U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM TRIALS
Takata, Chun claim Olympic berths in judo and wrestling
Staff and wire reports
LAS VEGAS » Iolani graduate Taylor Takata and Roosevelt's Clarissa Chun are headed to Beijing after winning their divisions at the U.S. Olympic Team judo and wrestling trials yesterday.
Takata earned a spot on the U.S. men's judo team while Chun secured a berth on the women's wrestling team.
In his second attempt at the judo trials, the top-seeded Takata of Wahiawa defeated Jeremy Liggett of New York by waza-ari in the 1451/2-pound final. He got past Tanner Singh in the first round and Justin Flores in the semifinals to reach the final.
In the wrestling trials, Chun won the women's 1051/2-pound division challenge tournament, then upset 2004 Olympic bronze medalist Patricia Miranda in a best-of-three final.
"I knew I could do it. I just had to grit my teeth and do it," said Chun, 23, who lost to Miranda in the 2004 trials finals.
In today's wrestling competition, Grant Nakamura competes in the men's freestyle 121-pound division. In the judo trials, Andrew Hung competes in the 178-pound division and Melinda Swanson in the women's 172 division today.