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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted on: Sunday, June 22, 2003

ISLE FILE
Chun wrestles for World berth

Advertiser Staff

Kapolei's Clarissa Chun will challenge her nemesis, national champion Patricia Miranda, in a best-of-three wrestle-off today to see who will represent the United States at the World Championships of women's wrestling in September.

Chun, a 1999 Castle High graduate, and Miranda, a Stanford graduate, are both permanent wrestlers-in-residence at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs and have both been members of the U.S. National Team. But Chun has never beaten Miranda in a major event.

She earned the right to try again yesterday by winning the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament at Indianapolis. Today's series takes on added significance because their weight class, 105.5 pounds, is one of four that will be included when women's wrestling makes its Olympic Games debut next year in Athens.

Yesterday, Chun took a 7-2 lead over Mary Kelly of Mahomet, Ill., in the Challenge final, scoring five points on two hip tosses. But Kelly stormed back and closed to the final score of 7-6 with a 2-point lift with 2 seconds left.

In another Challenge Tournament final, Stephany Lee of Salt Lake lost to No. 1 seed Kaci Lyle, 5-3, on a takedown with 7 seconds remaining.

This was the first appearance at the World Team Trials for Lee, who has been wrestling freestyle, the Olympic style, only since March after being out nearly a year rehabbing from shoulder surgery.

Lee has qualified for the Junior World Championships in Istanbul, Turkey, Aug. 22-29 and has accepted a wrestling scholarship to enter Missouri Valley College in September.

Two other Hawai'i's wrestlers won medals yesterday, both in the 112-pound division. Katie Kunimoto of 'Ahuimanu took third place and Debbi Sakai of Mililani placed fifth in her first World Team Trials.

Kunimoto is an Olympic Training Center resident and Sakai also is headed for Missouri Valley on a wrestling scholarship.



TRACK AND FIELD

Clay in second: Hawai'i's Bryan Clay — competing in the shadow of the defending champion's lifetime-best day — was in second place by 245 points yesterday after the first five events of the USA Track and Field decathlon championship at Stanford, Calif.

Clay, of Kaimuki, amassed 4,446 points and defending champion Tom Pappas, who scored lifetime best marks in three of five events, had 4,691.

Clay finished first in the 100-meter dash in a lifetime-best 10.43 seconds and second in the long jump with his best decathlon jump of 25 feet, 3 1/2 inches.

But Pappas won three events, including a 7-foot, 1 1/2-inch high jump and a personal-record 26-1 1/2 long jump to surge ahead of Clay. Pappas also had lifetime-best marks in the shot put (53-5) and 400 meters (48.22).

The final five events will be today.



FOOTBALL

UH season tickets on sale tomorrow: New season ticket sales for the upcoming University of Hawai'i football season begins tomorrow.

Tickets can be purchased at UH's Stan Sheriff Center box office or by phone (944-2697) starting at 8 a.m. The box office and phone sales will continue on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., excluding holidays.

Prices are $135 for sideline tickets, $117 for South end zone, $99 for North end zone (adults), $77 for North end zone (senior citizens and students ages 4 through high school).

UH will play seven home games at Aloha Stadium, opening against Appalachian State Aug. 30.

For more information, go to uhathletics.hawaii.edu on the Web.



MEETING

Tomey at QB Club tomorrow: San Francisco 49er assistant Dick Tomey, a former University of Hawai'i and Arizona head football coach, will speak at tomorrow's meeting of the Honolulu Quarterback Club at the Pagoda Hotel.

Also scheduled to appear are coach Vern Ramie and shortstop Keoni Ruth of state baseball champion Kamehameha, and rodeo rider and promoter Patrick Ching.

Lunch is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. with the program to follow at noon.



VOLLEYBALL

• Peterson fund started: A scholarship fund at the University of Hawai'i-Hilo named after former volleyball coach Sharon Peterson has been started by some of her former players.

The Sharon Peterson Endowed Scholarship Fund will assist qualified applicants from UH-Hilo's Teacher Education Program.

Peterson coached the women's program at UH-Hilo for 25 years and retired after last season.

Contributions to the fund can be sent to Paula Thomas, Interim Director of Development, University of Hawai'i-Hilo, 200 W. Kawili St., Hilo, HI 96720-4091. Checks should be made to "UHH Sharon Peterson Fund." Credit cards are also accepted. Call Thomas at (808) 933-3112.

The first-year goal of the fund is $25,000.