The Age from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia • Page 37

SPORT 16 THE AGE THURSDAY 22 JANUARY 1998 In Brief fires mp Thomas, Riey than he did out in public. "I know that when I'm in the water, people can't mob me," he said. Which is not to say that he is not enjoying all the attention he has been getting since the world championships in Perth. To unexpected applause, a Chinese woman, the dual world champion Yan Chen, won the women's 200 metres freestyle, but it was a German, Katrin Meissner, who won the 50-metre sprint, in the absence of world record-holder Le Jingyi of China. Thomas, who had broken the Commonwealth record for the 100 metres butterfly in the morning heats, broke it again in the final.

The new mark is 58.33. "That's something I've wanted to do for a while," she said. Riley returned to form, winning the 100 metres breaststroke final, which featured five Australians (they finished first, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh). Matt Dunn won a gold medal in the 400 metres individual medley, a feat he described as "pretty "Unfortunately, it was one of the easiest races I've ever raced in my life," he said. "I was cruising, but I'm disappointed.

The car (to be awarded to the first swimmer to break a world record) is still there." The silver medal went to Marcel Wouda of the Netherlands, who was not actually in the pool at the time. Wouda did not qualify for the final because he did not swim in the heats. He appealed, claiming that he did not know the heats were on. He lost his first appeal, won a second and was allowed to swim by himself, recording a time that was the second best of the day. In the men's 50 metres breast-stroke, German Mark Warnecke equalled the world record.

"Do I get something?" he wanted pace he set in Perth, he said: "Yeah, well, that's something I'll have to get used to." Alexandre Popov of Russia won the first event of the evening, the men's 100 metres freestyle in 47.56 seconds. Asked how it felt to beat his training partner, Klim, Popov said: "To honest, it was a little bit harder than Perth. Maybe because of all the push-offs." (World 'Cup meetings are contested in a 25-metre pool, which means four laps, instead of two). "My legs, when I got out of the pool, didn't really want to walk. 1 thought, where's a chair?" Popov, whose humor is famously dry, said he was now concentrating not on World Cup races but on 2001.

2001? "The next world championships," said. One assumes he was joking. Klim was second in 47.69, but said felt more comfortable in the pool By CAROLINE OVERINGTON, Sydney Last week the question was: what's wrong with Samantha Riley? What, moreover, is wrong with women's swimming? Last night, at the World Cup shortcourse meeting here, the answer was: nothing at all. Petria Thomas, angered by criticism of the women's team, which won just one gold medal at the world championships in Perth, broke two Commonwealth records. And Riley, who was accused by head coach Don Talbot of lacking commitment, won one of her favorite events, the 100 metres breast-stroke.

"I guess I'm not retiring," Riley-said darkly. "I guess I'm just as committed as I've always been." The men, with much less to prove, also performed well. innTTTT 111 III lY-wrv I jb "'-j: New world champion Ian 2. i iN fii 1 1 i i ii imniil Swimming Young Geoff Huegill, who has for years been nipping the heels of older swimmers, beat Michael Klim in winning the 50 metres butterfly. Ian Thorpe qualified fastest but finished second in the 400 metres freestyle, an event for which the world record-holder, Kieren Perkins, did not qualify (story below).

Beaten by Emiliano Brembilla of Italy, Thorpe said: "It's starting to catch up with me. In the last five days I've had a total of 30 hours' sleep." Asked if he felt able to keep up the UMHkS Thorpe (left) and Kieren Perkins after nation glued on him and with stakes far less significant, there were no tearaway heroics. After scampering up the first few laps of the shortcourse pool, Perkins began to fade, to third, to fourth, to fifth ultimately right out of a place in the eight-strong field for last nightls 400 metres final at the opening World Cup meeting of the year. He finished 11th fastest with a time of three minutes 51.82 seconds. Only a matter of minutes earlier, a new household name 15-year-old world champion Ian Thorpe had swum eight seconds faster, and momentarily it appeared he would threaten the shortcourse world record.

Surely this was another signal that the reign of the greatest distance swimmer was over? "It's been Interesting the last I rrri i be he he -rr aj i -i' rtf am 1M the heats of the 400 metres in Sydney yesterday. Thorpe swam eight seconds faster than the world record-holder, who failed to qualify. Perkins makes haste in comeback couple of days, watching Ian," Perkins said. "He's the world champion in the 400, hefe probably riding on a bit of a cloud, but he still sort of looks a little embarrassed every time he sees me, which I think Is obviously a result of his age. "To be honest, I'm enjoy It's great to competition be chasing Williams pair the fastest MOTOR SPORT: Williams drivers Heinz-Harald Frentzen of Germany and Canadian world champion Jacques Villeneuve dominated the first day of testing in Montmelo, Spain.

Frentzen, driving the old Williams car but on the new grooved tyres that will come into force this season, was quickest with a lap of one minute 21.38 seconds. Villeneuve, driving the new model but with the old style tyres, completed 26 laps with a fastest time of 1:24.64. Under 19s triumph CRICKET; Australia, cheered on by acting High Commissioner Joanna Adamson, routed India by six wickets in their under-19 World Cup clash at Centurion Park, Pretoria, yesterday. After dismissing the Indians for a labored 174 in the 50th over, Australia knocked off the required runs in the imh over at a cost ot just four wickets. The pick of the young Australian batsmen was James Hopes with 51 off 50 balls.

Reds can turn down Heat BASEBALL: The Melbourne Reds have a rare chance to put the Perth Heat out ot contention when they play a three-game series beginning at Moorabbin tonight. Alter a mediocre performance against the lowly Hunter Eagles early in the week, the Heat is in the unaccustomed position of needing to win every series to have, any chance of making the season is on the line and they know it," said Reds coach David Clarkson. Jones eyes 100 record ATHLETICS: American track queen Marion Jones said yesterday she can beat the women's 100 metres world record of 10.49 seconds set nearly 10 years ago by compatriot Florence urimth-loyner. I think I can break the world record. I am not saying next year or in three years but I can do it," 100m world champion Jones told a news conference in Helsinki.

"I am faster than last year." September aim for fight BOXING: Don King say's an Evander Holyfield-Lennox Lewis unification fight could still happen before the end of the year. The Times in London yesterday quoted King as saying he wanted the fight to take place in September in Las Vegas, although previous reports have suggested the bout will not take place until 1999 if at all. Newspaper slams drugs SWIMMING: An official' Chinese newspaper has made an attack on drugs in sport following the scandal surrounding the country's swimming team at the recent world championships in Perth. The English-language China Daily yesterday published a commentary condemning the country's drug cheats. It said the Perth fiasco had brought shame to the country's sporting image, but it adhered to the official Beijing line that there was no systemised doping program in Chinese swimming.

Campese for Adelaide RUGBY: Wallaby legend David Campese will captain-coach South Australia in next month's third annual Adelaide International Rugby Sevens. Campese sees it as a great opportunity to promote rugby in a state where its profile is virtually non-existent. The 35-year-old, a 101-Test veteran with a world record 64 Test tries, is the most recognisable face in the sport and organisers are confident that with him leading the Black Falcons, Hindmarsh Stadium will be filled for the tournament on 7 and 8 February. Devil of a time ICE HOCKEY: Jason Arnott's second goal as a Devil proved the game-winner as New Jersey scored three times in the third period to defeat the Detroit Red Wings 3-1 yesterday in a rematch of the 1995 Stanley Cup finals. Sheldon Souray snapped a scoreless tie with his second goal of the season 6:22 into the final period.

After Vyacheslav Kozlov tied it on the power play about five minutes later, Arnott tallied his Seventh goal to put New Jersey back on top. Blazers on the buzzer BASKETBALL: Kenny Anderson took an inbounds pass from Rasheed Wallace and buried a foul-line jumper at the buzzer to give the Portland Trail Blazers an 86-84 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers yesterday. Isaiah Rider 24 points artel Wallace added 17 for Portland, which led 78-65 with just 8:18 to play before Cleveland ran off 11 straight points to come within one. with 3:03 remaining. Wallaby Holbeck to miss RUGBY: Wallaby centre James Holbeck has succumbed to a serious shoulder injury and will miss the entire Super 12 series.

But Brumbies coach Eddiejones is confident Injured veteran five-eighth David Knox and half-back George Gregan will be back on deck for the start of the Super 12. Jones said Holbeck would undergo a full shoulder reconstruction next Tuesday. slowly expected to qualify for the 400 metres final. For him it was all about improving. All about getting ready for the real test that comes In April at the Commonwealth Games trials.

"I'm getting better. Every time I dive into the water now tO there's another aspect of what I'm doing that I'm improving," Perkins said. "This morning I had better speed over the first half of the race. The back half I probably dropped off a little too much. "I went into that race trying to go out a little harder, trying to post a time.

I honestly didn't think I'd give the top eight a hurry-along. I have the out there to know. Told there was no car, he was despondent. "I could have broken the world record. I am disappointed that I got so close.

Just a little b'4 faster Australian Adrian Radley won the men's 100 metres backstroke in 52.89, then said: "Well, that went to plan." At the world championships in Perth, he had been worried about the world record-holders circling in the pool around him. "It was scary," he said. "And in the past, 90 per cent has been good enough for me but Perth gave me a massive kick up the arse." Phil Rogers finished second behind Andrei Korneev in the 200 metres breaststroke, a result that particularly pleased him. "The adrenalin from the relay victory is still going," he said, referring to the gold he helped win in Perth. "I'm trying to keep it happening, to keep using it." Picture: STEVE CHRISTO "I've got three months to go to the trials and my No.

1 priority there Is to be fit and ready. "I had five months off after Atlanta, and I had to sit down and figure out what I wanted to do. Unless you've got the desire you're not going to succeed. "I had to think very seriously whether I could get that desire back, and I feel at this stage my motivation is coming directly from the 2000 Olympics and winning that third gold medal in the 1500. But the Commonwealth Games are an important stepping stone, and if I miss out on making them, it makes it that much harder for me going into 2000." Perkins will swim in the 800 metres today, then compete in the NSW open championships from next Thursday.

Robbie Fowler shot wide from a square pass by Steve McManaman. Newcasde called Alan Shearer off the bench with 30 minutes remaining, but the England marksman could not help to shift the balance. Meanwhile, McManaman and Liverpool have again denied that the England midfielder is set to move to Barcelona at the end of the season just as the Spanish club was confirming that it expected him to do just that. Spanish newspaper El Mundo yesterday quoted Barcelona vice-president Joan Gaspart as saying that a 12 million ($29.7 million) deal for the England midfielder to move at the end of the season had been agreed with the player's agent. And a club spokesman confirmed that after negotiating with the agent they expected to sign the player.

A Liverpool spokesman replied by saying the club was "mystified" by the reports as there had been no contact with Barcelona since August. Stable rider Damlen Oliver has opted for True Blonde as his mount but Freedman said the stable was hopeful that Compulsion, to be ridden by Rod Griffiths, would also measure up after an indifferent start to her career. In the colts' division the stable is likely to have three runners Smart Banker, Olivers mount Special Edition and flrst-starterCoup De Grace. Freedman said the stable was thrilled that they had already secured four other yearlings apart from the record-breaking Zabeel-Eight Carat colt from the Karaka sales, which finish tonight after three days and more than 500 lots. Brothers Lee, Richard and Anthony are at the sales.

Greg Hall, who has secured two rides (Tropical Affair and Coup De Grace), in the preludes on Saturday, has signed up Darren Beadmanfc former manager John Kerwick to help him attempt to secure the best rides at the major carnivals. Hall, 41, last night scoffed at any suggestion of retirement Owen lifts Liverpool hopes felt most of the guys would be going under 3:50, which they did to make the final. "I wanted to get in there and swim fast, and work on the aspects I feel were lacking at the state titles in Queensland two weeks ago. "At the state titles, my 400 was shocking, my 1500 was better, and my 800 was my best swim. I handled the distance better, but the speed was lacking.

Now my speed is picking up, and it's just a matter of putting the two together." Perkins said his training over the past few months had been As a result his speed might have suffered. He also said that lack of competition since Atlanta was "definitely to blame, and could be one of the reasons why every time I get In the water now I'm going a little Soccer off an instinctive save from a close-range effort by Oyvind Leonhardsen. The home side's pressure was rewarded with a goal from a move started by Paul Ince and sustained by Jason McAteer, who found Owen on the left from where the striker crashed his shot into the net via the underside of the bar. Newcastle, gradually pushing Liverpool back, saw Dane Ion Dahl Tomasson get the ball in the net, only for his effort to be ruled offside. Liverpool wasted a great opportunity early in the second half when i London, Wednesday Outstanding young striker Michael Owen fired uverpoors title ambitions with the winner against Newcastle in yesterday's English Premier League match at Anfield.

Owen, 18, struck the 17th minute goal as Liverpool won 1-0 and closed the gap on champion and leader Manchester United. Liverpool's sixth league win in its past seven matches lifted it to third place, level on 44 points with second-placed Blackburn, and five behind United. Owen acknowledged the value of his goal in the context of the championship race, 24 hours after United had lost 1-0 at Southampton. "Newcastle were difficult to break down, and it was an important goal," he said. "It was a great boost to get the three points here tonight." Liverpool launched a furious early onslaught during which Newcastle goalkeeper Shaka Hislop had to pull Freedman By MICHAEL COWLEY, Sydney As Kieren Perkins stood on the blocks at the Sydney International Aquatic Centre yesterday morning, It was difficult not to hark back to a different time and place.

Sure, his fitness levels were higher then and that distinctive Perkins look of hunger was missing. But under his feet was the No. 8 and the last time he stood over that figure he was ready to stun the swimming world. It was 18 months ago when Perkins dived Into lucky lane eight at the Georgia Tech Pool in Atlanta and, with each of the 30 laps he swam, the mouths of onlookers grew further ajar as he produced the swim of the Games to win Olympic gold In the 1500 metres. Yesterday, without the eyes of a Stamp of approval for six of the best Olympics By LEN JOHNSON They came from an era in which it seemed sport shaped the nation.

Now Australia Post has honored six of Australia's Olympic heroes with a special Olympic Legends stamp series. Shirley Strickland, Marjorie lack-son, Betty Cuthbert, Dawn Fraser, Murray Rose and Herb Elliott became Australian" icons through their deeds at Olympic Games from war-ravaged London in 1948 to Tokyo in 1964. Strickland, Cuthbert, Fraser and Rose won gold medals before an adoring home crowd at the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne. It was a time when it was not only possible for Australian athletes to contemplate winning Olympic 'gold medals, but also to go out and do it. Australians won all the freestyle events in the Olympic pool in 1956, and all the track events in the Olympic women's program at the MCG.

stamps were released at a function In Melbourne. Rose admitted to being "a little bit overwhelmed" at finding himself in such company. "I'm going to have to see It coming through the post a few times, and be licked and stamped a few times, before I realise what we have received," he said. Rose won the 400 and 1500 metres freestyle in Melbourne, and retained the longer title In Rome in I960. 1 Fraser won the first of three con-secutive 100 metres freestyle golds in MfM, the first Olympic swimmer to ing all these new guys coming through.

It's great to have the competition out there to be chasing somebody. When I look at the last eight years of my international career, I've always swum my best when I've been chasing somebody. I only see it as an advantage." Perkins said he never Picture: PAT SCALA II lives, she said. This is on a par with it." Cuthbert followed her two individual gold medals in Melbourne with a triumphant comeback to win the first Olympic women's 400 metres gold medal in Tokyo in 1964. A multiple sclerosis sufferer, Cuthbert now lives on the WA coast.

She said she was isolated from the impact of Sydney 2000, but expected it to have a similar effect on a new generation of athletes as the Melbourne Olympics had on her. Strickland won the 80 metres hurdles in both 1952 and 1956. Her total of seven Olympic medals (three gold, one silver and three bronze) is the equal-highest ever by a female youngsters set to go Six greats, honored by Australia Post: (from left) Dawn Fraser, Herb Elliott, Betty Cuthbert, Murray Rose, Marjorie Jackson and Shirley Strickland. win the same event three times in a al was something special in our By ANDREW EDDY Lee Freedman said he could hardly wait until the racetrack debut of the $1.42 million brother to Octagonal sold on Tuesday In New Zealand. More Immediately, the trainer Is preparing an onslaught on this sea-sonb premier Juvenile races.

Freedman was selected by the Kiwi yearling buyer Roselands as the future trainer of the record-breaking youngster for several reasons and none more compelling than his record with juveniles in the richest races In recent seasons. Before last season, Freedman had won the previous four Golden Slipper Stakes but while he missed the premier two-year-old race last year, he won the second-best juvenile race In the country, the Blue Diamond Stakes, for the first time with Knowledge. On Saturday at Caulfleld, In the first round of the Blue Diamond preludes, Freedman has emend 11 impeccably bred two-year-olds In two divisions and up to eight of them could start -j-. Racing His brother and foreman Michael said: "its unfortunate they have to clash but this is the perfect race to be starting them off (in their autumn campaigns)." Such was the depth of the stables juveniles, especially with fillies, that Freedman took Danehlil filly Wild Vision to Kllmore yesterday for her first start. After racing wide near the tall of the field, she ran home to win easily.

Spring winners Tropical Affair, Piccadilly Circus and True Blonde 'all resume In the fillies' division at Caulfleld on Saturday alongside Merienes little sister Compulsion, who will be making her debut row. "Even if we die tomorrow," Fraser said, "our names will now carry on." Elliott's win in world record time in the 1500 metres at the Rome Olympic Games is regarded as one of the greatest Olympic track performances. "This is special," he said. "I know if my father or grandfather had been on a stamp I would have been bloody proud. When you think of it like that, you start to realise what a significant event it is and to feel very proud." Jackson, who won a sprint double at the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, was delighted that her grand-children were able to attend the function.

"For each and every one of us, winning that first Olympic gold med-.