U.S. Olympic Festival : Swimmers Post Many Bests, but No Records

Optimists that they are, organizers of the 1989 U.S. Olympic Festival chose to begin the 13-days’ worth of competition with a song of local note.

“ Ooooooook-lahoma, where the wind comes sweeping down the plain... ,” blared the music from tiny speakers at the Oklahoma City Community College pool, venue for the swimming events Tuesday night.

Yes, well, the Festival was short of both wind and expected records on its first day. Turns out that the muggy heat (it reached the low 90s at poolside) and the occasional delays that happen during these meets sapped many a swimmer of energy. The result: lots of personal bests, but no Festival records.

As meek breezes nudged the assorted banners, 104 of the country’s lesser known swimmers, all 18 or under, assembled for the first day of actual Festival competition. They were treated to a brand new pool with 81-degree water temperatures (a tad too warm for competition) and an enthusiastic audience.

The official opening ceremony is scheduled for Friday, but since the majority of these swimmers will travel to Los Angeles later this month for the national championships, an early start was granted. The remainder of the 37-sport competition begins in earnest Saturday.

Fitingly enough, an Oklahoman--Trip Zedlitz of Oklahoma City--won the Festival’s first event, the 200-meter individual medley. By the way, his real name is Alfred Charles Zedlitz. Zedlitz later finished second in the 200-meter backstroke.

The only multiple winner was Paige Wilson of Athens, Ga., who won both the 200-meter freestyle and the 100-meter butterfly.