Locals begin their quest for victory

Today marks the beginning of competition for multiple local athletes

representing the United States at the Athens Olympics.

Newport Harbor High alum Aaron Peirsol will begin his quest for

three golds with the 100-meter backstroke preliminaries. Peirsol, who

set a world record in the U.S. Olympic trials at Long Beach, will

race in Heat 6 with defending Olympic champion and former

world-record holder Lenny Krayzelburg. The opening heats start at 11

a.m. Athens time, followed by the semifinals at 8:30 p.m. The finals

will be held Monday at 7:30 p.m. Athens is 10 hours ahead of Pacific

Standard Time.

Fellow former Sailor Misty May will open her beach volleyball play

with teammate Kerri Walsh against the Japanese tandem of Chiaki

Kusuhara and Ryoko Tokuno.

The U.S. men’s water polo team will face off against Croatia

tonight, but NBC4 will air the match Monday at 12:35 p.m. local time.

Five former UC Irvine players are on Team USA, including Ryan Bailey,

Omar Amr, Genai Kerr, Dan Klatt and Jeff Powers.

Windsurfers Peter Wells and Lanee Butler-Beashel, both UCI

graduates, start their competition today immediately followed by a

second race.

UCI junior Lara Bjargdottir qualified for the 200 freestyle and

individual medley for her native Iceland. Preliminaries for both

events begin Monday.

Orange Costa College student and Newport Beach resident Jennifer

Parilla will compete in the trampoline Friday.