SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic -- The United States Water Ski Team is poised to make a serious run at bettering its seven-medal haul from the 1999 Pan American Games when competition begins Thursday at Isabela River.

Four athletes return who picked up six medals in ’99. Heading the cast is Rhoni Barton of Orlando, Fla., who brought home gold medals in Women’s Jumping and Tricks events.

Also returning are Freddy Krueger of Winter Garden, Fla., first in Men’s Jumping; Karen Truelove of Winter Garden, Fla., second in Women’s Jumping and third in Women’s Slalom; and Russell Gay, Winter Garden, Fla., second in Men’s Tricks.

Pan Am newcomers are Regina Jaquess of Suwanee, Ga. and Chris Parrish of Orlando, Fla. Jaquess, who is a 19-year-old student at the University of Louisiana-Monroe, won Slalom, Trick, Jump and Overall titles at the World University competition last year and the Tricks World Championship as a 17-year-old. Parrish, 24, was a silver medalist in the Men’s Slalom at the World Championships two years ago.

Jack Travers, Okahumpka, Fla., will serve as coach of the American team and Tony Baggiano will serve as manager.

Barton and Truelove are riding good momentum from impressive showings in last weekend’s U.S. Open Ski Championships. Barton won her fourth career U.S. Open Women’s title, tallying 2,910.7 points for the Overall championship. She earned a second-place finish in Tricks and was third-place in Jumping. Truelove won her second consecutive U.S. Open Women’s Slalom title. Other top performances were turned in by Jaquess, who was third Overall, and Krueger, who was third in Jumping.

Krueger on the men’s side and Barton and Jaquess on the women’s end will compete in all three competitions.

The Americans will receive top-flight competition. Returning medal winners from four years ago are Jaret Llewellyn of Canada, gold in Men’s Tricks and silver in Men’s Jumping; Simon Siegert of Columbia, bronze in Men’s Jumping; Lorena Botana of Argentina, silver in Women’s Tricks; and Marlana Ramirez of Mexico, bronze in Women’s Tricks.

The Pan American Games event schedule (all times EST), with U.S. entries:

Thursday

10 a.m. – Women’s Slalom Round 1: Rhoni Barton, Orlando, Fla.; Regina Jaquess,

Suwanee, Ga.; Karen Truelove, Winter Garden, Fla.

Noon – Men’s Slalom Round 1: Freddy Krueger, Winter Garden, Fla.; Chris Parrish,

Orlando, Fla.

3 p.m. – Women’s Tricks Round 1: Rhoni Barton, Orlando, Fla.; Regina Jaquess,

Suwanee, Ga; Karen Truelove, Winter Garden, Fla.

Friday

10 a.m. – Women’s Jump Round 1: Rhoni Barton, Orlando, Fla.; Regina Jaquess,

Suwanee, Ga.

Noon – Men’s Jump Round 1: Freddy Krueger, Winter Garden, Fla.

2 p.m. – Men’s Tricks Round 1, Russell Gay, Winter Garden, Fla.; Freddy Krueger,

Winter Garden, Fla.

Saturday

10 a.m. – Women’s Slalom Finals

11 a.m. -- Men's Slalom Finals

Noon – Women’s Jump Finals

1 p.m. – Men’s Jump Finals

2 p.m. – Women's Trick Finals

3:30 p.m. – Men’s Trick Finals