Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, July 26, 1995 TAG: 9507260053
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: DENVER LENGTH: Medium
One of the country's best female weightlifters lived up to expectations at the U.S. Olympic Festival.
Robin Byrd-Goad of Sumner, Wash., capped the first day of the event by breaking two of her American records.
Competing in the 110-pound class, where she was 1994 world champion, Byrd-Goad started the night by setting a festival record with a snatch lift of 176 1/4 pounds. Then she set an American record by lifting 2143/4 in the clean-and-jerk, and her total of 391 1/4 was another American record. The previous marks were 209 1/4 and 385 3/4.
``You just have to want it. You have to say, `I know I'm strong enough and I'm going to do it,''' Byrd-Goad said.
She had failed to make weight at nationals this year, and as a result lifted in the 119-pound class. Her total there was 16 1/2 pounds less than she lifted Monday.
``At the national championships back in April, I had somewhat of a mediocre meet, so I was really hungry for this meet,'' said Byrd-Goad, who has won 17 medals in 10 world championship appearances. ``I wanted to break some records.''
The only other weightlifting record to fall was a festival mark.
Vernon Patao of Wailuku, Hawaii, competing in the 141-pound class, had a total weight of 600 3/4 pounds, breaking the record of 595 set by Bryan Jacob of Alpharetta, Ga., at the 1993 festival.
Monday marked the final festival race for roller skater Dante Muse, the most successful athlete in the history of this event.
Muse, a roller skater from West Des Moines, Iowa, won the 500-meter quad race and picked up a silver medal as part of the 4,000-meter relay. His four gold medals this year gave him 26 during his career.
``I have seen good times and bad times. But the festival really helped me grow as a skater,'' said Muse, 28, whose 39 total medals are the most ever.
Fourteen sports were on the schedule today, including the gold medal matches in boxing and the finals of the women's 3-meter and men's platform diving.
The top qualifier in the 3-meter was Erika Sorgi of Mission Viejo, Calif. Sorgi turned 13 just a few weeks ago and is the youngest diver in the competition.
Her score of 542.55 put her ahead of festival platform champion Eileen Richetelli of Milford, Conn., (529.86) and Vanessa Thelin of Provo, Utah, (527.28). The finals will be held Tuesday.
On the platform, Sean Briscombe of Austin, Texas, scored 621.45 to finish as the top qualifier. Brian Earley of Irvine, Calif., was next with 613.05 and Mark Ruiz of Orlando, Fla., had 606.03.
At the swimming pool, Renee Wittendorfer of Mobile, Ala., won the 400-meter freestyle and anchored the third-place 400 medley relay team to finish the meet with six medals.
Jenny Hennen of Anoka, Minn., Mark Bennett of Santa Maria, Calif., and Elaine Schwartz of Mount Laurel, N.J., each won five medals. Hennen wound up with three golds, as did Amanda Beard of Irvine, Calif., and Steve Barnes of Osceola, Ind.
Also Monday, the U.S. Olympic Committee announced plans to honor 100 of the country's great Olympians.
The ``100 Golden Olympians'' program commemorates the successes of America's Olympians during the modern Olympic Games. The athletes - 20 were announced Monday - will gather at a dinner in Atlanta on the eve of the Centennial Games.
The athletes on hand for the announcement were speed skater Bonnie Blair, figure skater Scott Hamilton, sprinter Evelyn Ashford, swimmer John Naber and decathletes Rafer Johnson and Bill Toomey.
The Golden Olympians were chosen by the U.S. Olympic Committee and the U.S. Olympic Alumni Association. The other 80 athletes will be announced at various events leading to the 1996 Olympics.
``I'm glad I didn't have to wait to see if I was going to be one of the 80,'' said Blair, whose five gold medals make her the most successful female U.S. Olympian.
Completing the list of the first 20 Olympians named to take part are Shirley Babashoff, Greg Barton, Bob Beamon, Matt Biondi, Tracy Caulkins, Willie Davenport, Anne Donovan, Peggy Fleming, Zina Garrison, Dan Jansen, Bruce Jenner, K.C. Jones, Roger Kingdom and Al Oerter.
by CNB