Stitts Is in Top Form in Tuneup

Staciana Stitts, who had just finished a strong showing in the Janet Evans Invitational, seemed to launch into an Academy Award-style speech.

“I have to thank my coaches, both of them. And my parents, I can never pay them back for everything they have done for me . . . “

Cue the music. Go to commercial.

Actually, Stitts can go on as long as she likes. She has earned it.

A year ago, she was an 18-year-old with off-the-rack Olympic dreams. In four weeks, she can tailor her own future at the Olympic trials.

Six years ago, she was an awkward kid who learned she had alopecia universalis, a condition that causes hair loss. Imagine having to face peer-pressure with a bald head? Might as well just paint a bull’s-eye on your shirt.

“I don’t even think about it anymore,” Stitts said.

When would she have the time? Her focus is on the trials Aug. 9-16 in Indianapolis. She has crafted herself into a contender in the 100-meter breaststroke and polished those hopes Sunday with a victory at the Janet Evans Invitational.

Stitts, who trains with the Irvine Novaquatics, led from the start and finished with a time of 1 minute 9.49 seconds. Amy Balcerzak, the 100 breaststroke champion at the 1999 World University games, was second. Amanda Beard, the silver medalist in the event at the 1996 Olympics, was seventh.

OK, this was only a warm-up meet. No one rested for it. And, true, Canada’s Penny Heyns, the 100 breaststroke world record-holder, pulled out of the event after the prelims.

But this was a message that Stitts, who will be a sophomore at California this fall, may be ready.

When she came from Carlsbad to train with the Novaquatics three years ago, she was an unknown. Even she wasn’t sure of her identity. But becoming a true believer was easy.

Hadn’t she overcome more? Stitts learned she had alopecia universalis when she was in the seventh grade. When she began losing hair in clumps, she shaved her head and wore hats outside for a year, fearing the innocent ruthlessness of adolescents.

“In had to stand up to my peers in the seventh grade and say, ‘Look at me and deal with me,’ ” Stitts said. “It was a situation where I had to gain confidence.”

It gave her the self-awareness not to be self-aware.

“I don’t think she even thinks about having a bald head,” Novaquatics Coach Dave Salo said. “She deals with it very well. It doesn’t affect her.”

Stitts is certainly not the first name that comes up when people talk about the top breaststroke swimmers in the U.S. Megan Quann holds the national record. Kristy Kowal was the record-holder until Quann broke it last year.

And lurking is Beard, who may be ready for a dramatic comeback after a couple off years.

Stitts, though, has come far in the last three years. She never won a national title until 1999, when she finished first in the 50 freestyle at the spring nationals. That summer, she set the Pan Am Games record in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:09.16. It was the seventh-fastest time in the world last year.

And her performance this weekend may have been an indication she is ready for the U.S. Olympic trials.

Her time of 2:30.15 in the 200 breaststroke Saturday was a personal best. She finished a close third, behind Kristen Caverly and Heyns. Stitts led the race for 150 yards, faded, then charged at the finish and was within a touch of winning.

After that race, Salo knew Stitts was going to do well in the 100 breaststroke.

“She always dies in the last 15 meters in the 200,” Salo said. “But she came on strong [in Saturday’s race] and finished four seconds below her best time.”

Stitts carried that momentum into Sunday’s race.

She hit the water and had the lead as soon as she surfaced. No one challenged her the rest of the way. She came back a half-hour later to finish fifth in the 200 individual medley, a race she swam for training purposes.

Said Stitts: “I felt strong in the water today.”

For which she has a lot of people to thank.

“Coach Salo, [California Coach] Teri McKeever. Mom and dad . . .”

Cut the music. Hold the commercials.