Teuscher, Mariniuk Win 800 Freestyles

Olympians Cristina Teuscher and Sergey Mariniuk captured 800-meter freestyle championships Thursday during the first day of the Santa Clara International Invitational Swim Meet.

Teuscher, 18, finished her heat in 8 minutes, 41.97 seconds--1.39 seconds shy of the meet record--to win the 800 free women’s title in a meet that represents a final tuneup before the Atlanta Games next month. Lauren Thies of Portland, Ore., finished second in 8:44.35 and Sachiko Yamada of Japan was third in 8:44.42.

In the men’s 800 free, Mariniuk, 27, a member of Moldava’s Olympic team, swam 8:10.60 to set a Moldavan record. Makoto Takita and Yousuke Ichikawa, both of Japan, finished second (8:13.04) and third (8:18.04), respectively.

The 800 meters, however, is not a men’s Olympic event.

Teuscher, a resident of New Rochelle, N.Y., qualified for the U.S. Olympic team in four events--the 200 and 400 freestyles and the 400 and 800 free relays.

Jenny Thompson heads today’s competition, swimming in the 100 free and 100 butterfly.