SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA-September 17, 2000-Karen O'Connor of The Plains, VA rode Prince Panache, owned by Jacqueline Mars, to the third best score of the dressage phase of the Olympic three-day event team competition to move the U.S. Equestrian Team (USET) up to third place entering Monday's cross country.

O'Connor received a score of 32.60 on "Nash", a 16-year-old, British Thoroughbred gelding, to give the USET a team score of 125.40 at the conclusion of dressage. Two-time defending Olympic champion Australia leads with a score of 112.60 and Great Britain is second with 115.20. France is fourth with 140.20 and the reigning World Champion team from New Zealand is fifth with 143.60.

"We are thrilled with our position," said USET chef d'equipe Captain Mark Phillips. "All four of our riders did their jobs well in dressage to put us in a good position."

Linden Wiesman of Bluemont, VA rode Anderoo, an 11-year-old, American Thoroughbred gelding owned by James and Barbara Wiesman, to an impressive score of 48.40 Sunday morning to start the second day of dressage. On Saturday, David O'Connor started the USET off with a score of 44.40 on Giltedge, a 14-year-old, Irish Thoroughbred gelding owned by Jacqueline Mars, and Nina Fout of Middleburg, VA scored 58.60 on 3 Magic Beans, her 10-year-old, American Thoroughbred gelding.

"I am so pumped right now," Karen O'Connor said after her best score ever on "Nash". "This was the ride of my life with this horse. We all depend so much on how our horses react to the crowds and the setting and today he was the consummate professional.

"I am just so happy that I was able to help end our day on such a positive note and give our team a lift going into tomorrow."

The U.S. order of riding in cross country will be David O'Connor leading off, followed by Fout, Wiesman and David’s wife and 1996 Olympic teammate Karen. Karen said she likes going last as she gets a chance to see how the course rides and she rides knowing exactly what she has to do to help her team.

In contrast to the experience of the O'Connors is the youth and inexperience at this level of Wiesman. She thrilled her teammates and charmed a crowd of reporters with her riding performance and press interviews on Sunday.

"I am thrilled to death," said the 25-year-old Wiesman, a native of Columbia, TN. "This was the first time for both me and my horse doing anything nearly as important as this and I am as happy as can be."

Wiesman said that entering the Olympic ring made her a bit nervous at first but that she recovered quickly. "Cantering in that ring made me think 'Oh dear, I’m really here'; but about half-way through the test I thought, "Hey, I'm OK' and then I really enjoyed it."

Wiesman noted how fortunate she is to be riding with experienced teammates. "I am learning from some of the best riders in the world and this is just such a wonderful opportunity," said Wiesman, who, like all three of her teammates, was once trained by three-time USET Olympic veteran Jim Wofford. "I never dreamed that I would be here and not only am I riding in the Olympic Games, but I'm also learning more about my sport than I ever have before."

In determining team scores, each team drops its worst score and counts its three best. The cross country is scheduled for Monday and the concluding stadium jumping phase and medal ceremonies are set for Tuesday.