Mark Maloney on Kentucky sports

BEIJING – Caroline Burckle, a graduate of Sacred Heart Academy in Louisville, earned an Olympic bronze medal Thursday morning at the Water Cube.

Handling the third leg of the 4-by-200 freestyle relay, Burckle rallied the team from fourth place to third, and anchor Katie Hoff held on to secure the bronze medal.

Burckle combined with Allison Schmitt, Natalie Coughlin and Hoff to break the world record. But that still wasn’t enough to beat Australia or China.

Australia’s Stephanie Rice, Bronte Barratt, Kylie Palmer and Linda McKenzie finished in 7:44.31, shattering the world record of 7:50.09, set last year by the U.S.

China finished in an Asian-record 7:45.93 for silver. Then came a bronze-medal, American-record 7:46.33. Fourth-place Italy set a European record of 7:49.76.

BEIJING — Caroline Burckle (Louisville, Sacred Heart) led off the 4-by-200 freestyle relay Olympic semifinals for Team USA, turning in the second-fastest leg (1:57.86) en route to a heat victory (7:52.43) Wednesday night at the Water Cube.

The U.S. ranked second overall, behind first-heat winner France (Olympic-record 7:50.37).

Burckle was seventh at 50 meters, fifth at 100 and second at both 150 and 200. She was followed by Christine Marshall, Kim Vandenberg and Julia Smit.

Said Burckle: “It’s really important to secure the middle lane for tomorrow. Everyone on the relay did well, so I’m very excited. … It’s overwhelming, but a ‘good’ overwhelming.”

An Olympic beat writer needs your help in compiling a list of Kentucky connections in Beijing.

Tyson Gay (athletics) and Elaine Breeden (swimming) will represent Lexington. Caroline Burckle (Louisville) and Tayshaun Prince (UK) will be competing. UK, U of L and the Lexington Legends all have athletes who will be competing for other countries. Morehead State even has an executive chef assigned to the Games.

If you know of anyone with a “Kentucky connection” (native, resident, student, etc.) who will be attending the Olympics in an official capacity (athlete, coach, official, etc.), please e-mail me with the information. I plan to compile a list of Kentucky connections, to be published on or about Aug. 8, when the Games begin.

My e-mail address: mmaloney@herald-leader.com

Thanks for your assistance!

Mark

While I was away at the (Oregon) track, Kentuckians made quite a splash in Nebraska’s waters.

Elaine Breeden (Lexington) won the U.S. Olympic Trials 200-meter butterfly and placed second in the 100 ‘fly. Also making the team, as part of the 4-x-200 relay, is Caroline Burckle (Louisville).

I spoke with Elaine today (July 12), via phone from Stanford University. That’s where Elaine just completed her sophomore year. Stanford also is home base for the Olympic swim team.

She says training is going well and she is focused on swimming well at Beijing. Her parents, Dan and Lenore, as well as sisters Kathleen and Caroline will travel to China’s “Water Cube” for Elaine’s races.

For the full interview, stay tuned to The Herald-Leader.

Meanwhile, an alert reader noted that Saturday (July 5) preliminary results from the Swim Trials were missing from at least one edition of the paper. That effectively cut out some noteworthy Kentucky results.

So, with apologies for being tardy, here’s what went down that session:

Nick Graves (Lexington), seeded 16th, moved up to 14th in the men’s 1,500 meters with a time of 15:31.58. Nick, out of Sayre High School, swims for Wildcat Aquatics and Florida State University.

Also in the 1,500, placing 23rd, was Clark Burckle (Louisville), Caroline’s brother. His time: 15:38.15.

The women’s 50-meter freestyle prelims included University of Kentucky twins Jenny and Heather Bradford. Jenny touched in 25.73 seconds, good for 21st. Heather, in 26.24, finished 54th.

3-Day Event hopefuls complete final test

At Norwood, N.C., Saturday (July 12), 10 of the 15 horses on the U.S. Equestrian Federation’s short list for Eventing competed in a mandatory show jump outing. Five other horses are preparing in England.

Rider and horse combinations with clean rounds over the Fork Stables course were: Phillip Dutton and Connaught (the winning combination in the Rolex Three-Day Event at the Kentucky Horse Park); Bonnie Mosser with Merloch; Buck Davidson aboard BallyNoe Castle RM (a.k.a. Reggie); Jennifer Wooten on The Good Witch; and Becky Holder atop Courageous Comet.

Dressage and cross country trials were held Friday.

The U.S. Olympic Event team will be named Monday.