Sheree Taylor takes first Women's Endurance round before event suspension

Within a minute and a half, a light drizzle quickly turned into a downpour of rain Saturday evening at the Games.

But that still was plenty of time for three-time Endurance gold medalist Sheree Taylor of Te Aroha, New Zealand, to beat fellow New Zealander Karmyn Wynyard in the Women's Endurance semifinals before the tournament was postponed due to inclement weather.

The other semifinal, between Nancy Zalewski of Plymouth, Wis., and Peg Engasser of Cortland, N.Y., was not completed as fans and participants scurried to escape the rain.

The men's final also was postponed because of the weather. Jason Wynyard, who defeated Matt Bush of Croghan, N.Y., will face brother-in-law and New Zealander Dion Lane, who beat Arden Cogar of West Hamlin, W.Va., in the quarterfinals on Friday.

10 advance in The Launch

All but two of 12 dogs advanced through the first round of The Launch on Saturday, one of five new events at the Games this year. To advance, the dogs had to successfully complete one of two jumps at 6 feet, 2 inches. The first jump was worth 15 points, the second worth 10. The following are tied for the lead with 25 points each and will advance to next round, scheduled for Sunday at 1:30 p.m.:

Mike McWilliams, Koko — Breaux Bridge, La.
Dave Breen, Black Jack — Oregon, Ill.
Tom Dropik, Tucker — New Prague, Minn.
Angela Jones, Nestle — Hanover, Pa.
Ken Butler, Sly — Tulsa, Okla.
David Heinsohn, Kota — Chetek, Wis.
Mark Kinsey, Tuck — Hixson, Tenn.

The following have 15 points and will advance as well:

Al Victoria, Max — Chattanooga, Tenn.
Andrea Yankovsky, Haley — La Jolla, Calif.
Mark Stuart, Hogan — La Jolla, Calif.

"I thought it was great," Dave Breen, Black Jack's handler, said of the event. "It's only going to get better."

In Sunday's second round and finals, the jumps will continue to get higher. Tom Dropik, who handles Tucker, said his 9-year-old black Labrador retriever has reached 7 feet while practicing at home.

"We'll see if he can pretend he's at home," Dropik said.

The Games will be aired on ESPN and ABC Sports July 13-17, 2005. Click here for the broadcast schedule.