Hall Has His Fans in Phoenix

Gary Hall Jr. can’t remember if he has 30 or 31 first cousins living around here.

“Lots of blond-haired, blue-eyed kids, lots of characters,” he said Thursday morning. “Even though 31 is a big group to generalize.”

So, are there 30 or 31?

“I lost track after 25,” he said, shrugging.

How ever many there are, lots of them will be on hand this weekend at Hall’s home pool, the Phoenix Swim Club, for the Speedo Invitational, the last meet featuring all of the U.S. Olympians together before the Games in Atlanta.

Hall is a freestyle sprinter who will swim three events in Atlanta, including the 100 and 50 meters. Alexander Popov of Russia, world-record holder in the 100 meters, will not swim in Phoenix, but swimmers from eight other nations will be here. Some nations will use the meet to determine their Olympic teams.

The meet, running today through Sunday, is one of several prominent competitions on a hectic pre-Olympic calendar the next few days.

Today and Saturday, most of the women candidates for the U.S. gymnastics team will compete in the U.S. Classic meet at Colorado Springs.

In track, there are the Santa Monica Distance Carnival today at Santa Monica College and an IAAF Grand Prix meet at Atlanta’s new Olympic Stadium on Saturday, as well as the Cal State Los Angeles Open at Cal State L.A.