Archer Eliason Looking For Another Games Trip -- Poulsbo Native Was Fifth In '72 Olympics

Two Olympic Games appearances, 24 years apart - that's what archer Ed Eliason is shooting for.

Eliason, a native of Poulsbo, Kitsap County, placed fifth in the 1972 Munich Games, but has failed in subsequent attempts to qualify. But now, at age 55, he figures he has a good chance of making the United States team for the 1996 Games in Atlanta.

"I've never shot better," Eliason said by telephone from his Stansbury Park, Utah, home, where he has lived for 10 years while working for Easton, the aluminum bat manufacturer.

Eliason is one of more than 3,000 people competing during the next 10 days in the U.S. Olympic Sports Festival in St. Louis. The event provides competition for athletes with Olympic promise in 37 sports.

Eliason, who just returned from a 21-country tournament in Poland, said he thinks the Festival will be a "great warmup" for next month's Goodwill Games in Russia. There, he will compete against seven other world-class shooters.

Eliason joined the Army Special Forces (Green Berets) and developed his interest in archery while on duty in Southeast Asia.

Following is the most up-to-date list of state athletes who are scheduled to compete in the Sports Festival. A USOC publicist said the track-and-field roster is not final.

LOCAL PARTICIPANTS IN OLYMPIC FESTIVAL

Archery - Ed Eliason, Poulsbo, residing in Stansbury Park, Utah. Baseball - Matt Sachse, Spokane. Men's basketball - Issac Fontaine, Washington State University. Women's basketball - Harold Rhodes, Washington State, coach; Kate Starbird, Tacoma and Stanford University; Dawn Lewis, Tacoma and Oregon State; Melissa Wuschnig, University of Washington. Cycling - Mary Anne Avery, North Bend; Brian Slettvet, Seattle. Men's softball - Ray Atkinson, Kent; Bill Boyer, Auburn; Jason Hanson, Seattle; Michael Larabee, Kent; Tim Wahl, Grayland; Tom Wagner, Federal Way, coach; Jeff Borror, Kirkland, coach. Shooting - Lance Bade, Ridgefield; Roger Mar, Seattle; Kelly Morris, Shelton. Women's soccer - Justi Baumgardt, Federal Way; Melanie Brennan, Seattle; Joan Dunlap-Seivold; Samantha Obara, Seattle; Erica Parish, Kent; Lesle Gallimore, University of Washington, coach. Men's soccer - John Cowmey, Seattle; Figure skating - John Bevan, Spokane; Jeff Malpass, Everett; Lara Malpass, Everett; Joan Bellessa, Spokane, coach, ice dancing. Judo - Adam Blackburn, Seattle; Amy Ehlenfeldt, Spokane; Sherrie Phillips, Snohomish. Ice hockey - Doug Bonner, Tacoma; Drew Palmer, Lynnwood; John Varga, Tacoma. Kayak - Kathy Colin, Seattle; Jennie Goldberg, Seattle; Margot Knight, Bellevue; Peter Newton, Bellevue; Mark Zollitsch, Bellingham. Roller hockey - Randy Erickson, Bremerton; Jeff Gibson, Lacey; Frankie Lee, Bremerton; Phillip Schwieger, Bremerton; Mike Stevenson, Bremerton. Roller skating - Vicci King, Puyallup. Weightlifting - Matt Foreman, Tacoma; Arlys Johnson, Seattle; Andrea Tibeau, Sumner. Diving - Kristen Kane, Kingston. Taekwondo - Barbara Kunkle, Federal Way. Rhythmic gymnastics - Kristin Lee, Mountlake Terrace. Volleyball - Jaimie Lee, Spokane. Swimming - Karna Lorhammer, Silverdale; Maureen Phillips, Bellevue; Whitney Woolard, Vancouver. Synchronized swimming - Gina Pietras, Tacoma; Sadie Pietras, Tacoma. Sailing - Andy Mack, Mercer Island. Canoe - Jordan Malloch, Seattle; Eric Young, Seattle. Water polo - Rachel Scott, Bainbridge Island. Racquetball - Derek Robinson, Kennewick; Jeff Evans, Kirkland.