U.S OLYMPIC CYCLING TRIALS : It Takes Official Ruling to Get Carpenter on the Team

A controversial decision by meet officials Friday night awarded the men’s match sprint title and an Olympic berth to Ken Carpenter in the U.S. cycling Olympic trials and national championships.

Carpenter, seeking his fifth national title, and Paul Swift each won one heat in the best-of-three match sprint, a three-lap duel of strategy and speed. The pair neared the final banked turn, with Carpenter narrowly leading Swift, when officials said an infraction occurred that relegated Swift to second place.

Carpenter drifted slightly out of the sprint lane, a 90-centimeter path at the bottom of the track. If the lead rider stays in the lane, overtaking riders can pass only on the outside. Swift saw Carpenter outside the lane and attempted to attack below him.

Carpenter and Swift re-entered the lane simultaneously--with Carpenter still slightly ahead--and Swift veered down to pass Carpenter on the blue apron on the infield edge of the track. Swift, the national sprint runner-up last year to Carpenter, led coming out of the final turn when Carpenter bumped into him 20 meters from the finish.

Swift stayed upright and crossed the finish line, but Carpenter crashed.

Officials ruled that Swift lost seconds earlier with his move to pass. When two riders enter the sprint lane simultaneously, the lead rider--in this case Carpenter--has the right of way. Swift was disqualified, giving the title to Carpenter.