SportsWednesday - September 6, 2000 - The Michigan Daily - 118 .Despite comeback, Toman misses cut ' By Rohit Bhave Daily Sports Writer Despite beginning the U.S. Olympic Gytn- nastics Trials mired in 14th place, Michigan senior Justin Toman clawed his way into the mix with excellent performances on the par- allel bars and the still rings. When it was all over, Toman missed making the six-man ros- ter, placing ninth overall. The standings were determined by weigh- ing performance from the pre-qualifying John Hancock U.S. Gymnastics Championships 40 percent, and weighing performance at the Olympic Trials 60 percent. The top four were given automatic bids, and the remaining two spots were picked by coaches. Toman's bid for the Olympic squad began at the qualifying meet for the trials, the John Hancock U.S. Gymnastics Championships at the Kiel Center, St. Louis. While he strug- gled, the Michigan captain managed to land the final trials roster spot at 14th place. Toman's promising Michigan teammates Kris Zimmerman, Brad Kenna and Scott Vet- ere could not say the same thing, finishing 20th, 17th and 15th respectively. At the Fleet Center, Toman hit all twelve routines. While he hit everv event, his injured knee limited his floor and vault routines, thus lowering his potential score on the event. At the highest level of gymnastics competi- tion in the country, Toman won the parallel bars with a 9.775, beating out five-time U.S. Champion Blain Wilson. He also took fourth in the still rings with a solid 9.65. By per- forming well at the trials, Toman garnered consideration for the final two additions the roster despite his low overall score. The last two spots were reserved for gym- nasts who could balance the weaknesses of the top four - they did not have to necessari- ly finish in the top six. "Many observers were commenting on how I had a chance to make those final two spots ... my name was included with John Roethlisberger, Jamie Natalie, and Morgan Hamm," Toman said. "However, I knew it would still be a longshot" Despite not making the squad for Sydney, Toman found the trials to be a rewarding experience. Most notably, he re-discovered how to compete at big meets. "Previously, I have been very inconsistent in high pressure situations. This time, I hit all twelve routines, and I really enjoyed compet- ing, and took in a great experience," Toman said. The experience of the trials included police escorts throughout the city of Boston, and tremendous hospitality throughout the event. "Just to be part of (the Olympic Trials process) was special," Toman said. The 2000 Olympic Trials did not end Toman's quest for Olympic glory. Rather, it marks a stepping stone for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. Though he enjoyed the Trials process, Toman does admit to having difficulty watch- ing Olympic promotions and commercials. "Everytime I see a commercial or some- thing (associated with the Olympics), I try to change the change the channel or something. It is definitely hard to watch. But I will watch the Olympics, and I wish the team all the best," Toman said. Entering his senior year at Michigan, Toman might be facing a medical redshirt sit- uation. His knee, wrapped in a brace since March of last year, needed surgery to repair the torn ACL and meniscal tears. Last week, Toman was operated on by Dr. Wojtys. Cur- rently, prospects for competing in the 2001 season are up in the air. Senior Justin Toman climbed from 14th place to 9th place after the Olympic Trials, but failed to make the games in Sydney. Toman also injured his knee at the competition, and his senior year is in jeopardy. 'M' IN THE OLYMPICS Sullivan rested, ready for Sydney 'M' STUDENTS Chris Thompson(1997-present) USA Tom Dolan (1994-96) USA Tom Malchow (1996-'99) USA Owen von Richter (1995-98) Canada Mike McWha (1997-2000) Canada Gustavo Borges (1992-'95) Brazil Marcel Wouda (1993- 95) Netherlands rancisco Suriano Siu (1997-00) EL Salvador Derya Buyukuncu (1995-98) Turkey Shannon Shakespeare (1997-'04) Canadia Abel Sanchez (1992-'951aPeru Kevin Sullivan (1994-98) Canada Rudy Tomjanovich(1968-'70) USA 'M' COACIES Jennifer Brunda'e (1999-present) USA Bernice Orwin (5000) USA Jon Urbanchek (1993-present) USA men s swimmin" men s swimming men s swimmin men's swimins men's swimming icit s swsimming men's swimming men's swimming men s sw mming women's simming divn mens track hasketball coach softball water polo simitminL coach 9 f k: y. LOUIS OPOWN! 'ti By Ryan C. Moloney Dat11%ruSorsiter It just so happens, that the Greatest- Athlete-You-Never- eard-of-on-Cam- pus is also the Greatest Athlete on Campus -period. M ichi"an cross country assistant coach Kevin Sullivan is attempting to accomplish a rarity fir a North Ameri- can - medaling in a distance event in the Olmpics. Canada's representative in the 1500 meters, Sullivan made the trip to Syd- nex last week. After acjusting to the time chance and the jetiag of a 15-hour flight, Sullivan appears rested. "Kevin didn't race a lot in the past few months" former track and cross countrv teammate Jay Cantin said. " Ic wanted to stay fresh for the three heats iefre the final. If Ile susives the three prcliminarv heats, as experts believe, Sullivan will compete fior a medal on September 25. Sullivan finished fifth in the event at last year's world championships and is ranked eighth in this week's iAAF world rankings. His personal best in the cent is an impressive 3:31. Current record-holder Hicham E Guerrouj is the gold-medal favorite. with a blistering 3:26 to his credit. The 1500 is reputedly a race for younger runners whose muscle-twitch hasn t slowed down At 26, Sullivan is not old for the race, but the decision to compete in the 1500 wasn't a foregone conclusion. "A couple of years ago, he decided that he still had the potential to compete for a medal," Cantin said. "Kevin's very strong and that's good for all those qualifying heats. But a finals berth isn't the end all. "If Kevin makes the final, there'll be hell to pay" Sullivan's coach Ron Warhurst said. "He s going to leave it all on the track." Sullivan's medal hopes might also hinge ott everybody's favorite Olympic albatross - drug-testing. The introduc- tion of testing for EPO, a popular per- formance enhancer for distance athletes, sight only enhance Sullivan's medal aspirations according to Warhurst. I im vers iterested in some of the incredible injuries that will pop-up between now and thei" W tarhurst said. "A few guys have already dropped out of the race because of injuries; but I think it smells a little fishy. In terms of training, Sulluvan s choice was simple. Stay at home and train alone, or travel to running meccas Boulder or Eugene - a popular choice amone North America's rather mediocre distance contingent. Sullivan preferred the loneliness of the long distance runner in Ann Arbor. "I don't bus into the training at high altitudes' talk and neither does Kevin," Warhust said. " iis an elite rnnet so lie couldn't be expected to fly anywhere for somebody s benefit. He loves to coach and he wants to train here." Sullivan's leave of abscence doesn't sit as well wilh him as one stay expect "He's pissed because he's missing two (cross countr) meets," Warhurst said. "That's just the kind of guy lie is. Softball trio faces Olympians By Benjamin Singer Daily Sports Writer Near the end of the 2000 softball *eason, Michigan coach Carol Hutchins asked rightfielder Melissa Taylor, catcher Stefanie Volpe and pitcher Marie Barda to stay after practice. "We thought we were in trouble," Taylor said. "I hadn't done ansthin wrong, but I thought maybe she dug something up." Hutchins did not confront her players with a reprimand, but rather an opportunity. The United States Olvmpic team as going to prepare for the world's best in Sydney by taking a tour around the country against the nation's second-best. Regional All-Star teams were being formed and Hutchins asked her three stars to represent the Mid- west team for a doubleheader in South Bend on June 18. "It was a good opportunity. a !*bod experience," Volpe said. "I just thought it was a great honor," Taylor said. Volpe led the team in batting average at .363 and also in home- runs with five. Taylor had a .325 batting average and led the team with 62 hits. Barda was their ace pitcher with a record of 17-7 and a 1.79 ERA. The Michigan trio was facing their assistant coach - not just the defending Olympic gold medalists. Jennifer Brundage, an alternate for the 1996 team in Atlanta, was the starting left fielder. Brundage is in the top fi e in eight major offensive categories for the OJympic team for the tour. She led in homeruns (17), runs (43) and is tied for first with 3 sac- rifice flies. She also hit .371 with 51 RBIs. The players did not feel too awk- ward playing against their own coach. They were, of course, very excited. I was excited to play "not just her, but the whole team," Volpe said. The Olympic team swept the dou- bleheader wiining 3-1 and 12-0. Both Volpe and Taylor started its the first game going 1-fir-3 and 0- for-2 respectively. Barda was the starter in gaine two, pitching the first three innings and notching t wo strikeout s. Though she allowed four runs, none were earned. On the other side of the field, Brundage went a combined 3-for-6 with two runs and an RBI, includ- ing a single against Barda. "Jennifer was on first base kind of cheering for (Barda)," Volpe said. A little bit of teasing went on between Brundage and her pupils as well. "I told her, We'll do better than you."' Volpe said. "We didn't care if we won or lost. It was a one in a million chance that we'd win. We were just out there having fun." The run scored by the Midwest in the opening 3-I loss was the first given up in 16 games by the U.S. team. Such a close game made Taylor feel the odds of winning were high- er than one in a million - although the U.S. team went 60-0 for the tour. "If you take the best of the U.S. against the best of the Midwest. 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