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OLYMPIC REPORT / 40 DAYS TO THE GAMES : Dodd, Whitmarsh Earn the First Berths

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Baltimore Sun

Mike Dodd and Mike Whitmarsh, who were anything but favorites coming into the U.S. Olympic beach volleyball trials, buried the second-seeded team of Randy Stoklos and Adam Johnson, 15-7, to become the first men’s team to qualify for the Games.

The third-seeded team’s victory erased the doubts of many who considered their victory Friday over top-seeded Karch Kiraly and Kent Steffes a fluke.

But the confidence of Stoklos and Johnson might have been shaken before the match when Stoklos twisted his ankle while warming up.

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Said Dodd, “This is something I put behind me a long time ago, so the significance of it will hit me as we get closer to Atlanta.”

It probably won’t hit Kiraly and Steffes until after the final Olympic qualifying match today. After beating second-seeded Jeff Williams and Carlos Briceno, 15-7, Kiraly and Steffes will meet Stoklos and Johnson this afternoon and emotion might be a factor if Stoklos heard Steffes’ response to his injury. When told that Stoklos had hurt his ankle, Steffes said, “Good. Maybe he broke it.”

Meanwhile, third seeds Gail Castro and Deb Richardson will meet their respective former partners, fourth-seeded Elaine Rocque and Dennie Shupryt-Knoop, at noon for the final women’s berth.

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