U.S. Team Tied for Third After Technical Routine
Duet sits in fourth

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - The 2004 Olympic Qualification Tournament for Synchronized Swimming kicked off Thursday in Athens, Greece. Competitors faced strong winds and cold temperatures while swimming the duet and team technical routines.

The U.S Team finished in a tie for third with Spain. Both teams turned in scores of 96.500. Russia holds the top spot after scoring a 99.000, while Japan sits in second at 97.667. Swimming for the U.S. was Alison Bartosik, Erin Dobratz, Becky Jasontek, Anna Kozlova, Sara Lowe, Lauren McFall, Stephanie Nesbitt, and Kendra Zanotto.

The duet of Bartosik and Kozlova sits in fourth place after their duet technical swim scoring a 95.167. Just ahead the U.S. is the Spanish duo of Gemma Mengual and Paola Tirados at 95.833. Russia's Anastasia Davydova and Anastasia Ermakova are first with a 98.334, while Miya Tachibana and Miho Takeda of Japan claimed second at 97.500.

Thursday's technical routine marks will be weighted to 50 percent and combined with 50 percent of Friday and Saturday's free routine scores to determine the final composite scores.

The top eight teams and 24 duets from the tournament will advance to the 2004 Olympic Games in August.

Friday brings the duet free routine competition. The top four places will automatically qualify to the Olympic Games in August. Those remaining will swim in Round 2 Sunday to determine the final 20 routines.

The team free competition will be held on Saturday, again, with the top four teams qualifying to the Olympic Game in August. The final four will be determined in Round 2 on Sunday as well.

Duet Technical Routine
1.Anastasia Davydova, Anastasia Ermakova (RUS), 98.334 . 2. Miya Tachibana, Miho Takeda (JPN), 97.500 . 3. Gemma Mengual, Paola Tirados (ESP), 95.833 . 4. Anna Kozlova, Alison Bartosik (USA), 95.167 . 5. Fanny Letourneau, Courtenay Stewart (CAN), 94.500 . 6. Laure Thibaud, Virginie Dedieu (FRA), 94.000 . 7. Gu Beibei, Zhang Xiaohuan, (CHN), 93.667. 8. Eleftheria Ftouli, Christina Thalassinidou (GRE), 93.166.

Team Technical Routine
1. Russia, 99.000. 2. Japan, 97.667. 3T. Spain, 96.500. 3T. United States, 96.500. 5. Canada, 94.500. 6. China, 93.667. 7. Italy, 93.500. 8. France, 93.000.