Goodwill Games Roundup : Killion Upsets Salnikov in 400 Freestyle; U.S. Swimmers Finish With 49 Medals

American Sean Killion upset Soviet Union distance ace Vladimir Salnikov in the 400-meter freestyle and U.S. teammate Angel Myers won her third and fourth gold medals of the Goodwill Games as the United States wrapped up a surprisingly strong showing in swimming in Moscow.

U.S. swimmers swept the first three places in three events and won a total of six gold medals in eight races for the day.

The Americans, lightly regarded because they sent their second team--the first team is preparing for next month’s World Championships at Madrid--won a total of 49 swimming medals at the Goodwill Games, of which 15 were gold.

In contrast to the Americans and East Germans, also priming for the World Championships, the Soviets featured their best swimmers at this multiple-sport, Olympic-style competition and took 39 medals, including 13 gold.

Killion, of Cherry Hill, N.J., surprised Salnikov, a former world record-holder at the distance, in 3 minutes 51.91 seconds, almost four seconds slower than the world record held by West Germany’s Michael Gross.

Salnikov was clocked at 3:52.00. Third place went to American Scott Brackett in 3:52.31.

“I didn’t think I could beat Salnikov,” Killion said. “He is the best distance man around. I just wanted to give him a race. But when I saw I could win, I just closed my eyes and pressed hard.”

Myers was timed in 56.48 in winning the women’s 100 freestyle and swam a leg on the winning U.S. 400 medley relay team, timed at 4:12.54. She earlier won golds in the 50 freestyle and as part of the winning 400 freestyle relay.

Second and third places in the 100-meter freestyle also went to Americans, Kathy Coffin of Petersburg, Va., and Page Zemina of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., in 56.93 and 56.97, respectively.

Another sweep for the United States came in the women’s 200 butterfly. The gold medal went to Kelly Davis of Ashton, Md., in 2:12.49. Julia Gorman of Towson, Md., took the silver in 2:13.60 and the bronze went to Jennifer Linder of Des Moines, Iowa, at 2:14.29.

Melvin Stewart of Jamestown, N.C., Matt Rankin of Portland, Ore., and Ken Flaherty of Columbus, Ohio, swept the men’s 200 butterfly, Stewart winning in 2:00.83, followed by Rankin in 2:00.91 and Flaherty in 2:01.06.

Also winning for the United States was Kathy Hettche of State College, Pa., taking the women’s 400 freestyle in 4:11.53. Anke Moering of East Germany was second in 4:12.50. Third was Noemi Lung of Romania in 4:12.53.

When the meet ended, the Americans shouted “ Spasibo Moskva “ (Thank you, Moscow). The crowd, about 1,000 strong in the Olympic swimming arena, responded with loud applause.

The United States and Soviet women’s basketball teams continued on the road toward a showdown in Thursday night’s final game of the round-robin tournament with each undefeated team posting its third victory.

The Americans, with Cheryl Miller leading the way for the third time, defeated Czechoslovakia, 78-70. Miller scored 20 points, while 6-foot-8 Anne Donovan added 15.

The Soviets overpowered Bulgaria, 82-56, while Brazil downed Yugoslavia, 79-65, in the other game.

In Spain, the United States and the Soviet Union each earned their third straight victories in the third round of the 10th World Basketball Championships.

U.S. Coach Lute Olson said the play of center David Robinson, who had 16 points and five rebounds, was the key to his team’s 81-68 victory over West Germany at the southern coastal town of Malaga. Charles Smith led all scorers with 27 points.

“We have improved a lot, but we’ll have to do a whole lot better if we expect to keep it up when the rivals get tougher,” Olson said.

The Americans played aggressive defense, and the West Germans failed to match the tempo.

The Soviet Union, with star player Arvidas Sabonis in top form, had an easy time against Israel, winning, 114-77, at the northern seaport city of Ferrol.

In Colorado Springs, Colo., it was announced that a 1986 National Golden Gloves champion and seven other boxers will leave today for Moscow to replace military boxers barred from the Goodwill Games by the Pentagon.

No substitute was found for super heavyweight Wesley Watson of the Army.

The National Golden Gloves champion among the eight replacements announced by Leslie King, director of communications for the USA-ABF, is 112-pounder Anthony Wilson. Also named were Michael Simon, 178, a Golden Gloves runner-up this year; Terence Southerland, 132, third in the 1986 U.S. Amateur Championships, and Ysaias Zamudio, 106; Tyone Washington, 125, and Ernesto Chavez, 147, all U.S. Amateur bronze medalists in 1985.

Southerland got out of the Navy two months ago.

Other substitutes are Ricky Royal, 147, and Lorenzo Wright, 178.