Mark Maloney on Kentucky sports

BEIJING – No medal, but seventh-place finisher in the 2008 Olympic Games isn’t too shabby.

That’s where Lexington’s Elaine Breeden wound up Thursday morning (Wednesday night EDT) in the finals of the women’s 200-meter butterfly. Breeden’s final time was 2 minutes, 7.36 seconds

Breeden, out of Trinity Christian Academy, was the eighth and final qualifier for the finals and thus drew lane eight at the Ice Cube.

Atlanta’s Kathleen Hersey, in lane seven, placed eighth in 2:08.23

China’s Liu Zige, who led qualifiers with an Asian-record 2:06.25, won in a world-record 2:04.18. Teammate Jiao Liuyang took the silver medal in 2:04.72.

Australia’s Jessicah Schipper, whose world record was broken, took third in 2:06.26. Three days earlier, Schipper won a bronze medal in the 100 fly.

Poland’s Otylia Jedrzejczak, the 2004 Olympic gold-medalist, placed fourth.

Japan’s Yuko Nakanishi, who came into the Games with the fastest time of 2008 (2:06.38) was fifth.

Breeden, who reached the semifinals of the 100-meter butterfly before being eliminated, has one more fly test, the 4-by-100-meter relay.

 BEIJING – Elaine Breeden is through to the finals of the women’s 200-meter butterfly.

Barely.

Breeden claimed the eighth and final spot in the finals, placing sixth in the second of two semifinal heats Wednesday morning (Tuesday night in the U.S.).

 A Water Cube capacity crowd of 17,000 cheered China’s Liu Zige to victory in the second of two heats, won in 2:06.25. Breeden came in sixth, but her time of 2:07.73 edged Great Britain’s Jemma Lowe, who placed third in the opening heat with a time of 2:07.87.

 “I was stunned,” Breeden said of her advancement. “I wanted to be in the top eight in the 100-meter butterfly, so when I didn’t make it I was a bit disappointed. I’m just going to see what I can do (in the finals).”

Breeden, a Stanford University junior out of Lexington’s Trinity Christian Academy, will be joined in the finals by Atlanta’s Kathleen Hersey, tied for fourth in Breeden’s heat and tied for fifth overall (2:06.96) Others advancing out of Breeden’s heat included world record-holder Jessicah Schipper of Australia (2:06.34), defending gold-medalist Otylia Jedrzejczak of Poland (2:06.78) and 2008 world leader Yuko Nakanishi of Japan, who tied with Hersey.

 China’s Jiao Liuyang won the opening heat in 2:06.42, followed by Aurore Mongel of France in 2:07.21.

Finals are set for Thursday morning (Friday night U.S.).

BEIJING — Lexington’s Elaine Breeden finished fourth in her heat and ninth overall during preliminaries of the Beijing Olympics women’s 200-meter butterfly, held Tuesday night in The Water Cube. That moves her on to Wednesday’s semifinals.

Breeden said she was disappointed with her placement but pleased with her time.

She finished in 2:07.92. Aurore Mongel of France won the heat in 2:06.49. Fastest time of the night went to China’s Liu Zige in 2:06.41.

Semifinals are set for Wednesday morning in Beijing (Tuesday night in the U.S.), with finals about 24 hours later.

“Get a good sleep tonight and be ready for a fast swim tomorrow,” Breeden said. “I’m really happy to see my family up in the stands.”

Although Breeden’s family has been here since the Games opened, they had not been able to make contact until Elaine spotted them in the stands Tuesday.

Breeden, a Stanford University junior out of Lexington’s Trinity Christian Academy, was eliminated Sunday in the semifinals of the 100 fly, but the 200 is her better event.

“I was really nervous after the 100-meter fly didn’t go my way,” she said. “I battled demons all day. That shook my confidence. But I’m pleased with my performance. I just wanted to get into the semifinals.”

Teammate Kathleen Hersey also advanced, winning her heat in 2:07.65 (seventh overall).

“I felt pretty nervous. I had knots in my stomach most of the day,” Hersey said. “This was the most nerve-wracking swim I’d had since the (U.S. Olympic) Trials. The crowd really gets you going, though.”

World record-holder Jessicah Schipper of Australia was fourth in Hersey’s heat and 11th overall.

“It is only a heat. Perhaps I did swim a little too slow,” Schipper said. “Maybe I didn’t put as much effort in as I should have considering how the heats are going at the moment. I didn’t do myself any favors going out that slow.”

David Walters, Ricky Berens, Erik Vendt and Klete Keller combined in the semifnals of the men’s 4-by-200-meter relay to post an Olympic-record time of 7:04.66. Australia held the old record of 7:07.05, set in 2000 at Sydney.

University of Louisville senior Vali Preda, eliminated earlier in the first round of the men’s 100-meter breaststroke, did not start Tuesday’s 200 breaststroke.

Italy’s Paolo Bossini broke the Olympic record in advancing to the semifinals. His time of 2:08.98 bested the time of 2:09.44 set by world record-holder Kosuke Kitajima of Japan in 2004.

However, Bossini didn’t have the record very long. Two heats later, Daniel Gyurta of Hungary churned out a 2:08.68 record-breaker.

U.S. entrants Eric Shanteau and Scott Spann both advanced. Shanteau ranked seventh overall (2:10.29), with Spann 10th (2:10.61).

Earlier, Team USA’s Garrett Weber-Gale and Jason Lezak advanced to the semifinals of the men’s 100-meter freestyle. Weber-Gale ranked eighth overall (48.19). Lezak, the anchor-leg hero of the gold-medal 4-by-100 relay Monday, was 11th (48.33). Eamon Sullivan, the world record-holder from Australia, was the fastest qualifier (47.80).

“Yesterday was very emotional for me,” said Weber-Gale, referring to the world-record relay. “It has been a pretty tiring day coming off that high in the morning. I got into the pool today to cool myself down from the record and excitement. I’m just taking it one day at a time.”

Said Lezak: “I was a little tired. I just wanted to get to the semifinals and not make the same mistakes as Athens (where he didn’t qualify for semifinals). So I went out hard.”

           BEIJING –  Elaine Breeden tied for sixth in her semifinal heat of the women’s 100-meter butterfly Sunday morning (Saturday night EDT), before a Water Cube sellout crowd of 17,000. So now she has another day to rest for the 200 ’fly at the Beijing Summer Olympic Games.

            “Not my best. I was a little disappointed with the time,” the Lexington swimmer said of her 58.55-second finish. “But my butterfly’s feeling good, so I’m just going to rest up and look forward to the 200, which is my best event.”

            Preliminaries in the 200 begin Tuesday night (Beijing)/morning (EDT).

            Breeden’s swim came moments after Michael Phelps snagged the first of what he hopes will be eight gold medals.

            His time of 4:03.84 destroyed both his day-old Olympic record of 4:07.82 and his world record of 4:05.25, set in June at the U.S. Olympic Trials.

            “Afterwards, I looked up and saw President Bush giving me a thumbs up and holding the American flag,” Phelps said. “That was pretty cool.”

            Breeden’s heat was won by reigning world champion Lisbeth Trickett of Australia in 57.05. Christine Magnuson, out of the University of Tennessee, placed second in an American-record 57.08, advancing to the finals. The former American record of 57.34 was set last year by Natalie Coughlin.

            Breeden touched sixth, tied with Alena Popchanka of France.

            Australia’s Jessica Schipper, world record-holder in the 200 ’fly, won the second heat in  57.43.

            Finals are set for Monday morning in Beijing (Sunday night EDT).

            Breeden agreed that her semifinal exit might be a blessing in disguise when the 200 comes around.

            “Yeah, we’ll see how it turns out,” she said. “But I thought it was a really good race yesterday and a pretty good showing today. That would have been my best time before the (U.S.) Trials, so I can’t be too disappointed with that. I’m just going to sit back and cheer for Christy.”

            Phelps led a 1-3 American finish in the IM.

            Laszlo Cseh of Hungary took the silver medal in a European-record 4:086.16. Ryan Lochte won the bronze in 4:08.09.

            Three other events were decided, with the U.S. gaining a relay silver medal and a pair of individual bronzes:

·    A Netherlands team of Inge Dekker, Ranomi Kromowidjojo, Fmke Heemskerk and Marleen Veldhaus churned out an Olympic-record 3:33.76 in the women’s 4-by-100 freestyle relay. The U.S., with Coughlin, Lacey Nymeyer, Kara Lynn Joyce and 41-year-old Dara Torres took the silver medal in 3:34.33. Australia, anchored by Trickett, earned the bronze (3:35.05).

·    Katie Hoff of Towson, Md., took bronze in the women’s 400 indidual medley (4:31.71). Australia’s Stephanie Rice won, breaking Hoff’s world record in 4:29.45. Hoff’s record, set at the U.S. Trials, was 4:31.12. Rice was followed by South Africa’s Kirsty Coventry in an African-record 4:28.89. Elizabeth Beisel of Saunderstown, R.I., placed fourth.

·    Larsen Jensen of Bakersfield, Calif., beat his own American record in the men’s 400-meter freestyle to win a bronze. His time of 3:42.78 beat his 3:43.53, set at the U.S. Trials. Taehwan Park of South Korea won in an Asian-record 3:41.86. China’s Lin Zhang netted silver in 3:42.44. Peter Vanderkaay of Rochester, Mich., finished fourth.

           Team USA advanced both its swimmers to the finals of the men’s 100-meter breaststroke – world record-holder Brendan Hansen and Mark Gangloff. Hansen qualified fifth (59.94), Gangloff seventh (1:00.44). Norway’s Alexander Dale Oen was quickest (59.16), clipping his day-old Olympic record.

BEIJING — Elaine Breeden did what was necessary in her first Olympic race Saturday, easily advancing to the semifinals of the women’s 100-meter butterfly.

Michael Phelps, chasing a possible eight gold medals, did more than necessary in his first race at the National Aquatics Center, nicknamed “The Water Cube.” He broke his own Olympic record in the men’s 400-meter individual medley.

Breeden, a graduate of Lexington’s Trinity Christian Academy, placed third in her heat and sixth overall in a field of 49.

Teammate Christine Magnuson won the heat in 57.70 seconds. Brazil’s Gabriella Silva touched the wall in 58 seconds flat. Then came Breeden in 58.06.

“It was really good. I was happy with the swim,” said Breeden, a Stanford University junior. “It was good to get one race under. It’s been a long process since (last month’s U.S. Olympic Team) Trials and, hopefully, there are more good ones to come.”

Australia’s Jessica Schipper led all qualifiers in 57.58. Magnuson’s time held up for second, tied with China’s Zhou Yafei. Defending Olympic champion Otylia Jedrzaejczak of Poland was 17th in 58.53.

Breeden said she was spurred by loud encouragement from her teammates, a distinct minority in the sold-out Cube.

“I’ve got those 40 other swimmers from America I’m swimming for,” she said. “And no matter how many people are in the stands, when I hear them cheering for me I get the same feeling.”

Breeden said her parents and two sisters also were on hand after arriving a day or so ago. “I haven’t been able to contact them yet,” she said, “but I know they’re up there.”

Semifinals are set for Sunday morning (Saturday night EDT), with finals Monday morning (Sunday night EDT).

Phelps blew away the field in the IM. His time of 4:07.82 beat the Olympic record he set four years ago, 4:08.26.

Hungary’s Laszio Cseh had the second-fastest qualifier, 4:09.26. Ryan Lochte of the U.S. won his heat in 4:10.33, ranking fourth overall.

“I’m pretty satisfied with the time,” Phelps said. “I didn’t think I’d swim that fast in the preliminaries.

“All I know is I wanted to be in the middle (lane) of the pool tomorrow.”

Team USA’s Larsen Jensen led 400-meter freestyle qualifiers (3:43.10). Teammate Peter Vanderkaay ranked sixth (3:44.22).

Wow!

Friday’s opening ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics were hot. Literally and figuratively.

The 90-degree heat felt hotter, thanks to a packed stadium of 91,000, Beijing’s ever-present smog and a lack of wind.

Interestingly, organizers were prepared for the lack of wind. The Chinese and Olympic flags fluttered steadily, thanks to a fan-powered flag pole.

Tracking local athletes, Tyson Gay and Tayshaun Prince were easy to spot. Lexington Legends coach Stubby Clapp said he would march; he probably did, but I didn’t spot him. Elaine Breeden skipped the festivities in order to be ready for her first race on Saturday.

The Beijing Games theme of “One World, One Dream” played out well. Of course, China drew the biggest response when the athletes marched into the Bird’s Nest. Chinese Taipei and Hong Kong were next. South Korea drew polite applause, while North Korea drew a louder response.

The United States also drew one of the bigger ovations, and more cheers came when President George Bush was shown on the stadium video board.

While the U.S. had Lopez Lomong, other prominent flag-bearers included Jamaican sprinter Veronica Campbell-Brown, Swiss tennis star Roger Federer and NBA stars Andrey Kirilenko (Russia), Dirk Nowitzki (Germany) and Yao Ming (China).

Now, it’s time to play.

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.