U.S. OLYMPIC FESTIVAL ROUNDUP : Pace Shoots Past Barrs for Archery Gold Medal

Tuesday was for some of the lower-profile sports in the U.S. Olympic Festival--archery, racquetball and speedskating.

At the archery range, Darrell Pace of Hamilton, Ohio, outshot fellow Olympian Jay Barrs of Mesa, Ariz., 110-101, to win the gold medal. Pace was an Olympic gold medalist in 1976 and 1984, and Barrs won gold in 1988.

The women’s gold medal went to Janet Schaffer of Mesa, Ariz., who beat 1992 Olympian Jennifer O’Donnell of Farmington Hills, Mich., 106-90.

After qualifying rounds Saturday and Sunday, the archers were seeded and then went head to head, shooting 12 arrows from 70 meters.

“This new Olympic round is an adrenaline giver,” Pace said. “If you want a good high, come and shoot a few arrows on this line. I love the pressure of one-on-one competition.”

In other events:

--Becky Sundstrom, 17, of Glen Ellyn, Ill., added the 1,000- and 3,000-meter speedskating gold medals to the 1,500-meter championship she won Monday night.

Todd Porter, of Saratoga Springs, N.Y., won the 1,000 and anchored the gold-medal winning 5,000 relay team after winning the 500 meters Monday night.

“I thought I could win both races heading into today,” Sundstrom said. “It was just a matter of coming out here and doing it.”

--The North baseball team improved to 2-0 with a 10-3 victory over the East (0-2). Andy Thompson of Sun Prairie, Wis., drove in three runs and pitched three innings of scoreless relief to get the victory.

In the late game, Steve Butler of Miami picked off Marcus Jones of Yorba Linda at second base with two outs in the ninth inning to preserve the South’s 9-8 victory over the West.

Danny Peoples of Round Rock, Tex., went three for four, including a solo home run, for the South. Alex Rodriguez of Miami, the top pick in the amateur draft by the Seattle Mariners, and Erik Robinson of Orlando, Fla., celebrated their 18th birthdays by getting three hits for the South.

Butler gave up one unearned run on two hits in 4 1/3 innings of relief.

--In fast-pitch softball, the gold medal matchups were determined.

Al Reveling of Fairfield, Iowa, and Dave Scott of Williamsport, Pa., combined on a five-inning no-hitter as the West beat the East, 10-0. The West will play the South for the gold medal today.

In women’s play, Michelle Granger of Placentia struck out 14 as the South beat the North, 1-0. The South will play the West for the gold medal.

--Today is the first day of the diving competition, which has its usual strong field. The 48 divers qualified for the festival by finishing in the top four on the one-meter springboard, the top 10 on the three-meter springboard or the top 10 on the platform in the National Indoor Championships.

Seven former Olympians are in the lineup, led by 1992 three-meter gold medalist Mark Lenzi. That list includes Phoebe Mills, who was a gymnast at the 1988 Olympics.

The one-meter is making its festival debut. Competition will follow the World Cup format, with divers competing head to head in quarterfinal, semifinal and final brackets.

--It was a practice day for the basketball teams. The North men and South women concluded pool play undefeated Monday. The North men will play the West for the gold tonight, and the South women will meet the East.