Unusual Turn of Events for Quance

If a defensive back sued the NFL because he was called for interference or a hitter sued major league baseball because he was called for a third strike, that wouldn’t be any more unusual than the report last week concerning Northridge swimmer Kristine Quance.

Sonja Eddings Brown, a family spokeswoman, said the Quances have retained an attorney in Colorado Springs, Colo., the headquarters of U.S. Swimming, to appeal a turn judge’s decision in the Olympic trials. He disqualified Quance in her specialty, the 400-meter individual medley.

“The family is planning to appeal it and explore all legal options,” Brown said.

After Quance won her heat by eight seconds, the judge ruled she had made an illegal turn between the backstroke and breaststroke. Quance filed a protest, but it was disallowed upon further review by the meet referee.

U.S. Swimming’s executive director, Ray Essick, said Monday that, according to Rule 102.11, the referee’s decision is final.

The Quance family hopes not.

Kristine’s father, David, said that filing a lawsuit against U.S. Swimming would be a last resort.

“We’re trying to work with U.S. Swimming,” he said. “But we’re having a hard time getting their attention. I guess they don’t need these kinds of problems in an Olympic year. All Kristine wants to do is swim.”

She will. She made the U.S. team in the 100 breaststroke and the 200 individual medley.

FACTOID

Normally the world’s second-busiest airport behind Chicago’s O’Hare, Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport will be the busiest during the Olympics. About 4.2 million passengers are expected to land there during the 17-day period.

NEWSMAKER

The day after Betsy Raine, 67, died of a respiratory ailment on April 25, her daughter, Kathleen, moved a step closer to the U.S. Olympic trials in June by winning a dressage competition in Del Mar.

Betsy would have approved. A respected trainer and coach, she not only was the most ardent fan of her daughter but also the horse. Betsy selected the 14-year-old Dutch warmblood, Avontuur, from a farm in Holland 11 years ago for Kathleen.

But just in case Kathleen had second thoughts about riding in Del Mar, her brothers and a sister went to lend support.

“It was difficult,” said Kathleen, 30, of Rolling Hills. “But I knew that if my mom could be there she would have been, and she would have wanted me there. Then the whole family came down, and that helped a huge amount.”

Raine, a member of the bronze-medal U.S. team and eighth individually in the 1994 World Championships, can qualify for the trials with a good showing Saturday in Hanford, Calif.

LAUREL WREATH

Among those who contributed to a get-well card in Splash! magazine for Irvine swimmer Chad Carvin, who lost his chance to compete in this summer’s Olympics because of a heart ailment, were Bill and Hillary Clinton.

THORN WREATH

Travelin’ man Arthur Frommer, whose “Official Guide to Atlanta and the Olympic Summer Games” was recently published, says he sees no pre-Olympic panic in the city because construction crews are not yet working around the clock. Obviously, he hasn’t spent a night in one of Atlanta’s downtown hotels recently.

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Olympic Scene Notes

Improving its record to 40-0, the U.S. women’s basketball team opened a four-team, 10-day tournament in Australia Monday with a 108-80 victory over Cuba. Katrina McClain scored 22 points for the United States before she injured her ankle. It did not appear to be broken. Cuba will be the United States’ opening opponent in Atlanta.

Wang Junxia, the world champion and world-record holder in the women’s 10,000 meters, ran the fastest time in the world this year Monday in the 5,000 meters with a 14:51.87 in China’s track and field trials in Beijing. Wang is a former member of Ma’s Army that dominated the distance events in 1993. Coach Ma Junren, who has been in a Beijing hospital for weeks with intestinal bleeding, sent several athletes to the trials, but their times have been disappointing.

Steve Lewis, the former UCLA quarter-miler who won the Olympic gold medal in 1988 and the silver in ‘92, is doubtful for the U.S. Olympic trials June 14-23 after a cyst was removed from his back. . . . Al Joyner, 1984 triple jump gold medalist, dropped out of the event Saturday at the Steve Scott Invitational in Irvine. He felt a twinge in his hamstring in the long jump competition earlier in the day and decided not to risk serious injury. He is trying to earn a qualifying mark for the trials.

UCLA senior Ato Boldon, third in the World Championships last summer in the 100 meters, has been chosen to carry the flag for Trinidad and Tobago in Atlanta’s opening ceremony. . . . Kazakstan’s Olga Shishigina, second to Gail Devers in the 100-meter hurdles in the World Championships, has been suspended for four years pending a hearing after failing a steroid test.

The U.S. softball team won three of four games this weekend in Lakewood against Southern California Select. Lisa Fernandez, formerly of UCLA, was instrumental in two of them. Pitching the first game, a 7-0 victory, she struck out 16. She hit a home run in the fourth game, a 3-0 victory.

Adam Johnson, ranked third on the pro beach volleyball tour with Brazilian Jose Loiola, had until Monday to name a partner for the U.S. Olympic trials. Johnson ended the suspense Friday, choosing Randy Stoklos. Stoklos’ regular partner, Bill (Beef) Boullianne, will play in the trials with Dain Blanton. Blanton’s partner, Canyon Ceman, dislocated his toe last weekend and may not be ready for the trials.

Times correspondent Melanie Neff contributed to this report.

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This Week

Today--U.S. Olympic men’s and women’s team handball squads will be named in Atlanta.

Thursday-Sunday--Diving Olympic preview, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Friday--Olympic torch arrives in Salt Lake City, site of the 2002 Winter Games.

Saturday--Track and field, Occidental Invitational, Modesto Relays.

Saturday-Sunday--Pacific 10 Conference decathlon and heptathlon championships at UCLA’s Drake Stadium.

Sunday--Olympic torch arrives at U.S. Olympic Committee headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colo.