Bela Didn’t Ring True to Dantzscher

Updating the progress of regional athletes competing in the Olympics in Sydney:

JAMIE DANTZSCHER / GYMNASTICS

When the U.S. women struggled in international gymnastics competition the last few years, Bela Karolyi was called upon this winter to help restore the national team among the world’s elite. Some would say it worked as the U.S. women finished fourth in the team competition Tuesday.

But Dantzscher, who was born in Canoga Park and lived in Antelope Valley before moving to San Dimas to train, has taken exception to Karolyi getting too much credit for the women’s hard work.

“He takes the credit when we do good and blames everyone else when we do bad,” she said. “It’s so not fair.”

Dantzscher failed to make the individual finals in any apparatus. Only Kristin Maloney in all-around and Elise Ray in the balance beam will be competing on the final day for the U.S.

MARCELO ARRUE / CYCLING

Arrue, of Woodland Hills, placed 11th after finishing third in the race that determines final placing in the tournament-style match sprint. He had been eliminated from medal contention Monday night.

Arrue wasn’t eliminated until he lost to Craig MacLean of Britain in the second round of the repechage, which allows first- and second-round losers to remain alive in the competition. Arrue lost in the opening round to teammate Marty Nothstein, who is among the favorites for gold.

ANNETT DAVIS AND JENNY JOHNSON JORDAN / BEACH VOLLEYBALL

The pair from Tarzana continued an unusually long lay-off after an opening-round victory Saturday.

Davis and Johnson Jordan, who play up to four matches a day during regular tournaments, do not play again until Thursday, part of the longer, more drawn-out Olympic format.

Davis and Johnson Jordan play Dalixia Fernandez and Tamera Larrea of Cuba, with the winner advancing to the quarterfinals Saturday.

The other U.S. team, Holly McPeak and Misty May, face Lucilla Perrotta and Daniela Gattelli of Italy.

CRYSTL BUSTOS AND SHEILA DOUTY / SOFTBALL

Bustos and Douty, two of the starters in the United States’ stunning 2-1 loss to Japan on Monday, return to the field early today against China.

Bustos, who played for Canyon High and is a Canyon Country resident, has hit three home runs, one short of the Olympic record.

Douty, a native of Woodland Hills and a graduate of Taft High, has committed two errors for the U.S., which had four errors and stranded an Olympic-record 20 runners against Japan.

Bustos hit two solo home runs and Douty added one in a 3-0 victory over Cuba.

In a 6-0 win over Canada to open Olympic play, Douty had a run-scoring single and Bustos hit a homer.

ANTHONY ERVIN / SWIMMING

The U.S. won a silver medal in the 400-meter relay on Sunday, with Ervin clocking a career-best 48.89 during his leg as the leadoff swimmer.

Ervin, a graduate of Hart High, helped the U.S. to a lead it did not relinquish until the final 10 meters. Australia, powered by a strong finish from Ian Thorpe, won the gold.

Ervin begins qualifying for the 50 freestyle Thursday. He is the second-best American swimmer in the event, behind Gary Hall Jr.

AMY FULLER / ROWING

Fuller, one of the most-decorated women in U.S. rowing history and an Olympic silver medalist in 1992, advanced with the women’s eights by finishing third in their heat on Monday.

The U.S. time was six seconds behind the Netherlands, which won the second heat, but better than Australia, which finished second in the first heat. Every U.S. rowing team remains in the hunt for a medal.

JENNIFER GUTIERREZ / TRIATHLON

Gutierrez, a former Pepperdine swimmer who was the highest-ranked U.S. woman, finished 13th on Saturday, equaling her world ranking.

Joanna Zeiger of the U.S. finished fourth and Sheila Taormina was sixth.

The American men weren’t a factor either.

Hunter Kemper of Orlando, Fla., who won the Olympic trials, finished 17th, Ryan Bolton of Gillette, Wyo., was 25th, and Nick Radkewich was 40th.

The triathlon was making its debut as an Olympic sport and was the first event in which medals were awarded at the 2000 Games.

PETE VAGENAS / MEN’S SOCCER

Vagenas, a former All-American at St. Francis High and UCLA, is part of a historical run by the U.S.

Vagenas started at midfielder in a 3-1 victory Tuesday over Kuwait that clinched the first appearance by the U.S. in an Olympic quarterfinal.

Prior to Sydney, the U.S. had never advanced beyond the first round of an Olympic tournament and owned a 4-12-6 record in 11 Olympic appearances dating to 1924.

Vagenas, who also plays for the Galaxy, drew a yellow card against Kuwait.