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Tuesday, September 26, 2000

Local kayakers
continue as contenders

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By Pat Bigold
Star-Bulletin

Honolulu kayaker Peter Newton, fresh off qualifying for the finals in his first K-4 1,000-meter heat yesterday, races today with Angel Perez in the K-2 500-meter prelims at the Sydney International Regatta Centre at Penrith Lakes.

Meanwhile, Kailua's Kathy Colin will race in the K-1 and K-2 (with Tamara Jenkins) with only 1 hour and 10 minutes rest between the two 500-meter heats.

"It will be a tough heat (K-2) but I think we'll do well," said Newton, a three-time Olympian.

The American K-4 boat finished less than 3 seconds behind leaders Germany (defending gold medalist) and Slovakia.

In that race, Newton said he was glad to have Perez aboard. Perez, who left Cuba seven years ago, had been originally denied permission to compete by the IOC.

"The conditions were starting to change when it came to our heat, so we might have had more of a headwind in ours," said Newton.

"The times were all pretty close so there may be any number of boats that could medal.

The K-4 finals are on Friday.

The Hungarians and Germans are the teams to beat in the K-4 while the Poles, Australians and Germans will be tough in the K-2.

"Tamara is being my 'Rocky' coach here in the hotel room, getting me pumped up," Colin said.

"We went out on the water today and felt great and we're just talking about going out and having the race of our lives."

Colin said living at Penrith Lakes, about 40 miles outside Sydney, is quieter than being in the village and allows her more rest.

She said she was going to awake early this morning so that she can eat a good breakfast before her race.

"I can do one race without any food but not two," Colin said.

The Sydney International Regatta Centre was developed out of a former sand and gravel quarry.

USOC photo
Hawaii's Sean Kern scored one goal for the U.S.
in yesterday's 10-9 loss to Hungary
in men's water polo.

Hawaii's Olympians Competing today Kayaking: K-1 and K-2 500 heats (Kathy Colin); K-4 1,000 semifinals, (Peter Newton) Sailing: Laser (John Myrdal). Men's water polo: U.S. (Sean Kern) vs. Greece. When to watch Today KHNL (Channel 13/Cable8) 4 p.m.-9 p.m. Gymnastics, men's diving, women's cycling, weightlifting, sychronized swimming. 9:35 p.m.-11:05 p.m. Men's water polo (U.S. vs. Hungary), women's volleyball (U.S. vs. South Korea). CNBC (OC16/Dig116/AC43) 2 p.m.-6 p.m. Boxing, sailing, men's soccer, wrestling. MSNBC (OC40/Dig107/AC12) 7 a.m.-2 p.m. repeats 9 p.m.-4 a.m. Tennis, men's soccer, men's beach volleyball, baseball, men's diving.

Associated Press
Former Hawaii resident Eric Fonoimoana, top, tackles partner
Dain Blanton after the U.S. pair won ther gold medal in men's
beach volleyball today with a win over Brazil's
Jose Marco Melo and Ricardo Santos.

Beach volleyball

The U.S. men won gold for the second straight time as Dain Blanton and Eric Fonoimoana upset Brazil's Ze Marco de Melo and Ricardo Santos 12-11, 12-9 in the beach volleyball final.

Karch Kiraly and Kent Steffes won the men's tournament for the United States at Atlanta four years ago.

Fonoimoana is a former Hawaii resident whose family still resides in Kahuku. His late father was a Kahuku High graduate. His sister, Lelei, competed for the U.S. in swimming at the Montreal Olympics in 1976.

Sailor second

On a day that saw one of two races canceled in the Laser class sailing event, Kailua's John Myrdal put together another second-place finish in the 43-boat field and moved from 19th to 17th overall with four races to go.

Myrdal, who finished second over the weekend, is making a late run to slip into the medal picture.

After three more races, he will have the option of erasing his worst finish of the 11-race series.

Viloria ponders

Unsuccessful light flyweight boxer Brian Viloria, who said last weekend he wants to enroll at the University of Hawaii, said the idea of continuing as an amateur until 2004 remains an option for him.

He said by phone from Sydney if no professional deal appears worthwhile, he might just think of going for gold in Greece.

Meanwhile, Viloria said HBO approached him before and after his loss to France's Brahim Asloum about an unspecified deal.

"But that's not real clear yet," he said. "And we haven't really had any negotiations."

Viloria said he will approach pro boxing with caution.

"Some boxers stick to it and don't know what to do afterward," he said. "Boxing can take over your life. I want to take as much out of it as I can and then do something else."

He is continuing to reside at the Olympic Village but will also spend time at his family's hotel in Sydney.

"I will stay and cheer my teammates on," said Viloria.

Viloria said he has been thinking a lot about Hawaii, and is anxious to come home and spend time with the people who supported him.

"Even though I don't get to take home a gold, the love everyone in Hawaii has given me is good as gold," he said.