1999 World University Games: Day 4

From www.usa-swimming.org
PALMA DE MALLORCA, Spain – The U.S. Swim Team added seven more medals, including two gold, bringing its total to 21 medals with two days to go at the World University Games.

Mark Warkentin (Santa Barbara, Calif.) won his fourth gold medal of the Games, beating the field in the 400m freestyle by over two seconds with a personal best time of 3:53.41. Warkentin’s four golds matches Matt Biondi’s total from 1985. He will swim the 1500m free on Friday. Five golds would make Warkentin the most decorated male athlete in the history of the World University Games and would tie him with swimmer Jill Sterkel’s five golds from 1981.

Amy Balcerzak (Sharon, Pa.) and Amanda Beard (Irvine, Calif.) took gold and silver, respectively, in the 100m breaststroke. Prior to this gold medal swim, Balcerzak’s best finish in a major competition was fourth-place in the 100y breast at the 1998 NCAA Championships. In tonight’s final, Balcerzak defeated the American record-holder in teammate Beard. Balcerzak’s time of 1:09.54 makes her the ninth-fastest American ever in this event.

Cassidy Maxwell (Indiatlantic, Fla.) and Courtney Allen (Monument, Colo.) earned silver and bronze medals in the 100m free with times of 57.04 and 57.20. Iyanna Diaconescu of Romania won the gold in 56.85. Matt Pierce (The Woodlands, Texas) grabbed bronze in the 100m butterfly (54.27), behind Australia’s Adam Pine (53.81) and Burl Reid (54.04).

The U.S. men’s 400m free relay of Gabe Woodward (Bakersfield, Calif.), Eric Godsman (Madison, Wis.), Glenn Counts (Kingwood, Texas) and Greg Busse (Naperville, Ill.) also claimed bronze with a time of 3:24.16. Australia led from the second leg on and claimed the win with a time of 3:23.05. Italy was second in 3:23.60.

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