Tunnicliffe and Campbell Get the USA Off to a Good Start in the First Day of the Sailing Competition at the 2005 U.S. Summer World University Games

IZMIR, Turkey (August 15, 2005) - Anna Tunnicliffe (Norfolk, Va./Old Dominion University) and Andrew Campbell (San Diego, Calif./Georgetown University) displayed an impressive opening day performance for the USA as the sailing regatta got underway at the Karsiyaka Sailing Center. Tunnicliffe finished second in the first race and third in the second race in the Laser Radial (a singlehanded boat for women), while Campbell finished third and fourth respectively in opening day races in Izmir Bay. Their performances are even more impressive when you consider the fact that the two arrived in Izmir less than 24 hours before their first race. Both Tunnicliffe and Campbell traveled to Izmir after competing in the European Championships, an event in which Tunnicliffe placed eighth.

"I think I got off to a good start," said Tunnicliffe. "I'm kind of pleased with how I finished. I thought I could have done a little bit better, but overall I'm happy with how I did. I feel pretty confident and feel the rest of the regatta will go pretty well."

Campbell's third and fourth place finishes also set him up nicely for a successful regatta, given his performance despite a windy and hot opening day, not his ideal sailing conditions.

"It was pretty breezy obviously, which is not necessarily my strength, but I'm very confident in how I ended up today," said Campbell. "I think it's a good way to start off the regatta at least, we don't have any real bad scores we can't come back from yet. We're still in the hunt and we'll just take it one day at a time from here. Hopefully we'll see some different conditions (a little less breeze) and I'll be able to make things up a little bit. I'm just glad to be in the top of the group right now in conditions I am not necessarily the most comfortable in."

Also competing for the United States in the Laser Radial is Jennifer Gervais, (Charleston, S.C./St. Mary's College of Maryland) and in the Laser, Brendan Fahey (Kingston, Wash./University of Washington). In the gusty conditions, Gervais finished 17th in both of today's races. Fahey had a rough start, hitting the starting mark in the second race giving him a penalty (having to do a circle) and pushing him to the back of the pack. He finished 18th in both of today's races.

Gary Bodie (Hampton, Va.), Head Coach and Team Leader of the 2005 U.S. Summer World University Games Sailing Team overall was pleased with his team's performance for the opening day.

"Pretty much I think the talent rose to the front today. It was a solid first day for us. There were a couple players from other countries that had somewhat disastrous starts. One of the things you want to avoid on the first day of a long regatta is a disaster, which Anna and Andrew were able to do."

For more information about the World University Games Team - Sailing, please visit the Team's website at www.ussailing.org/olympics/2005WUG/team.htm.  For more information about the World University Games, please visit the event website at http://www.universiadeizmir.org/en.

Sailing competition continues on Tuesday, August 16 at 13:00 with races three and four of the regatta at the Karsiyaka Sailing Center. Each competitor will race twice daily through August 20 for a total of 12 races (competitors drop the two lowest scores).

Results:

Women's Laser Radial
Race #1
Katarzyna Szotynska (Poland) - First
Anna Tunnicliffe (USA) - Second
Tania Elias Calles (Mexico) - Third
Jennifer Gervais (USA) - 17th

Race #2
Katarzyna Szotynska (Poland) - First
Stephanie Rosse (Switzerland) - Second
Anna Tunnicliffe (USA) - Third
Jennifer Gervais (USA) - 17th

Men's Laser
Race #1
Johann Cechosz (France) - First
Kemal Mutlubas (Turkey) - Second
Andrew Campbell (USA) - Third
Brendan Fahey (USA) - 18th

Race #2
Johann Cechosz (France) - First
Kemal Mutlubas (Turkey) - Second
Tonko Kuzmanic (Croatia) - Third
Andrew Campbell (USA) - Fourth
Brendan Fahey (USA) - 18th

(End)