appeal.The sentence was shockingly too lenient, and has accordingly resulted in an injustice and has the potential to bring the administration of justice into disrepute, the prosecuting authority said.Steenkamps parents, Barry and June, said in a statement Thursday that they have always fully supported (chief prosecutor) Gerrie Nel and his teams fight for justice for Reeva. But Steenkamps parents had no input in the decision of the state to appeal, they said in the statement issued by their lawyer.The 29-year-old Pistorius is currently serving his six-year sentence in a prison in the South African capital, Pretoria. Under South African law, he could be eligible for parole after serving half the sentence.He also previously served one year in prison for manslaughter for shooting the 29-year-old Steenkamp, a model and reality TV star. That manslaughter conviction was upgraded to the more serious offense of murder after an earlier prosecution appeal, leading to a new senntencing.ddddddddddddrosecutors had sought a 15-year sentence for Pistorius for the murder, but Judge Thokozile Masipa said there were compelling circumstances in Pistorius case to give him a lesser sentence. South African judges can deviate from minimum sentences if there are exceptional circumstances.Pistorius defense lawyers and family said immediately after the sentencing that they accepted the judges decision. On Thursday, Pistorius family spokeswoman Anneliese Burgess said in an email to The Associated Press that they wouldnt be commenting on the prosecutions appeal.Pistorius shot Steenkamp multiple times through a toilet cubicle door in his home in the pre-dawn hours of Valentines Day 2013. Pistorius testified that he killed Steenkamp by mistake, thinking she was an intruder hiding in the bathroom. Prosecutors said he shot her intentionally after an argument.Explaining her decision when she sentenced Pistorius two weeks ago, Judge Masipa said the former Olympic runner was a good candidate for rehabilitation, was unlikely to commit another crime, and had shown what appeared to be genuine remorse over Steenkamps death. Masipa also noted that Pistorius had lost his career and was ruined financially.Now, prosecutors must first ask the judge who sentenced Pistorius, Masipa, for permission to appeal her decision. If permission is granted, the appeal could go to South Africas Supreme Court, where prosecutors in Pistorius case have previously been successful.Last year, the prosecution successfully appealed against Pistorius initial manslaughter conviction and had it changed to murder. Masipa was also the judge who acquitted Pistorius of murder before that verdict was overturned on appeal.No date has been announced for the first hearing in the latest sentence appeal.---Follow Gerald Imray on Twitter: www.twitter.com/GeraldImrayAP ' ' '