MileSplit is proud to present the 2025 All-National Track & Field Honors. As part of a nationwide initiative, these honors recognize the top high school athletes in the country based on verified performances from the outdoor season. Athletes have been selected through a data-driven process to highlight excellence across every event, grade level, and team tier – from First Team through Honorable Mention, as well as All-Freshman to All-Senior teams. Congratulations to all of the athletes who took their performances to the next level this season.

As Chair of Tamworth Spartans Volleyball Club, and having worked as a consultant for Volleyball England, he was well aware that the governing body was encountering difficult times.

Encouraged to stand as an Elected Board Director by then-Chief Executive Janet Inman, he has since played an important role in helping the organisation get back on a sound financial and structural footing. 

Only then, in later years of his eight-year tenure, has he been able to help drive and develop the game in England, as Chair of the An Ace Service Sub-group. 

“Going back nine years I was doing (communications) consultancy work for Volleyball England, having gone self-employed in 2016, when Janet asked me to work in the office two days a week,” said Simon. 

“Eventually the communications went back to an in-staff role, but Janet asked me if I would consider applying to be on the Board. 

“I’d been Chair of my club for five years, so I thought it was something I could use my experience to get involved with.” 

Since then, it’s been a tenure of “two halves” for Simon, who has helped Volleyball England through the Covid-19 Pandemic and overseen much positive change. 

First, though, came some challenging times when keeping the organisation functioning remained the number one priority. 

He said: “Volleyball England was in trouble in 2017, and, in the first two years, it was all about trying to safeguard the organisation. 

“At that time, Volleyball England was essentially on Sport England’s naughty step, and it was a hand-to-mouth existence just to make sure we continued. 

“It was not always a fun time as Janet and the Board tried to get the sport back on an even keel. We spent a lot of time plowing through financial updates and Sport England submissions. We had to make some hard choices. 

“But all that effort paved the way for the second half, which was to be more interesting and proactive.

“One of the best things was creating The Game Plan, which was launched in 2020. In the second half of 2019, I spent a lot of time with Adam (Walker), Seyram (Atubra), Sue (Storey) and Clare (Francis) working on the plan. 

“I am very proud of the contribution I have made and the progress we have made as an organisation, which is unrecognisable now from when I first became involved.”

Among the highlights of Simon’s stint on the Board has been the staging of the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. 

As a proud West Midlander, he was delighted to see its impact on the city, with the Bello brothers, Javier and Joaquin, winning a bronze medal for England in the beach volleyball. 

“To be involved in an organisation that is helping something like the Commonwealth Games in your home city was amazing,” said Simon. 

“Another thing from which I take great pride is starting the process of reviewing the refereeing structure, and also looking at some of the challenges facing the NVL. 

“Some of the things that have been implemented might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but we have been doing what we think is right to try to raise standards in the sport.” 

While thoroughly enjoying his time in post, Simon believes now is the right time for other people to step up, having served a maximum of eight years on the Board. 

His replacement in the role will be decided by a vote of member clubs at this weekend’s AGM, where they will choose between Anton Kornilov and Jeanne Riot. 

“Eight years is a long time,” said Simon. “This will give other people the chance to come in with fresh enthusiasm… I think eight years is about the maximum. 

“I’ve said to Adam (Walker) and the other directors that if they need help or advice, then they can always come to me, just as remains the case with Clare (Francis, former Deputy Chair). 

“Like her, I will continue to play a big part in volleyball, both on the club scene and helping with the West Midlands Volleyball Association (for whom wife Kara is Chair). 

“In my professional life I’ve been setting up a new board game café close to where I live in Moseley. 

“That’s happening alongside me continuing my other work, so it’s going to be a very busy time for me, even after coming to the end of this role.

“I’d like to thank Adam, as Chair. I’ve learned a lot from him and being in contact with him. I really like the working environment he has established for the Board and he’s been able to make sure that everyone’s voice has been heard.”

Friday, 14 July 2028 will be a day to remember for fans, athletes and performers alike, as the Olympic Games LA28 spring to life with an undoubtedly memorable Opening Ceremony split between two iconic venues: the ​​LA Memorial Coliseum and 2028 Stadium in Inglewood.

Beginning at 17:00 local time (GMT -7), the ceremony will be perfectly timed to take full advantage of the afternoon sun, so-called “golden hour” lighting and what will hopefully be a spectacular sunset over the City of Angels.

The timing of the Opening Ceremony was revealed as part of the first version of the detailed competition calendar released by LA28 on Monday, 14 July, which coincided with the three years to go milestone for the Olympic Games LA28.

The competition schedule – which can be viewed by day and by session – sets the tone for two (and a little extra) incredible weeks of sporting competition, beginning with preliminary action across seven sports on Wednesday, 12 July.

There will certainly be plenty of excitement in the air along the world-famous shores of Venice Beach during the early morning hours of Saturday, 15 July, with triathlon set to award the first set of medals at the Olympic Games LA28.

In fact, the first week of the Olympic Games LA28 will have an entirely different flavour than the Olympic Games Paris 2024, as athletics swaps places with swimming on the competition calendar, bringing track and field finals forward by a week, while leaving the marathons in their traditional slot at the end of the Olympic Games.

Of course, that doesn’t mean the second week of the Olympic Games LA28 will be any less entertaining, with swimming finals at the 2028 Stadium in Inglewood creating a once-in-a-lifetime atmosphere in the heart of Los Angeles.

For fans interested in wall-to-wall action, Saturday, 29 July will likely be a highlight of the Games. Featuring 16 gold and bronze medal team sport matches, along with 19 finals in individual sports, there’ll be an almost endless buffet of sports to choose from on what could easily be dubbed “Super Saturday.”

Unfortunately, as the idiom goes, all good things must come to an end – and the Olympic Games LA28 are no exception.

After 19 days of unforgettable action, the Olympic Games LA28 will reach their conclusion during a highly-anticipated Closing Ceremony at 18:00 local time (GMT -7) on Sunday, 30 July.

Stay tuned for more updates about the Olympic Games LA28 on Olympics.com.

BYU freshman Suli Davis had 800 kills during her senior season at Colleyville Heritage High School in Texas.

That’s not a misprint.

The number is almost unbelievable. The high school leader in kills in Utah last season according to MaxPreps was Bountiful’s Taylor Harvey. The state’s Ms. Volleyball and University of Texas signee totaled 604 kills in 105 sets, or 5.8 kills per set.

Davis, who was named national Player of the Year by PrepVolleyball.com, produced her 800 kills in 122 sets, which works out to 6.6 kills per set. For her career, Davis had 2,099 kills.

They play some pretty good volleyball in the state of Texas and Colleyville Heritage is a AAAAA (5A) school with more than 1,800 students.

So just how good will Davis be in her freshman season at BYU? Good question, and one that will be answered next month when the Cougars get started on the 2025 season.

In the meantime, Davis has proved she can do her thing at the world level.

Davis’ play led the U.S. U19 National Team to a silver medal at the 2025 World Championships this weekend in Croatia. The Americans fell to Bulgaria 3-1 (21-25, 25-16, 25-17, 29-27) in the final on Sunday. Davis contributed a 13-kill, 16-dig double-double, along with three aces. She finished with 88 kills and 16 aces in all matches and was named the tournament’s Best Outside Hitter.

The 6-foot-2 Cougar freshman led the Americans in kills in four of their eight matches in Croatia, tallying double-digit kills in five of them. She paced the U.S. in aces on five separate occasions as well.

Davis helped the Americans medal for a fourth straight World Championship after the U19 U.S. team won gold in 2023 following the FIVB’s event age group switch. The U18 squad took bronze in 2021 and gold in 2019.

“Its a great opportunity,” Davis said during a recent interview on BYU Sports Nation. “When I go into it I’m really hard on myself but I have to give myself grace and just think that not everyone gets this chance. Only 18 went to training and only 12 get to go to Croatia, so it’s fun. Everyone is really good and competing. It’s a whole mix of emotions, but you have to to let it go and just play volleyball.”

Davis leads a strong freshman class into the 2025 season for BYU, a group that also includes 6-2 opposite hitter Anna Blamires (Colorado Springs, Colo.), 5-8 libero Kaylee Tingey (Overland Park, Kan.) and 5-11 setter Grace Fredrick (Salt Lake City).

All four of the freshmen enrolled in January, participating in spring practice as well as a summer player-run workouts.

“Suli is very physical at the net,” BYU coach Heather Olmstead said. “She has a great arm and jumps well. She really uses her physicality. She can pass and play defense so she’s a six-rotation player. We played four freshmen last year and freshmen don’t know what they don’t know. All of them (this year’s freshmen) are learning our systems. They are in the gym and in the weight room working hard and utilizing all of our resources.”

Returning junior Claire Little Chambers had this to say about Davis: “Players like that come in and change programs. We’re excited to see what she will bring to BYU.”

Olmstead, meanwhile, will spend the next month coaching the U.S. U21 team in the Pan Am Cup in Costa Rica. Then its back to Provo for preseason workouts in the Smith Fieldhouse to prepare for Year 3 in the Big 12.

“Everyone in the Big 12 is really good, from top to bottom,” Olmstead said. “We cant rest on our laurels. We have to bring it every night and that’s what the players want. Not everyone is going to have their best game every night. Sometimes we have to figure things out and problem solve that night. All of the girls have a great growth mindset.”