RIO DE JANEIRO -- While Andriy Hovorov hasnt been home for almost three years, he is representing his native region of Crimea quite well in Rio.Hovorov raced for Ukraine on Thursday and posted the fastest time of the mens 50-meter freestyle heats, making the furious dash to the wall in 21.49 seconds, better than U.S. medal contenders Nathan Adrian and Anthony Ervin.We were planning for this, we had expectations, but its just the start, Hovorov said.Hovorovs life took an unexpected turn when Russia annexed Crimea in 2014. The swimmer, who is from Sevastopol, ruled out changing his nationality, leading to his extended absence from his home territory.Ukraines economy is in crisis, but sports officials have focused much of their meager funding on him, allowing him to train abroad with coach Arilson Silva, the former mentor of Brazilian world-record holder Cesar Cielo.This result comes from him, Hovorov said of Silva. We know what were doing, we know the plan, and this is just the first step to have better results.Hovorov arrived in Rio in good form, having won silver in the 50 free at the European Championships in May, plus a gold medal in the 50 butterfly, a non-Olympic event. The Olympic 50 free semifinals were scheduled for Thursday night, with the final taking place on Friday.Speaking with The Associated Press in June, Hovorov said he was proud to stay with Ukraine but understood how other Crimean athletes could have been tempted to switch to Russia if they were struggling to fund their careers in the Ukrainian system.After the 50 heats, Hovorov said he doesnt want to talk politics in Rio, but plans to speak with relatives in Crimea later in the day. He said the situation there is stable, even with tensions high this week following what Russia claims was a military incursion by Ukrainian forces.Ukraine has another Crimean medal contender in rhythmic gymnastics, where Anna Rizatdinova must face the Russian gold medal favorites.Crimeans who switched allegiance to Russia have struggled to reach Rio because of International Olympic Committee rules mandating athletes observe a period of ineligibility after changing their registered nationality. One Crimean, javelin thrower Vera Rebrik, has been approved to compete for Russia, but is not in Rio because of a doping-related ban on the Russian track and field team. Cheap Air Max 720 Uk . -- On the field, it was business as usual for Jameis Winston and No. Cheap Air Max 720 Free Shipping . -- Kyrie Irvings last-minute 3-pointer helped seal another victory for Cleveland -- and the Cavaliers longest winning streak since LeBron James left. http://www.airmax720uk.com/ . Cote was eligible to become a free agent Feb. 15. Cote helped running back Jon Cornish run for a league-high 1,813 rushing yards en route to being named the leagues most outstanding player. Air Max 720 Sale Uk . - The Oakland Raiders re-signed offensive lineman Khalif Barnes on Friday. Air Max 720 Clearance Uk . -- Eastern Kentucky thrives off creating havoc for others. ARLINGTON, Texas -- Joey Wendle led off the game with his first major league homer and the Oakland Athletics were off to a fast start in yet another victory over Yu Darvish.Marcus Semien added a three-run blast off the Texas Rangers ace who has long struggled against the AL West rival, and the As won 11-2 on Saturday night.I think it was more command with him. What, he walked three guys in a row? Just not really like him, As manager Bob Melvin said. It was just an off night for him command-wise.Raul Alcantara (1-1), among five As pitchers who have made their MLB debuts this season with a start, worked into the sixth. The right-hander allowed two runs, on Carlos Gomezs homer in the sixth, with three strikeouts and no walks in his third career start.He ran out of gas a little bit in the sixth, but he was getting some funky swings from some really good hitters. So its good to see, Melvin said. I know he feels good about the outing. It gives you a lot of confidence going forward knowing that you can pitch against a lineup like this and have some success. You could just see his confidence grow as the game went along.Darvish (5-5) allowed seven runs, matching his career high, over five innings. The right-hander struck out eight but also walked four, including three batters in a row to start the second, to fall to 2-9 in 13 career starts against the As. No other MLB team has beaten him more than four times.I noticed that early the fastball command wasnt there. So you get him looking in one spot, Semien said. Hes going to throw it in there. He throws a lot of offspeed too, so we were able to key in on one pitch and did a good job.When Darvish last faced Oakland -- a day after his 30th birthday exactly a month ago Saturday -- he struck out nine and walked one in seven innings in a 6-2 victory.ddddddddddddBefore that, he had gone 0-8 in 10 starts against time since winning against them more than four years earlier in his eighth game after coming from Japan.Wendle, a rookie second baseman in his 15th career game, hit a 1-1 pitch into the left-field seats for a 1-0 lead, and his sac fly in the second inning made it 4-0.After Darvish walked the bases loaded to start the second, Bruce Maxwell singled up the middle to drive home two runs. Wendle hit his sac fly after Brett Eibner struck out.Semiens 26th homer, with two outs in the fifth, put the As up 7-0.Ive been having good command throughout this year. Today I didnt have it, Darvish said through his translator. I think its because I wasnt getting a good feel for it physically, and a feel for the pitches. Im not talking about pain or anything, its just the feel. I just didnt pitch well today.SHORT HOPSOakland, already guaranteed consecutive losing seasons for the first time since 2007-09, won for the fifth time its last six games. ... The As have scored 60 runs their last six games, after only 41 runs the previously 15.TRAINERS ROOMAthletics: Right-hander Sonny Gray, out since Aug. 7 with a strained right forearm, threw all of his pitches during a 31-pitch bullpen session. He will get a couple of days off before another bullpen, and could still potentially pitch in another game this season. ...UP NEXTAthletics: Since eight scoreless innings in his first start for Oakland, lefty Ross Detwiler is 1/3 with a 5.25 ERA his last seven games (six starts).Rangers: Colby Lewis (6-2, 3.31) makes his only his second start since a two-month stint on the DL with a strained right lat. ' ' '