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Published on 08/11/1999 All articles from this issue

Two Mountain View residents strike gold at Pan Am Games

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Special to the Town Crier

Two Mountain View residents returned from the recent Pan American Games in Canada with gold medals.

Anna Kraus received her gold playing soccer for the United States Under-18 Women's National Team, while Dylan Casey earned his medal in cycling.

Kraus, a 1998 St. Francis High graduate, started on defense for a U.S. team that defeated Mexico 1-0 in last Thursday's final at the Winnipeg Soccer Complex.

Fellow defender Catherine Redick scored the winning goal for the U.S. and goalkeeper Hope Solo made 11 saves.

The win avenged the 1-1 draw the teams played to on July 25, the only blemish on the Americans' near-perfect Pan Am performance.

"I feel really happy for all the ladies because I thought we played good soccer," U.S. coach Jay Hoffman said. "I thought they improved with every game."

The U.S. qualified for the championship match by defeating Costa Rica 2-0 on Aug. 2.

The game was much more one-sided than the final score suggests, as the U.S out-shot Costa Rica 34-1.

The U.S. advanced with goals from its two leading scorers: starting forwards Marcia Wallis of Los Gatos and Kim Patrick. Just as the U.S. did in its first match with Costa Rica, 6-0 U.S. win, Team USA jumped on top early. Kraus, who now plays at Santa Clara University, set up Wallis in the fifth minute for a 1-0 lead.

Kraus' cross from the right wing found Wallis at the six-yard box and Wallis' darting header into the upper left corner of the goal gave goalkeeper Herra Rojas no chance to make a save.

Again it was Kraus who orchestrated the build-up that led to the team's second goal, springing Wallis down the left sideline with a well-placed pass. Wallis played a ball square into the penalty area that Patrick one-timed into the net from six yards out. It was Patrick's sixth goal of the tournament.

Casey captured the gold in the men's individual pursuit July 29 at the Red River Exhibition Park in Winnipeg.

Casey, who rides for the U.S. Postal Service team, posted a time of 4 minutes, 29.513 seconds to win the 4,000-meter race. He broke the Pan Am Games record he had established a day earlier during qualifying (4:32.118).

"I started at a good pace and despite trailing after the first kilometer, I had no fear of losing the race," said Casey, who will ride at the Tour of Spain this month. "This is only my fifth or sixth time racing on the track, and I am learning every time and gaining valuable experience."

Casey nearly took home another medal as well. He competed in the men's individual time trial on July 25, placing fourth in the road race at Birds Hill Provincial Park in Winnipeg.

Casey's time of 1 hour, 10 minutes and 45.90 seconds was just over a minute behind bronze medal winner Marcio May of Brazil. Canada's Eric Wohlberg captured the gold with a time of 1:07.30.91 over the 34.5-mile race. American Levi Leipheimer of Windsor finished with the silver.

"My goal was to place among the top five in this event, so I am pleased with my finish," Casey said. "It was a tough course, and I could feel myself losing some power in the second lap of the race."

Information provided by Rich Wanninger and Forrest Eber.