BARCELONA ’92 OLYMPICS : DAILY REPORT : CYCLING : Paraskevin-Young Eliminated on Tough Day for Americans

Connie Paraskevin-Young of Indianapolis failed to qualify for the quarterfinals of the women’s match sprint event Tuesday in one of cycling’s bigger upsets of the Summer Olympics.

Paraskevin-Young, who finished third at last year’s World Championships, was disqualified in the first heat after an apparent victory. Then her interference claim was denied in a second-chance race, and she was eliminated.

Paraskevin-Young, who earned a bronze medal in the 1988 Olympics, won her heat but was forced to race in the repechage after officials said she interfered with France’s Felicia Ballanger.

Paraskevin-Young had easily beaten Ballanger and Japan’s Mika Kuroki, but it was determined that her back wheel left the sprint lane and obstructed Ballanger. Ballanger automatically advanced to today’s quarterfinals in the three-lap event at the 250-meter Velodrome d’Horta.

Germany’s Annett Neumann, runner-up in the World Championships last year, then edged Paraskevin-Young in the repechage.

“We protested that she made an illegal move on Connie during the final sprint,” said Steve Penny, a U.S. cycling spokesman. “We filed a formal protest . . . and the officials denied that protest.

Paraskevin-Young, a four-time Olympian who competed in the 1980 and ’84 Winter Games as a speedskater, won the only U.S. cycling medal in Seoul and was considered America’s best bet to win again at Barcelona.

Her failure capped a disappointing day for some U.S. cyclists.

Carl Sundquist lost to Australia’s Mark Kingsland in the 4,000-meter individual pursuit quarterfinals, in which Britain’s Chris Boardman sliced nearly three seconds off the Olympic record he set Monday.

J-Me Carney, of Annandale, N.J., failed to qualify for Friday’s final in the men’s points race.

Ken Carpenter of La Mesa was the only exception, easily advancing to today’s quarterfinals in the men’s match sprint.

In the women’s match sprint, the Olympic record fell twice, and Lithuania’s Rita Razmaite crashed coming off a turn. She walked off after a few minutes but had splinters and cuts on her hands and arms.

Ingrid Haringa of the Netherlands, a medal contender, posted an 11.419-second clocking in her heat, beating Ballanger, whose 11.508 had broken Estonian Erika Salumae’s mark of 11.527 set at Seoul.

DIVING

China’s Tan Heads Finalists in Springboard Competition

Tan Liangde of China, finally rid of the all-conquering Greg Louganis, was on course to add an Olympic springboard gold to the silver medals he won in 1984 and ’88.

Tan, 27, scored 426.390 points in dominating the qualifying competition. U.S. diver Mark Lenzi qualified in second place with 409.11 points.

American Kent Ferguson, who won the springboard title at the 1991 World Championships and the Pan American Games, scraped into today’s final by finishing 12th.

Louganis retired after winning both the platform and springboard titles in the Seoul Olympics. He also won two golds at the 1984 Los Angeles Games.

ROWING

American Scullers Win Heats to Advance to Semifinals

Sculler Anne Marden, the U.S. men’s four without coxswain and the U.S. men’s eights won their heats to advance to the semifinals on Banyoles Lake.

Marden, the 1988 silver medalist from Concord, Mass., had the fastest time of the three heats, 7 minutes 40.12 seconds.

The U.S. men’s four--Patrick Manning Jr. of Hyde Park, N.Y.; Tom Bohrer of Babylon, N.Y.; Jeff McLaughlin of Warwick, R.I. and Doug Burden of Pawlet, Vt.--pulled through in the final 500 meters to survive a challenge by Slovenia and New Zealand. The Americans’ winning time was 6:00.93.

The men’s eight with coxswain easily finished first in its heat in 5:33.37. The team is made up of Michael Teti of Upper Darby, Pa.; Christian Sahs of Southborough, Mass.; Scott Munn of Larkspur, Calif.; Robert Shepherd of Lafayette, Calif.; Malcolm Baker of Washington; Richard Kennelly Jr. of Charlottesville, Va.; John Parker of McLean, Va., and coxswain Michael Moore Jr. of Philadelphia.

YACHTING

U.S. Sailors Lead Five Classes After First Day of Regatta

The United States led in five classes after the first day of competition at Nova Icaria Yacht Basin.

Mark Reynolds of San Diego and Hal Haenel of Los Angeles, both 1988 silver medalists, led after two races in the Star class.

In Soling, world champions Kevin Mahaney of Bangor, Me.; Jim Brady of Annapolis, Md., and Doug Kern of Austin, Tex., won their only race against competitors from 23 other nations.

In the 22-boat Tornado race, Randy Smyth of Ft. Walton Beach, Fla., and Keith Notary of Merritt Island, Fla., also won easily.

Julie Trotman of Syosset, N.Y., led after two races in the Europe class.

Mike Gebhart, a 1988 bronze medalist from Walton Beach, Fla., led the men’s boardsailing competition after three races. Lanee Butler of San Juan Capistrano was 11th in the women’s boardsailing.

Meanwhile, favorites J.J. Isler of La Jolla and Theresa Zabell of Spain were both disqualified in a disastrous start to their battle for gold in Olympic yachting. Zabell, world champion in the women’s 470 dinghy, and Isler, rated No. 2, were penalized for making premature starts.

Although the medals are decided over seven races and competitors can discard their worst result, both women now face a much tougher task and greater pressure.

The race was won by outsider Florence LeBrun of France, who made the best of a light wind.