The best of Guam

DESPITE being one of the smallest countries in the Pacific Guam is proving to be big by regional standards in

Olympic competition.

The 549 sq km island with a popu lation of little more than 120,000 is proving to be big by regional standards in Olympic competition.

Guam is sending a team of 32 athletes to compete in eight sports. While some of the 32 athletes were selected to partici pate at the games through local qualify ing events, many had to reach the

Olympics through qualifying on a re

gional level. The Guam National Olym pic Committee (GNOC) said this was particularly difficult for athletes who had little or no international competition or who had to travel great distances to compete in strange surrounding.

Participating in their second Olympic Games, Guam will compete in athletics, cycling, swimming, archery, judo,

weightlifting, wrestling and yachting.

One athlete expected to perform well is long distance runner Jenn Allred who won four gold and a silver in the middle and long distance events at last year’s South Pacific Games. Competing in the marathon in Barcelona, the 29-year-old former Califorian college champion says the Olympics will provide the oppor tunity to see how she measures up with other athletes and the chance to learn

new techniques.

Also expected to do well is boardsailer John Iriarte who was a member of the 1988 Olympic team. Iriarte said he has a goal “to perform in Barcelone better than I have ever performed.”

Since the Guam team returned from the Seoul Olympics in 1988, GNOC and Guam athletes have been preparing for Barcelona.So Guam goes to Spain full of optimism and hope and even if they are not in contention for medals they know it will not be because they have not given it their best shot.

[?]enn Allred: long distance runner for [?]uam