Goldengirl

U.S. TRACK AND FIELD TRIALS: GOLDINE HAS GOLDEN LOOK

By Ches Nottingham

EUGENE, Ore., July 14 — Goldine Serafin, 19, sensational winner of the 100 metres here at the U.S. Olympic Trials on Saturday, today filed her claim for representation in two more events with brilliant runs in the qualifying rounds of the 200 metres and the Semi-Final of the 400 metres. This morning, she coasted through the first round of the 200 with a 23.02 win, the morning’s fastest. In this afternoon’s Quarter-Final, she stunned her rivals with 22.72, clipping one tenth from the U.S. record, and leaving the 1979 AAU champion, Mary-Lou Devine, five metres down. Less than an hour later, go-getting Goldine was on the track again to buzz to a 51.30 victory in the Semi-Final of the 400 metres. Until today in these Trials, nobody has looked like heading blond Goldine, but there is a fine race in prospect in Wednesday’s 400-metre Final, when she will clash with Janie Canute, whose 50.45 in the second Semi-Final was a personal best, just fifteen hundredths short of the U.S. record.

‘Pete, that four hundred didn’t feel right.’

‘What do you mean?’ said Klugman. ‘You qualified. That was all you had to do.’

‘My legs felt heavy, like I was unfit.’

‘That’s not surprising after two hard races. You can’t expect to beat records in qualifying rounds and feel no effects at all.’

‘They still feel heavy.’

‘Then you must ask Ingrid for a massage. That’s why we brought her to Eugene.’

‘You don’t think I should tell Doc, in case there’s anything wrong?’

‘I’ll tell him. You’re a little jumpy, that’s all. One day’s competition to go — you’re sure to feel like this.’

‘Janie Canute didn’t tie up. She’s going to be hard to beat on Wednesday.’

‘You don’t really have to beat her. We just want you to make the team.’

‘There are two other girls in her Semi-Final faster than me.’

‘I know that. Don’t get yourself disturbed. You’ll take them in the Final like Grant took Richmond.’

‘Would you tell Doc about the stiffness in my legs?’

‘I’ll tell him. I’m going up to the Jacaranda right after this. Now don’t forget. Fix that massage with Ingrid, and you’ll be fine tomorrow.’

Klugman was less sanguine when he reported to Serafin. Possibly the way he related the conversation was influenced by the circumstances. He had found the consortium in one of the Jacaranda’s three cocktail bars. Melody’s perfume waged battle with Valenti’s cigar smoke over a table cluttered with empty glasses. Sternberg was telling jokes. Everyone was there, even Lee, sipping tomato juice and eating an olive.

This was the first time Klugman had visited the Jacaranda since arriving in Eugene. He and Ingrid had rooms in a four-story walkup, chosen for its proximity to the residence hall where Goldine was staying.

‘What’s yours?’ Armitage convivially asked.

‘I won’t bother, thanks,’ said Klugman. ‘I only wanted a few minutes with Dr. Serafin.’

‘No trouble, I hope?’ said Sternberg. ‘Now, where was I with this broken-hearted camel?’ He picked up the threads of his story.

Klugman moved behind the chairs to Serafin, and squatted to give him the news. ‘I don’t want to cause alarm,’ he said in an undertone, ‘but I’m a little concerned about Goldengirl.’ He reported the symptoms.

‘Heaviness?’ repeated Serafin.

‘I’m wondering if this could be a reaction to the change in altitude,’ said Klugman. ‘Years ago I did some training at the U.S. altitude camp at South Lake Tahoe, and they warned us to expect a reaction when we came back to sea level.’

‘You think we don’t know about altitude effects?’ Serafin said in a hiss. ‘Of course the body has to make an adjustment. It wouldn’t be the reason for this. She’s already gone past the time when that would make any difference. This must be psychological. I’ll get Lee to come outside.’

‘You sure there’s nothing wrong?’ asked Sternberg, as Serafin stood up.