SportsLine.com wire reports
Aug. 8, 2000
INDIANAPOLIS -- Some golden oldies of the
pool set will vie for another shot at Olympic gold at the
eight-day U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials starting on Wednesday.
The trials, where only the top two finishers in each event
qualify for the Sydney Games, will feature some of the oldest
swimmers ever to compete for U.S. Olympic swimming berths.
Among the thirtysomethings with legitimate shots at making
the team are Dara Torres, 33; Angel Martino, 33; Ron Karnaugh,
34; Jon Olsen, 31, and Byron Davis, 30.
On the other side of the spectrum at the pressure-packed
trials, the competition should highlight the talents of a new
generation of teenage stars, among them: Megan Quann, Kaitlin
Sandeno and Aaron Peirsol, 16; Fran Crippen, and Laura Davis,
15; and Michael Phelps and Diana MacManus, just 14.
Three of the world's greatest female sprinters fight for two
spots in the 50 and 100-meter freestyles in one of the showcase
battles.
Jenny Thompson, the world's leading sprinter and 100 meter
butterflyer the last three years, will be challenged by comeback
queen Torres and by Amy Van Dyken, whose four golds in 1996 made
her the most decorated athlete in any sport at the Atlanta
Games.
The 27-year-old Thompson, in her 14th year on the U.S.
national team, has won five Olympic golds but they have all come
in relays and Sydney serves as her last chance at claiming an
individual Olympic title.
'Dr. Ron' wants to book Sydney appointment
At the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, Karnaugh was a medal
favorite in the 200-meter individual medley. As he marched into
the stadium for Opening Ceremonies, he spied his dad and waved
to him. Shortly thereafter his father collapsed and died.
Karnaugh went on to swim his event but finished sixth. In
1996 he finished fourth at the U.S. trials. He then went on to
complete his medical degree.
This year, "Dr. Ron" is swimming faster than ever, and
will battle Tom Wilkens, who has the world's best time this
year, and Tom Dolan, world record holder in the 400 meter
medley.
Should he make the team, Karnaugh will become the first
practicing M.D. on a U.S. Olympic swim team and will eclipse
Duke Kahanomoku by four months as the oldest-ever U.S. Olympic
swimmer.
Another comeback is being waged by Kristine Quance, who was
favored to win a medal in the 400 meter individual medley in
1992. But she came down with mononucleosis and was unable to
swim the grueling event at trials.
Four years later, she was the gold medal favorite. At the
trials, however, she was disqualified by officials after winning
her heat by eight seconds, for an obscure turn violation.
Now, four years later, married and the mother of a
20-month-old son, Kristine Quance-Julian is back for another try
and is among four women expected to contend for the two Olympic
slots.
Quann talking tough
Brash 16-year-old Megan Quann is making noise among the
younger set. Quann has predicted she will win the 100 meter
breaststroke at the trials and defeat world record-holder Penny
Heyns in Sydney.
Quann also says she will swim the event in 1:05.49, more
than a second faster than Heyns's global mark. Sounding like a
young Cassius Clay, Quann thus far has delivered on all her
promises, setting a U.S. record last March and ranking second in
the world.
In Indianapolis, she will be up against NCAA champion Kristy
Kowal, who is favored in the 200 breaststroke.
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