Warkentin Wins Three Golds at World University Games
July 06, 1999 | Men's Swimming & Diving
July 6, 1999
Los Angeles - USC sophomore-to-be Mark Warkentin, an All-American in his first NCAA Championship meet in March, is having a great July, too.
Representing the United States, Warkentin opened the first two days of the World University Games by winning three gold medals on July 4-5 in Mallorca, Spain.
Warkentin won the 200m freestyle in a personal-best 1:51.30 on July 4, becoming the first American to win the event at the WUG since Matt Biondi in 1985.
"This time they raised the flag and that's something that's never happened to me before. I've only seen that on television. You dream about such moments," Warkentin said, when asked to compare this meet with prior competitions. "The 200 is probably my worst event so it feels really great to start off with a gold."
The following day, Warkentin shattered the WUG record in the 800m free, winning the event in 8:00.81, more than six seconds faster than his previous best. He also anchored the winning 800m free relay.
With two events to go (the 400m and 1500m free), Warkentin, from Santa Barbara, Calif., has a chance to pass Biondi and Martina Moravcova's record of four golds at the WUG.
"I'm concentrating on number four right now," Warkentin said. "You have to take it one at a time and I'm not going to look at the mile until the 400 is done. I'm concentrating on that one. It's my biggest race and I'm not going to look past it."
Warkentin will swim the 400m free on Wednesday, July 7, and swim the 1500m free on Friday, July 9.
USC junior-to-be Corrie Murphy is also competing in Spain and opened the meet by taking the bronze in the 400m IM in 4:49.99.
