Aug. 6, 1999
TEMPE, Ariz. - Francisco Sanchez made his native Venezuela proud once again Thursday as he anchored the country's 4 x 100 meter relay team to the bronze medal at the XII Pan American Games in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The Venezuelan freestyle squad, which also included Francisco Paez, O. Quevedo and Luis Rojas, clocked in at 3:22.21, behind gold-medal winner Brazil (3:17.18) and the United States (3:19.00).
Sanchez, a 1999 Arizona State graduate and four-time All-American, set a new Pan Am Games record in the 100 butterfly with his time of 53.33 on Tuesday. The 1996 Olympian swims his final race at the meet Friday night in the consolation finals of the 50 freestyle. Sanchez, the 1996 NCAA Champion in the 50 free, swam a 23.27 in the morning qualifying session.
Current ASU senior Pablo Abal finished the race in 23.38 and will join Sanchez in the consolation finals. Ecuadors Felipe Delgado, who last swam for the Sun Devils in 1997, qualified for the championship finals in 23.23. In addition, 1998 ASU alum Craig Hutchison of Canada swam the 50 free in 23.46, placing himself in the consolation heat.
In women's action, Arizona State senior Carolyn Adel will aim for her second medal of the Games when she swims the finls of the 200 meter individual medley Friday night. Adel, who won a bronze on Monday in the 400 IM, finished the mornings preliminaries in 2:21.97.