U.S. Olympic Cycling Trials : Carpenter, Young Win Match Sprint Berths

Ken Carpenter powered away from Mark Gorski on the backstretch and held the lead coming out of the last turn to win the men’s match sprint championship and a berth on the U.S. Olympic cycling team Friday night.

Carpenter, of La Mesa, Calif., defeated the 1984 Olympic gold medalist in straight heats and will represent the United States at Seoul.

Connie Young, a five-time national champion from Indianapolis, defeated Renee Duprel of Seattle to earn the women’s Olympic berth in the match sprint.

In the men’s semifinals, Carpenter defeated national kilometer champion Bobby Livingston of Atlanta, with times of 11.51 and 11.69, and Gorski of Indianapolis eliminated 1984 Olympic silver medalist Nelson Vails, also of Indianapolis, in 11.40 and 12.09.

Young, who competed as a speed skater in the Winter Olympics in 1980 and 1984, will ride in the first women’s match sprint competition in the Olympics.

She sped past Janie Eickhoff in two heats to make the final and then had little trouble with Duprel, who advanced by beating Ellen Braun of Arlington, Va.

Competition at the Alkek Velodrome continues today when national champions will be crowned in men’s team pursuit and the men’s and women’s point races.