Roundup : U.S. Cyclist Melinda Mayfield Wins in Pursuit Semifinal

Melinda Mayfield of the United States and Barbara Janz of Switzerland won semifinal races in the women’s 3,000-meter individual pursuit cycling competition Thursday at the Goodwill Games.

Mayfield, with a time of 3 minutes 53.635 seconds, defeated another Swiss cyclist, Edith Schoenenberger, whose time was 3:55.879.

Janz had the fastest time of the semifinals, a 3:48.966, and beat the Soviet Union’s Galina Supron, whose time was 3:52.067.

In pursuit racing, the two contestants start on opposite sides of the track and try to catch their opponent. If neither one passes the other, the winner is the rider with the faster time.

In the semifinals of the 4,000-meter men’s team pursuit, the Soviet squad, which set a world record in qualifying runs on Wednesday, overtook Poland with five of the 12 laps remaining. In the other semifinal, Czechoslovakia beat Australia.

The U.S men’s water polo team remained unbeaten, defeating Greece, 11-5.

The track competition ended Wednesday night.

The Pentagon decision to bar nine American boxers from competing in the Goodwill Games is going to hurt the team, Coach Roosevelt Sanders said.

The boxers, all military personnel, were denied permission last week, shortly before they were scheduled to leave for this multiple sports event. The Pentagon made the decision on the basis of the Goodwill Games being a commercial event, for which soldiers are ineligible.

“With the army boxers, we had some real good guys,” Sanders said. “Without them, it is going to show badly in our final results.”

The Turner Broadcasting System is helping to sponsor the event, with financial support from major corporations.

American track and field athletes received $3,000 each for competing in the Games, and winners got an additional $1,000. President Reagan supported the ban, saying that because of the commercialism of the Games, the military should not be participating.

“Those that were barred were really disappointed with the (Pentagon) decision because they had been training hard for two weeks,” said Sanders, who has worked with such boxers as Leon Spinks and Roger Stafford.

Eight Army boxers plus a marine boxer, an Army coach and a civilian employee of the Navy, who was to serve as team manager, were kept home by the Pentagon. Seven boxers have arrived to replace those who stayed home.