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August 24, 2004 10:58 am

Colin, Spalding advance to kayak semifinals

By MARIBEL VILALLVA

Gannett News Service

SCHINIAS, Greece - All U.S. kayakers Kathryn Colin and Lauren Spalding had to do Tuesday was beat one boat in their preliminary round of the two-woman kayak 500-meter flatwater competition to advance to the semifinals at the 2004 Summer Olympics.

The two Hawaii natives beat two boats and ended their preliminary heat in sixth place with a time of 1:45.38 at the Schinias Olympic Rowing and Canoe Center.

``We're both very happy with the results,'' Colin said. ``We had the competency and confidence to execute our game plan. I think we did very well.''

Katalin Kovacs and Natasa Janics of Hungary led the heat with a time of 1:38.6.

The 30-year-old Colin and the 24-year-old Spalding will compete in the semifinals Thursday and must place in the top three of their heat to advance to the finals.

Spalding said she and Colin were calm the night before their preliminary race.

But the two did have a goal to finish their heat in one minute and 40 seconds.

The two missed their goal by more than five seconds but said they are looking forward to the semifinals.

``I think we're only going to get better as the week goes on,'' Colin said.

The duo competed Monday in the four-woman kayak flatwater 500-meter race and advanced to the semifinal competiton on Wednesday. Joining them in the kayak: Marie Mijalis of Shreveport, La., and Carrie Johnson of San Diego.

It is no coincidence that Colin and Spalding ended up in the same boat, said team leader Mark Parrish. Both share a love for their native Hawaii, where they learned the sport of kayaking, he said.

Colin is a graduate of Punahou High School and Spalding was home-schooled in Maui.

``The fact that they have a common background makes them share a special language,'' Parrish said. ``They both also moved to San Diego to train at the ARCO Olympic Training Center.''

Colin said growing up in Hawaii gave her an appreciation for the ocean.

``I love Hawaii and I love to be on the water. I think being there gave me a love and respect for the water,'' she said.

Spalding spends equal amounts of time between Hawaii and San Diego, but misses the Islands.

``It's hard to be away from Hawaii and to be away from your family,'' she said.

This is the first Olympics for Spalding, but the second for Colin, who competed at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. She said getting to Athens has been her ultimate goal.

``Athens has always been my finish line,'' she said. ``Sydney was my warmup for this.''

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