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Tuesday, September 19
Nationals wrap up on track and in courtroom
Associated Press
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- With Olympic team members
dominating the U.S. Cycling Nationals, the real drama this week
occurred away from the track.
Chris Witty of Park City, Utah, already an Olympic medalist in
speedskating, kept her position on the cycling team for Sydney when
the U.S. Olympic Committee ruled Tammy Thomas of Yazoo City, Miss.,
ineligible after a test revealed a high testosterone level.
|  | | Cyclists are ready to look ahead after arbitrations such as the one between Chris Witty, who made the team, and Tammy Thomas. |
Early in the week, an arbitrator ruled in favor of sprint rider
Tanya Lindenmuth of Trexlertown, Pa., in a challenge brought by her
rival, Jennie Reed of Kirkland, Wash.
No other appeals reached the arbitration stage. But the legal
wrangling in conjunction with the national meet made it a busy and
stressful week for U.S. Cycling officials and athletes.
By Saturday, team officials only wanted to look ahead.
"We have the opportunity to gel as a team," said Sean Petty,
director of athlete performance for U.S. Cycling. "Everybody knows
who the 27 members are. Now we can settle down and get the focus on
winning medals."
There was a sense of relief among Olympic team members. Erin
Veenstra-Mirabella of Colorado Springs, who won the women's points
race Saturday, has tried to stay neutral for weeks as friends faced
off in litigation.
"I understand an athlete needs to do whatever is needed to
reach the Olympics," she said. "Now it's nice to be able to focus
on the future. One decision makes it easier for everyone."
U.S. Cycling based most of the selections for this year's
Olympic team on two years of international racing results. In
previous years, winners from the Olympic trials were automatically
awarded spots on the team.
Several riders, like team pursuit cyclist Tommy Mulkey of
Athens, Ga., said the old system had liabilities. In planning their
training, cyclists were forced to focus on either the trials or the
Olympics.
"Either you run the risk of not qualifying so you can peak
later for the Olympics or you peak for the trials and run the risk
of not being in the best shape for the Olympics," Mulkey said.
The objective this time was to get the most experienced and
accomplished athletes to Sydney. Despite the lengthened selection
process, team officials said the system worked as it was designed.
"I can honestly say for the first time in probably the last
three or four Olympics, we're going to have our best athletes on
the line," said Craig Griffin, coach of the American endurance
cyclists.
Some of the athletes at Nationals
complained that arbitration hearings were distracting.
"I just don't think it's fair to riders who are already
selected to interrupt their final preparation for the Olympics,"
said Olympian and men's points race winner Jame Carney of Durango,
Colo.
The Thomas challenge carried the highest profile because it
targeted Witty, winner of two speed skating medals at the Nagano
Olympics. She is trying to become the first American woman to win
medals at the Summer and Winter Games.
Witty has stayed away from the velodrome after her place on the
team was confirmed Friday night. Thomas reportedly left town and
her lawyer didn't return telephone messages seeking comment
Saturday.
Petty knew the challenges would roll in eventually. He noted
that the Australians, who use a similar selection process, had 48
challenges filed for their Olympic roster, compared to four in the
United States.
"When you open it up to discretion, you know there's going to
be challenges," Petty said. "It's not black and white. The
Olympics are so important, an athlete will do everything possible
to make the team."
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