Anna Kozlova and Alison Bartosik, in their first major international appearance, did not disappoint while taking a more than two-point lead in the duet technical event on Thursday at the 26th annual Swiss Open in Geneva, Switzerland.

Kozlova and Bartosik's "Big Apple" routine earned a 95.500 in the technical routine to hold off Ishiguro and Matsumura of Japan at 93.333. Canada's Chelsea Luker and Jessika Dubuc are third at 92.667. Mary Hofer (Spring Valley, Calif.) and Andrea Nott (San Jose, Calif.) are sixth in the standings with a 91.000.

Kozlova and Bartosik won the U.S. National Championships in April, and were selected to represent the United States in the upcoming FINA World Cup in Zurich in September. The Swiss Open, which annually attracts top entries from around the world, is the duo's first and only warm-up to their international debut as Team USA's duet entry.

Kozlova is bidding to become the sport's first three-time Olympian, having competed in 1992 for Russia, finishing fourth in duet, and in 2000 for the USA, taking fourth in duet and fifth in team. Bartosik, a native of Flagstaff, Ariz., began training with Kozlova in the Fall of 2001, and at just 19 years old is 11 years younger than Kozlova.

"Anna and Alison present a unique opportunity to the United States to combine both youthful exuberance and seasoned experience in two very mature, confident athletes," coach Chris Carver said prior to the team's departure. "I think they'll be a very competitive duet and represent the United States very well."

Hofer and Nott train with U.S. National Team II, which traditionally competes at the Swiss Open. Hofer is a 2002 graduate of Ohio State University, while Nott competes for the Santa Clara (Calif.) Aquamaids club team.

Other U.S. connections include 8th-place Luna Aguilu, competing for Puerto Rico, swims at the University of Alabama-Birmingham and is coached by UAB assistant Erin Olson.

Representing the United States in solo will be Bill May and Victoria Bowen. May, of Cicero, N.Y., the sport's premier male synchro swimmer, is seeking his fifth solo gold medal at the Swiss Open - one of just a handful of elite events that allow male competitors. Bowen, of Plano, Texas, is a junior at Ohio State and is representing the United States in solo for the first time.

Technical routine scores are weighted to 50 percent and combined with 50 percent of the entry's preliminary free routine score to determine the finalists in each event. Only one finals entry per country in each event is allowed. The final result is calculated using 100 percent of the final free routine score.

Competition continues Friday with solo and team technical events.

Duet Technical
1, Kozlova, Bartosik, USA, 95.500. 2, Ishiguro, Matsumura, Japan, 93.333. 3, Luker, Dubuc, Canada, 92.667. 4, Brunner, Schmid, Switzerland, 92.333. 5, Davenport, Davenport, Canada, 92.000. 6, Hofer, Nott, USA, 91.000. 7, Louiws, Louiws, Netherlands, 87.000. 8, Wrase, Libal, Germany, 84.334. 9, Aguilu, Hernandez, Puerto Rico, 82.667.