Capsule look at Las Vegas Olympians

the numbers

Friday, Sept. 15, 2000 | 9:54 a.m.

Compiled by Steve Addy

LORENA DIACONESCU

Sport: Women's swimming

Age: 21 (June 30, 1979)

Country: Romania (Bucharest)

Local tie: UNLV

Events: 400 freestyle relay, heats, today, 4 p.m. PDT; 200 freestyle, heats, Sunday, 4 p.m.; 100 freestyle, heats, Sept. 19, 4 p.m.; 800 freestyle relay, heats, Sept. 19, 4 p.m.

Career highlights: Swam in the 1996 Olympics, placing seventh with Romania's 800 freestyle relay squad and 25th in the 200 freestyle. ... Earned All-American honors this year as a UNLV sophomore, taking fifth in the NCAA Championships in the 200 freestyle (1:58.38). ... Named 2000 Mountain West Conference female swimmer of the year after winning the 100, 200 and 500 freestyles Feb. 16-19. ... Won 100 freestyle at the 1999 World University Games.

MARK DICKEL

Sport: Men's basketball

Age: 23 (Dec. 21, 1976)

Country: New Zealand (Dunedin)

Local tie: UNLV

Games: vs. France, Saturday, 3:30 p.m. PDT; vs. China, Monday, 5:30 p.m.; vs. Italy, Sept. 20, 3:30 p.m.; vs. United States, Sept. 23, 1:30 a.m.; vs. Lithuania, Sept. 24, 5:30 p.m.

Career highlights: Much maligned early in his UNLV career, point guard Dickel gained many converts in his senior season by leading the NCAA in assists per game (9.1). ... Honorable mention All-American by the Associated Press. ... MVP of the 2000 Mountain West Conference tournament. ... Ranks third on UNLV's all-time assists list with 776.

Fun fact: Played in the postseason all four years at UNLV (two NIT, two NCAA).

LORI HARRIGAN

Sport: Softball

Age: 30 (Sept. 5, 1970)

Country: U.S. (Anaheim, Calif.)

Local ties: UNLV; Las Vegas resident

Games: vs. Canada, Saturday, 4:30 p.m. PDT; vs. Cuba, Sunday, 6:30 p.m.; vs. Japan, Monday, 4:30 p.m.; vs. China, Sept. 20, 1:30 a.m.; vs. Australia, Sept. 20, 6:30 p.m.; vs. New Zealand, Sept. 21, 4:30 p.m.; vs. Italy, Sept. 23, 1:30 a.m.; semifinals, Sept. 24; finals, Sept. 26.

Career highlights: A decade after guiding UNLV to two berths in the Women's College World Series (1990, '91), Harrigan remains one of the world's premier pitchers. ... Member of gold medal-winning Team USA in the 1996 Olympics, pitching a 4-0 shutout against Chinese Taipei. ... Winner of countless national and international medals. ... Two-time NCAA All-American. ... Struck out 20 of 21 batters June 10 in a 10-0 perfect game over Junior All-Star team.

AYANNA HUTCHINSON

Sport: Women's track and field

Age: 22 (Feb. 18, 1978)

Country: Trinidad & Tobago (Barataria, Trinidad)

Local tie: UNLV

Events: 100 meters, heats, Sept. 21, 4 p.m. PDT; 200 meters, heats, Sept. 26, 3 p.m.

Career highlights: Two-year sprint star for UNLV after tranferring from Essex County (N.J.) Community College in 1998. ... Won three Mountain West championships as a senior in 2000, setting league records in the outdoor 100 (11.69) and the indoor 100 and 200. ... Finished second to UNLV teammate Michele Davis in the MWC outdoor 200 this year. ... Junior college All-American in 1997 in the 55 meters, helping Essex County CC to the national title.

Fun fact: In high school at Barataria Secondary Comprehensive in Trinidad, Hutchinson led her team to the national championship.

ANDREW LIVINGSTON

Sport: Men's swimming

Age: 21 (Nov. 12, 1978)

Country: Puerto Rico (dual citizenship; from Houston, Tex.)

Local tie: UNLV

Events: 200 butterfly, heats, Sunday, 4 p.m. PDT; 100 butterfly, heats, Sept. 20, 4 p.m.

Career highlights: The top-recruited swimmer in UNLV history, Livingston lived up to his promise with two All-American seasons before red-shirting in 1999-00 to swim the Olympic preparation circuit. ... Placed fifth in the 200 butterfly in the 1999 NCAA Championships (1:45.00) after taking 12th as a freshman in 1998 (1:46.12). ... Was Texas state champ in the 100 butterfly in 1997.

Fun fact: Only Bart Pippenger has placed higher for UNLV in the NCAA 200 butterfly, taking second in the 1990 finals.

MIKE MINTENKO

Sport: Men's swimming

Age: 24 (Nov. 7, 1975)

Country: Canada (Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan)

Local tie: UNLV

Events: 800 freestyle relay, heats, Monday, 4 p.m. PDT; 100 butterfly, heats, Sept. 20, 4 p.m.

Career highlights: Had a terrific four-year career at UNLV (1994-98), setting school marks in the 50 freestyle (20.31), 100 freestyle (44.44) and 200 freestyle (1:38.11), as well as four relays. ... Geared up for the Olympics by setting the Canadian national record in the 100 butterfly (53.05) in Los Angeles on July 17. ... Also owns Canadian mark in the 50 fly (24.40). ... At 6-foot-3, he's one of Canada's tallest swimmers.

Fun fact: Family raised funds for Mintenko's swimming by marketing a calendar, selling out all 600 copies.

JACINT SIMON

Sport: Men's swimming

Age: 21 (Feb. 4, 1979)

Country: Hungary (Kecskemet)

Local tie: UNLV

Events: 400 freestyle relay, heats, today, 4 p.m. PDT; 200 freestyle, heats, Saturday, 4 p.m.

Career highlights: Completed a fine sophomore year at UNLV, earning All-American honors in three events (200 freestyle, 200 freestyle relay and 400 freestyle relay). ... Sixth in the 200 freestyle in the NCAA Finals (1:36.26). ... Chosen as Mountain West male swimmer of the year, winning three events at the league meet (200 and 500 freestyle, 200 butterfly). ... UNLV's 1999-2000 Sportsman of the Year. ... Former Hungarian champ in the 1,500 freestyle.

TASHA SCHWIKERT

Sport: Women's gymnastics

Age: 15 (Nov. 21, 1984)

Country: U.S.

Local tie: Las Vegas resident

Event: Qualifying begins at 4 p.m. PDT Saturday

Career highlights: Having been an alternate, Schwikert last week was chosen to compete due to an injury to Morgan White. ... Chosen over fellow alternate Alyssa Beckerman because of her skills in the vault. ... Placed seventh in the U.S. Trials last month in Boston. ... Member of U.S. National Team since 1997. ... A home-schooled 10th grader, Schwikert is the pride of the Las Vegas Gymcats Club.

Fun fact: Tasha's sister, Jordan, 14, is also a budding world-class gymnast. Their parents are craps dealers at Caesars Palace.

CHARLENE TAGALOA (JOHNSON)

Sport: Women's volleyball

Age: 27 (Aug. 30, 1973)

Country: U.S.

Local tie: Las Vegas resident 1983-90, attended Clark HS

Matches: (Pool A) vs. China, Saturday, 2:30 a.m. PDT; vs. Kenya, Sunday, 8:30 p.m; vs. Croatia, Sept. 20, 2:30 a.m.; vs. Australia, Sept. 22, 2:30 a.m.; vs. Brazil, Sept. 23, 6 p.m.

Career highlights: A Phoenix native, the former Charlene Johnson (5-foot-10) is Team USA's first-string setter. ... Battling a wrist injury that might sideline her for the Olympics. ... Lived in Las Vegas seven years and played three years at Clark High, leading team to 1989 state title. ... Graduated high school in Utah, then played at BYU (1991-94), becoming its all-time assists leader and second-team All-American. ... Lives in Colorado Springs.

Fun fact: Tagaloa is married to Samoan Saofaiga (John) Tagaloa and has a 7-year-old son Kaipo. She is the only parent on the team.

ALICIA TYSON

Sport: Women's track and field

Age: 22 (Sept. 27, 1977)

Country: Trinidad & Tobago (La-Romain, Trinidad)

Local tie: UNLV

Event: 100 meters, heats, Sept. 21, 4 p.m. PDT

Career highlights: The 1999 UNLV grad holds school records in the 100 (10.93, 1997) and 200 (22.78, 1999). ... Named Rebels' MVP in 1999 after winning the WAC outdoor 100 (11.35) and 200 (22.78). ... In 1999 NCAA Championships, placed 12th in the 200. ... Was a 1997 outdoor All-American as member of the 4x100 relay team that placed fifth in the NCAA finals. ... An indoor All-American in 1997 by placing seventh in the 200 in the NCAA finals.

KAREN DENNIS

Sport: Women's track and field

Age: 51

Country: U.S.

Local ties: UNLV coach

Career highlights: A Detroit native, Dennis marks the pinnacle of her profession after two decades of college coaching. ... Just completed her eighth season as UNLV's women's track and field (and cross country) coach. ... As Michigan State coach from 1980-91, guided 1984 Olympic 400 hurdles silver medalist Judi Brown-King. ... At age 16, finished fifth in 1964 Olympic Trials in the 200. ... Coached Team USA in the 1991 Pan American Games.

Fun fact: Dennis has coached 12 Rebels to All-American status.

WENDELL ALLEN

Sport: Boxing administrator

Age: 69

Country: U.S.

Local tie: Las Vegas resident

Events: Matches begin today

Career highlights: Invaluable member of Team USA, helping organize travel and logistics in Sydney. ... Participating in fourth Olympics. Also attended in 1984 (medical volunteer), 1992 (training camp adviser) and 1996 (boxing officials' coordinator). ... Chairman of USA Boxing's Under-19 committee, and is organizing a November trip to Hungary for U.S. Junior Olympians. ... Involvement in boxing began as amateur fighter in Kansas City in 1946

Fun fact: Allen is the father of five children and has nine grandchildren.

JIM LYKINS

Sport: Softball umpire

Age: 56

Country: U.S.

Local tie: Las Vegas resident

Events: Games begin Saturday

Career highlights: After being an alternate for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, Lykins gets his chance to umpire on the world stage. ... One of only two U.S. umpires going to Sydney. The other is Lisa Rudloff of Stockton, Calif. ... Umpires are prohibited from working games involving their home country, so Lykins will not do any Team USA games.

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