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Numerous UA-affiliated athletes moved one step closer to the gold in yesterday's competitions in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

By University Communications
August 13, 2008

Several University of Arizona-affiliated athletes and coaches are pushing ahead in their drive for Olympic gold.

On Wednesday, Tucson native and UA student Lacey Nymeyer advanced in the individual 100-meter freestyle and was set to compete in the semifinals just days after winning a silver medal as part of the United States 100-meter relay team.

Nymeyer finished fourth in her preliminary heat with a time of 54.62 seconds to advance to the semifinal competition.

UA student Jean Basson and UA alumnus Darian Townsend – both swimming for South Africa – advanced to the semifinals in the 200-meter relay. Basson and Townsend swam the first two legs and their team finished eighth with a time of 7:13.02.

Townsend finished third in a 200-meter individual medley heat with a time of 1:59.22 to advance to the first semifinal, where he was placed as the fifth seed.

Thursday’s schedule includes the softball competition between the United States and Japan and also baseball competition between the United States and the Netherlands.

Other competition on Thursday includes the men’s 200-meter breaststroke final and the men’s 200-meter backstroke semifinal and the women’s 100-meter freestyle semifinal and the women’s 200-meter butterfly final as well as a number of preliminary runs.

UA alumnus Lyndon Ferns earned a spot in the men’s 100-meter freestyle final after finishing fourth in the first semifinal with a time of 48.00 seconds. Ferns, the 2004 gold medalist, is seeking South Africa’s first medal in the 2008 Games.

UA alumna Amanda Beard completed her fourth Olympic appearance in the women’s 200-meter breaststroke, finishing sixth in the sixth heat with a time at 2:27.70. Beard, whose seven career Olympic medals are the most any UA athlete has ever earned, is one of two alternates listed in the start list for the semifinals.

Other sports where UA-affiliates are competing and advanced include women’s volleyball, baseball and softball.

The U.S. women’s volleyball team improved to 2-1 in pool A thanks to a 3-1 victory over Venezuela. Game scores were 25-17, 20-25, 25-14 and 25-18. The UA’s Kim Glass tallied 12 points to go with nine kills and three blocks.

The U.S. baseball team opened play with an 8-7 loss to Korea. The Americans rallied for three runs in the top of the ninth inning to take a 7-6 lead, but surrendered two runs in the bottom of the frame in the one-run loss. The UA’s Jason Donald did play in the match.

And for the second game in a row, the U.S. softball team no-hit its opponent in this Olympic tournament. Australia fall to the U.S., 3-0. Cat Osterman was in the circle for UA softball head coach Mike Candrea’s club. She struck out 13 in the effort. UA alumna Lovieanne Jung went 1-for-2 with a walk and scored the game’s first run in the fifth inning, while fellow former Wildcat Caitlin Lowe finished the day 0-for-3.