2004 SUMMER GAMES: Area competitors
Basketball
“ John Rillie (Australia) – Age 33, 6-5 guard, Gonzaga University (1993-95). Ten-year Australian league veteran (16.7 career scoring average) now with his fourth team, Townsville, was rookie of the year in 1995. Also played for AEK Athens in Greece in 2002. Australian national team member in 1999 and 2001.
“ Paul Rogers (Australia) – Age 30, 6-11 center, North Idaho College (1994) and Gonzaga University (1995-97). Has played for Real Madrid and Casademont Girona clubs in Spain, Perth and Adelaide in Australia, where he was league MVP in 2000. Member of Australia’s fourth-place team in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.
Shooting
“ Hatti (Ponti) Johnson (USA) – Age 22, women’s 10-meter air rifle, Athol, Idaho (Timberlake High School, class of 2000). Finished second in the final Olympic Team Trials to earn her first Olympic berth. Began shooting at age 11 for the junior rifle club in Cheney, reaching Junior Olympics her first year. Bronze medalist in women’s 3-position at 2003 Pan American Games, and a bronze and silver medalist at the 2003 national championships. Member of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit in Fort Benning, Ga.
Soccer
“ Walker Loseno (Greece) – Age 22, midfielder, Gonzaga University (2000-2004). Greek ancestry allowed her to bid for a spot on the host country’s soccer team. Played for Greece in 2002 (scoring only goal to prevent a shutout against Canada in the Algarve Cup) and 2003. Third on Gonzaga’s team in 2003 in points, including a team-high six assists. Played for the Greek nationals in the 2003 Nordic Cup, where they finished sixth.
Track and field
“ Ian Waltz (USA) – Age 27, men’s discus, Post Falls High School (1992-95) and Washington State University (1996-2000). Finished second in U.S. trials to make first Olympic team. Eight-time All-American at WSU where he holds school record of 211-5. Upped his lifetime best twice this season, to 217-0, making him the No. 14 thrower in the world. Three times ranked in the U.S. Top 10 by Track and Field News.
“ Angela Whyte (Canada) – Age 24, women’s 100-meter hurdles, University of Idaho (2001-03). Edmonton resident will compete in her first Olympics after finishing second to world champion Perdita Felicien in Canadian championships. Ran lifetime best of 12.75 seconds at Mt. SAC Relays, No. 18 in the world this year. Holds or shares six UI records and is Vandals’ all-time conference point leader.
“ Anson Henry (Canada) – Age 25, men’s 4x100 relay, Washington State (1999-2002). WSU school record holder at 100 and 200 meters, and first Pac-10 100 champ in 37 years. Finished third in 100 at Canadian champions to qualify for the relay team. Later won 200 title. Lifetime best of 10.17 (10.04 wind-aided).
“ Joachim Olsen (Denmark) – Age 27, men’s shot put, University of Idaho (1998-2002). UI record holder in shot and discus reached a lifetime best in the shot indoors this season, 70-113/4. Outdoor season best of 68-103/4 is 10th in the world. NCAA champion in 2000, he competed in the 2000 Games in Sydney (17th in qualifying) and was third in the 2004 World Indoor Championships.
“ Bernard Lagat (Kenya) – Age 29, men’s 1,500, Washington State University (1997-99). Olympic bronze medalist in 2000 and twice World Championships silver medalist stamped himself as a gold medal contender again Friday by beating world record holder Hicham el Guerrrouj for the first time in a season’s fastest 3:27.40. His 3:26.34 best in 2001 is the third-fastest 1,500 in history. Four-time NCAA champ at WSU now trains in Tucson under former Cougar assistant James Li.