Villanovans earn gold and silver in Sydney
Holly Stratts

Villanova’s total Olympic medal count rose to 12 (eight gold and four silver) during the 27^th Summer Games. The U.S. baseball team earned gold by defeating the Cuban team 4-1 who had dominated the competition since baseball’s inclusion as an Olympic sport in 1992. Mike Neill ‘92 played outfield for the team and the home-run hitter was instrumental in several of their victories including a home run hit in the gold-medal match-up. This was the first medal won by a Villanovan in a sport other than track and field.

As a junior in 1991, Neill batted .468 with 85 runs scored, 76 RBIs, 22 doubles and 19 home runs and was named Big East Conference of the Year. He still owns nine Villanova school records. A member of the Seattle Mariner organization, Neill currently plays for the Mariner AAA affiliate, the Tacoma Rainiers.

Sonia O’Sullivan ‘91 won silver in the 5,000-meter race. Her time of 14:41.02 was just .23 seconds behind Romania’s Gabriella Szabo who, with a time of 14.40.79, set a new Olympic record. O’Sullivan also carried the flag for her native country, Ireland, during the opening ceremonies.

Jen Rhines ‘96 qualified for the games in the 1,500-meter race but finished 16^th in her heat. Only the top eight from each heat made it on to the final.

Swimmer Maddy Crippen ‘03 competed in one event, the 400-meter individual medley final. She finished sixth in the field of eight with a time of 4:44.63.

Villanova’s gold medalists are: Mike Neill (baseball) 2000 Sydney Games; Chip Jenkins ‘86 (1600m relay) 1992 Barcelona Games; Larry James ‘70 (1600m relay) 1968 Mexico Games; Paul Drayton ‘63 (400m relay) 1964 Tokyo Games; Don Bragg ‘57 (pole vault) 1960 Rome Games; Charlie Jenkins ‘58 (400m and 1600m relay) and Ron Delany ‘58 (1500m) 1956 Melbourne Games.

Charlie and Chip Jenkins are the only father-son combination to win gold medals in the same sport.

The silver medalists include: Larry James (400m) and Erv Hall ‘69 (110m hurdles) 1968 Mexico Games; Paul Drayton (200m) 1964 Tokyo Games; and Sonia O’Sullivan (5000m) 2000 Sydney Games.

While Vicki Huber ‘89 was the first female Wildcat Olympian when she ran in the 1988 Seoul Games in the 3000m, Sonia O’Sullivan, in her third Olympic Games, is the first female medal winner.