CROWN - Croatian World Network

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Arsen Anton Ostojic

Dear All,

Professional 35mm short film "Life Drawing", which our Croatian-American colleague Arsen Anton Ostojic produced and directed in New York in 2001, has been awarded the Honorable Mention as the Best Dramatic Short Film at the New York International Independent Film and VideoFestival at the end of the last year. This Award has been presented at the special screening in Las Vegas.

This was the 5th international festival - in the last half a year - at which this film participated, from Croatia, Morocco, Hungary and the States. In February it will be shown at an International Film Festival in Los Angeles and in March at Tiburon Film Festival near San Francisco.

In addition Arsen Anton Ostojic is preparing a feature film to be shot in Split, Croatia this Spring. He is also teaching at the University of Applied Science and Technology in Salzburg, Austria.

Dragicitatelji CROWNa,

Sa zadovoljstvom vam zelim reci kako je moj 15-minutni, 35mm kratkometrazni igrani film "Life Drawing" ("Slikanje akta"), koji sam producirao i rezirao u New Yorku proslegodine, nagradjen kao najbolji kratkometrazni dramski igrani film na New York International Independent Film and Video Festivalu. Taj se festival, s vise od nekoliko stotina prikazanih radova, odrzao krajem rujna u New Yorku, a tijekom svecane projekcije proslog tjedna u Las Vegasu, nagrada je i sluzbeno urucena mom glumcu koji je u ime citave ekipe prisustvovao dodjelinagrada. (nazalost ja nisam bio tamo :-)

Takodjer me veseli reci vam da ce film biti prikazan na festivalu u Los Angelesu u veljaci (nadam se dacu tamo i osobno prisustvovati), te je pozvan na Tiburonski filmski festival pored San Francisca u ozujku. Pored toga ITN Distribution iz New Yorka uzela je film za medjunarodnu filmsku distribuciju.

Do sada je, unatoc svom relativno kratkom "zivotu", ovaj film sudjelovao u konkurenciji na 5 filmskih festivala, u Madjarskoj, Hrvatskoj, SAD-u i Maroku. Nadam se da ce i u buducnosti biti prilike za lijepevijesti.

Vas
Arsen Anton Ostojic

Op-ed

ArsenOstojic is one of the most talented young Croatian directors. He mastered a filmlanguage and needs an opportunity to prove it to the rest of the world. Hissensibility and timing is unique and at the same time when you watch his filmsit feels like a classic film.

SupportCroatian talent !

NenadBach

CREATIVE FILMOGRAPHY: (as writer, producer &director)

LifeDrawing ·15-min, 35mm short film 2001

·Shot in New York City,

·Awarded Best Dramatic Short Film at New York Independent

International Film and Videofestival; until 11/02 participated in

competitionat 4 other international film festivals

TheBird Lover ·14-min. 16mm short film, shot in New York City 1993

· awarded several awards (see below)

·from 1993 to 1995 it participated in competition programs

at 15 international film festivals around the world; sold to

several TV stations including Canal Plus, shown on PBS.

TheShadow of a Cross · Croatian TV production, video project, 25 minutes. 1989

Decorations · 20 minutes documentary, 35mm 1988

· Awarded Gold Medal for Direction at Short andDocumentary

Film Festival, Belgrade (1991),

·participated at 3 other international film festivals, shown on TV,

The Day the SocksDried ·12 minutes, 16mm short film 1987

· participated at the International Student FilmFestival, Munich

TheLute · 12 minutes, 16 mm documenatry 1987

· Shown on Croatian TV

The Chase · 5 minutes, 16mm short film 1987

The Trip · 10 minutes, 16mm short film 1986

Zoran · 11 minutes, 16mm short film 1986

The Stone Mason ·5 minutes documentary, shot on Super 8 1979

· Shown on TV in prime time, participated at juniorfilm festivals

AWARDS:

2002 ·Awarded Best Dramatic Short Film at New York Independent

International Film and Video festival;

2001 ·Hartley-Merrill International Screenwriting Award by RKO Pictures

1994 ·Award for Excellence in Screenwriting - New York University

1993 ·Audience Award for "The Bird Lover", Hamburg Short Film Festival

1993 ·Jury Award for "The Bird Lover", Schwenningen Film Festival

1993 ·The Warner Bros. Pictures Film Production Award for "The Bird Lover"

1992 ·W.T.C, Johnson Scholarship, New York University awarded to the best student for "superior academic record and exceptionalcreative ability",

1991 · Gold Medal for Direction, "Decorations", Short andDocumentary Film Festival, Belgrade

1987 ·Annual Award for the Best Student, University of Zagreb, Croatia

page 2

PROFESSIONALEXPERIENCE AS PRODUCER:

ShortCuts Producer March - May 1999 (TV show) ·9 half-hour episodes for PBS

· Shot in New York on 16mm

·Host: Louis CK, Guests: Ted Demme, Billy Bob Thorthon

TimesSquare Transfer Producer May - Aug. 1998 (ShortFilm) ·Vision Entertainment production

·Shot in New York City subways, budget $250.000

PROFESSIONALEXPERIENCE AS LINE PRODUCER/PRODUCTION MANAGER:

TransAtlantic Line producer Aug. - Nov. 1997

(feature film) ·JadranFilm production, budget 2 million

·Shot in Pittsburgh, Niagara Falls, New York City

WestSide Story Line Producer May - June 1997

(Music video) · N2K Production; budget $40.000

· Shot in New York

Peppermint Line Producer March 1997

(commercial) · Shot in New York, budget $25.000

ShampooHorns Production Manager Jan. - April 1996

(featurefilm) ·Esicma Productions (Spanish-US co-production)

·Shot in New York City, budget $ 500.000

Minotaur Production Manager Sep. - Dec. 1995

(featurefilm) ·Top Line Communications (US-Israel co-production)

·Starring: George Corraface, Mili Avital

·Shot in New York and Israel; budget $1.5 million

TheFind Line Producer May - July 1995

(featurefilm) ·Shot in New York City, budget $ 250.000

· Starring: David Patrick Kelly, Frank Whaley

PROFESSIONALEXPERIENCE AS CASTING DIRECTOR: &nb

Distributed by CroatianWorld

"Brutal fighting techniques" ???

Op-ed: read - massacre of unarmed population

Assassin testifies against Milosevic

Slobodan Milosevic has returned to court after a three-week break to hear testimony from a former member of the Serbian Red Berets paramilitary group.

Milosevic, sought to discredit the witness - named only as K-2 - by forcing an admission from him he was involved in an assassination after the end of the Balkan wars.

During cross examination, K-2 acknowledged his involvement in the 2001 murder of the Serb warlord Zeljko Raznatovic, better known as Arkan.

Arkan's assassination triggered speculation Milosevic had ordered him silenced because he could be a potential witness against him.

K-2 told the Yugoslav war crimes tribunal in The Hague he had served in the Special Operations Unit of the Serbian Interior Ministry during the Bosnian war, a group he said operated under the direct command of Milosevic's regime.

Pay slips or cash wages came in envelopes from the Serbian Interior Ministry, he said, and Milosevic had been the man in charge.

The Red Berets, a hard-line nationalist Serb group known for its brutal fighting techniques in Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo.

"Our unit had to do whatever it was asked to do. There was no possibility to say no. The doors of the president were open to us," said the witness, whose image was blurred on court monitors..

Asked which president he meant, he replied "as far as I was able to gather, there was only one president and that was President Milosevic."

Milosevic, on trial for war crimes including genocide, claimed the witness "doesn't know what he is talking about," and that the Red Berets were a "regular unit" that wore the hats commonly used by police and army forces.

Distributed by CroatianWorld

Journalistic Ethics

The Center for Public Integrity subscribes to the Code of Ethics of the Society of Professional journalists, reprinted here in full:

Preamble
Members of the Society of Professional Journalists believe that public enlightenment is the forerunner of justice and the foundation of democracy. The duty of the journalist is to further those ends by seeking truth and providing a fair and comprehensive account of events and issues. Conscientious journalists from all media and specialties strive to serve the public with thoroughness and honesty. Professional integrity is the cornerstone of a journalist's credibility. Members of the Society share a dedication to ethical behavior and adopt this code to declare the Society's principles and standards of practice.

Seek Truth and Report It
Journalists should be honest, fair and courageous in gathering, reporting and interpreting information.
Journalists should:
Test the accuracy of information from all sources and exercise care to avoid inadvertent error. Deliberate distortion is never permissible.

Diligently seek out subjects of news stories to give them the opportunity to respond to allegations of wrongdoing.

Identify sources whenever feasible. The public is entitled to as much information as possible on sources' reliability.

Always question sources' motives before promising anonymity. Clarify conditions attached to any promise made in exchange for information. Keep promises.

Make certain that headlines, news teases and promotional material, photos, video, audio, graphics, sound bites and quotations do not misrepresent. They should not oversimplify or highlight incidents out of context.

Never distort the content of news photos or video. Image enhancement for technical clarity is always permissible. Label montages and photo illustrations.

Avoid misleading re-enactments or staged news events. If re-enactment is necessary to tell a story, label it.

Avoid undercover or other surreptitious methods of gathering information except when traditional open methods will not yield information vital to the public. Use of such methods should be explained as part of the story.

Never plagiarize.

Tell the story of the diversity and magnitude of the human experience boldly, even when it is unpopular to do so.

Examine their own cultural values and avoid imposing those values on others.

Avoid stereotyping by race, gender, age, religion, ethnicity, geography, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance or social status.

Support the open exchange of views, even views they find repugnant.

Give voice to the voiceless; official and unofficial sources of information can be equally valid.

Distinguish between advocacy and news reporting. Analysis and commentary should be labeled and not misrepresent fact or context.

Distinguish news from advertising and shun hybrids that blur the lines between the two.

Recognize a special obligation to ensure that the public's business is conducted in the open and that government records are open to inspection.
Minimize Harm
Ethical journalists treat sources, subjects and colleagues as human beings deserving of respect. Journalists should:
Show compassion for those who may be affected adversely by news coverage. Use special sensitivity when dealing with children and inexperienced sources or subjects.

Be sensitive when seeking or using interviews or photographs of those affected by tragedy or grief.

Recognize that gathering and reporting information may cause harm or discomfort. Pursuit of the news is not a license for arrogance.

Recognize that private people have a greater right to control information about themselves than do public officials and others who seek power, influence or attention. Only an overriding public need can justify intrusion into anyone's privacy.

Show good taste. Avoid pandering to lurid curiosity.

Be cautious about identifying juvenile suspects or victims of sex crimes.

Be judicious about naming criminal suspects before the formal filing of charges.

Balance a criminal suspect's fair trial rights with the public's right to be informed.
Act Independently
Journalists should be free of obligation to any interest other than the public's right to know. Journalists should:
Avoid conflicts of interest, real or perceived.

Remain free of associations and activities that may compromise integrity or damage credibility.

Refuse gifts, favors, fees, free travel and special treatment, and shun secondary employment, political involvement, public office and service in community organizations if they compromise journalistic integrity.

Disclose unavoidable conflicts.

Be vigilant and courageous about holding those with power accountable.

Deny favored treatment to advertisers and special interests and resist their pressure to influence news coverage.

Be wary of sources offering information for favors or money; avoid bidding for news.
Be Accountable Journalists are accountable to their readers, listeners, viewers and each other. Journalists should:Clarify and explain news coverage and invite dialogue with the public over journalistic conduct.

Encourage the public to voice grievances against the news media.

Admit mistakes and correct them promptly.

Expose unethical practices of journalists and the news media.

Abide by the same high standards to which they hold others. Sigma Delta Chi's first Code of Ethics was borrowed from the American Society of Newspaper Editors in 1926. In 1973, Sigma Delta Chi wrote its own code, which was revised in 1984 and 1987. The present version of the Society of Professional Journalists' Code of Ethics was adopted in September 1996. www.publicintegrity.org

Zagreb has the grace and the dignity of oldEurope

CROATIA
The Statues of Zagreb

Michčle Bernard
special report to La Presse
Translated from French by Ivana Jeric

The statue of Ban Josip Jelacic in Zagreb, Croatia.

Zagreb has the grace and dignity of old Europe. If to travel is to fathom the soul of a nation, what is the key to this city? Follow the guide. Or better to say guides, for the statues in its parks show you the way to the heart of the millenarian capital of Croatia, of Hrvatska (pronounced 'hervatska).

Zagreb remembers. In the gardens of the Lower Town we find the sculpture "History of the Croatians", a work by Ivan Mestrovic (1932). A quiet strength emanates from the seated young woman. Embodying the memory of her people, she shields with her joined hands a book written in glagolitic script, an alphabet invented in Croatia, an ancestor of the cyrillic script used by the Eastern Orthodox peoples.

The free and artistic Zagreb is very knowledgable. All around the flowery gardens the cultural life is alive with its theaters, opera, ballet, concert halls, national museums, galleries of naďve art and private collections, university, or serious academies.

Zagreb the European. Facing the railway station, one comes upon the statue of King Tomislav, a work by Mihanovic (1947). A stone's throw away there is Hotel Esplanade, in art deco style, which since 1925 has been catering to the Orient Express travelers. The cuisine of its restaurant remains one of the best in the city. After all, did not the contemporary writer Miroslav Krleza say "Europe ends on the terrace of the Esplanade"?

Zagreb the warlike. Originally from the Carpathian mountains, the tribe of Croats was invited in the 7th century by the Roman Emperor Heraclius to come and defend the Balkans. The Croats came, saw and conquered. And then they stayed, exchanging their conversion to Christianity for the protection of Pope John of Dalmatia. In 925, their leader Tomislav was proclaimedKing by the Emperor. King Tomislav unified the country all the way to the sea. The kingdom did not last, and from the 11th century onwards, Croatia came under Hungarian domination for a long time.

Zagreb the ambiguous. Even under the socialist yoke, the Croats persisted in their pride of history. "What, you have no king?" they teased their Slovene neighbors who were coming to sell their produce on the Dolac market, where, it seems, the pretty red parasols of today were already in place.

In the Upper Town, the hills of Kaptol and Gradec have always been rivals. Starting from 1093, the ecclesiastic Kaptol was the see of a bishopric and of a Catholic cathedral. From the 12th century, the secular Gradec was the home of the Sabor - the Parliament - as well as of the aristocracy and the bourgeoisie. Lying between the two, Jelacic Square is the hub of the city. All tram routes seem to lead there. Pedestrian and business streets, snack-bars and restaurants, terraces and cafes offering the usual Viennese pastries, everything radiates from there. Young people make appointments to meet "under the tail", i.e. the tail of the horse of the statue of Josip Jelacic, a work by the sculptor Fernhorn (1866).

Zagreb the resisting. Slava mu, glory to him! The Governor Jelacic demanded in 1848 the abolition of all political influence over the Slavic peoples of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. He lost the battle and Croatia remained subjected until 1918. Strangely enough, the statue of Jelacic stayed in place under Hungarian domination. In 1947, the socialist Tito made it disappear, trying to fight any nationalism on the part of the six Yugoslav republics. Jelacic was resuscitated in 1991, when Croatia became independent.

Zagreb the idealistic. In the 19th century, Strossmayer was promoting the union of all the southern Slavs, the Yugo-Slavs. The stern statue of that patriot-bishop, a work by Mestrovic (1925) is enthroned in the gardens that bear his name. Strossmayer did not see either the beginning or the end of his dream, Yugoslavia.

Zagreb the tender. Passers-by smile and wax sentimental in front of the Bench of Matos, a work of the contemporary sculptor Ivan Kozaric (1972). Sitting there for all eternity, the wise and filiform bronze figure meditates, close by the funicular connecting the Upper and the Lower Towns. Welcome to Zagreb. Dobrodosli.

CROATIE
Les statues de Zagreb

Michčle Bernard
collaboration spéciale, La Presse

La statue de Ban Josip Jelacic ŕ Zagreb en Croatie.

Zagreb a la grâce et la dignité de la vieille Europe. Si voyager, c'est pénétrer l'âme d'un peuple, quelle est la clé de cette ville? Suivez le guide. Ou mieux les guides, car les statues des parcs enseignent le chemin du coeur de la capitale millénaire de la Croatie, la Hrvatska (lire Khoeur-vatt-ska).
Zagreb se souvient. Dans les jardins de la basse ville sičge la sculpture L'Histoire des Croates, oeuvre de Mestrovic (1932). Une force tranquille émane de la jeune femme assise. Mémoire de son peuple, elle protčge de ses mains jointes le livre rédigé en glagol, alphabet inventé en Croatie, ancętre de l'écriture cyrillique utilisée par les orthodoxes orientaux.

La libre et artistique Zagreb est bien savante. Tout autour des parcs fleuris, la vie culturelle prolifčre avec ses théâtres, opéra, ballets, salles de concerts, musées nationaux, galeries d'art naďf et collections particuličres, université ou sérieuses académies.

Zagreb l'européenne. Devant la gare, on tombe nez ŕ nez avec la statue du roi Tomislav, oeuvre de Mihanovic (1947). Ŕ deux pas, l'hôtel Esplanade, de style Art déco, dessert depuis 1925 les voyageurs de l'Orient-Express. Son restaurant demeure une des meilleures tables en ville. Et puis l'écrivain contemporain Miroslav Krleza ne proclame-t-il pas ŤL'Europe finit sur la terrasse de l'Esplanadeť?

Zagreb guerričre. Originaire des Carpates, la tribu des Croates est invitée au VIIe sičcle par l'empereur romain Héraclius ŕ défendre les Balkans. Les Croates sont venus, ont vu et ont vaincu. Puis, ils sont restés, troquant leur conversion ŕ la foi chrétienne contre la protection du pape Jean de Dalmatie. En 925, l'empereur proclame roi leur chef Tomislav. Le seigneur unifie le pays jusqu'ŕ la mer. Le royaume ne dure pas et ŕ partir du 11e sičcle, la Croatie s'éternise sous la domination hongroise.

Publicité

Zagreb ambiguë. Męme pendant le joug socialiste, la fierté historique des Croates subsiste. ŤQuoi, vous n'avez pas de roi?ť taquinent-ils leurs voisins slovčnes venus vendre le produit de leur ferme au marché Dolac. Oů dominaient déjŕ les beaux parasols rouges d'aujourd'hui, affirme-t-on.

Dans la ville haute de Zagreb, les collines Kaptol et Gradec rivalisent depuis toujours. Dčs 1093, l'ecclésiastique Kaptol abrite évęché et cathédrale catholiques. Au 12e sičcle, la séculičre Gradec loge le Sabor -le Parlement- ainsi que la noblesse et la bourgeoisie. Entre les deux, la place Jelacic est le point de chute de la ville. Plaque tournante, tous les tramways semblent y aboutir. De lŕ rayonnent rues piétonničres et commerçantes, casse-croűte et restaurants, terrasses et cafés oů déguster les viennoiseries d'usage. Les jeunes se donnent rendez-vous Ťsous la queue du chevalť de Josip Jelacic, oeuvre du sculpteur Fernhorn (1866).

Zagreb résistante. Slava mu, gloire ŕ lui! Le vice-roi Jelacic réclame en 1848 l'abolition de toute tutelle pour les Slaves de l'empire austro-hongrois. Il perd la bataille et la Croatie demeure soumise jusqu'en 1918. Fait étrange, la statue de Jelacic demeure en place sous la domination magyare. En 1947, le socialiste Tito la fait disparaître, luttant contre tout nationalisme de la part des six républiques yougoslaves. On sort Jelacic de la poussičre en 1991 lors de l'indépendance de la Croatie.

Zagreb idéaliste. Au 19e sičcle, Strossmayer est partisan de la réunion de tous les Slaves du Sud, les Yugo-Slaves. La sévčre statue du patriote-évęque, oeuvre de Mestrovic (1925), trône dans les jardins portant son nom. Strossmayer n'a vu ni le début ni la fin de son ręve, la Yougoslavie.

Tendre Zagreb. Sourire aux lčvres, les passants s'attendrissent devant le Banc de Matos, oeuvre du contemporain Ivan Kozaric (1972). Assis éternellement, le sage et filiforme personnage de bronze médite prčs du funiculaire reliant villes haute et basse. Bienvenue ŕ Zagreb.Dobrodosli.

Distributed by CroatianWorld

Sylvan Windsin Concert

sylvanwinds@worldnet.att.net

Dear Friends & Colleagues,

We hope you will join the Sylvan Winds on

THURSDAY, JANUARY 16 AT 8:00 P.M. at

THE NATIONAL ARTS CLUB for

WIND QUINTET TREASURES

at

THE NATIONAL ARTS CLUB located at 15 Park Gramercy Park South (20th Street)
Tickets are $20/$10 for students and seniors.

For further ticket information, please call (212) 222 - 3569

Program:

LIADOV 8 Russian Folk Songs, Op. 58
PILLS Serenade for wind quintet (1967)
HAAS Wind Quintet, Op. 10 (1929)
VERDI String Quartet in e minor (1873)
(arr. by Mordechai Rechtman)

This program features a quintet by Czech composer Pavel Haas, written very much in the style of his teacher and fellow Moravian Leos Janacek. One of Haas' orchestral works will be played later this season at Carnegie Hall. While not performed as often in this country, he is highly regarded and his life was abruptly cut short by his death in Auschwitz in 1944.

The other featured work on the program is the arrangement of opera composer Giuseppe Verdi's String Quartet by bassoonist Mordechai Rechtman, former principal bassoon of the Israel Philharmonic.

We hope you, your friends, and colleagues will be able to join us. A champagne reception follows the performance, and if you wish to have dinner in the historic surroundings (Martin Scorcese filmed "Age of Innocence" in one of the parlors), you may do so by calling the club, (212) 475-3424. Just tell them you are attending the Sylvan Winds concert.

If there are others whom you think may be interested, please forward this reminder.

For ticket reservations, please call (212) 222-3569.

Allowing Giricek, the native of Croatia,

to convert the winningbasket

Memphis 110; Golden State 108

From the Sports Desk
Published 1/14/2003 7:55 AM
View printer-friendly version

OAKLAND, Calif., Jan. 14 (UPI) -- Rookie Gordan Giricek scored 20 of his 22 points in the second half Monday night as Memphis edged Golden State, 110-108.

The point total for Giricek included a layup with one second left that gave the Grizzlies the win, snapping a five-game road skid.

Paul Gasol added 23 points, but missed the second of two free throws that would have given Memphis a 109-106 lead. The rebound was tipped to Golden State's Antawn Jamison, whose layup forged a 108-108 deadlock with four seconds to play.

After a Grizzlies' timeout, Bob Sura slipped while guarding Giricek, allowing the native of Croatia to convert the winning basket.

Lorenzen Wright contributed 16 points and 15 rebounds, and Gasol pulled down 12 boards as Memphis, which improved to 1-3 on a season-high six-game road trip. The Grizzlies are just 2-15 away from home.

Gilbert Arenas scored a season-high 31 points, Jamison chipped in with 20, and Troy Murphy added 16 and a career-high 20 rebounds, but the Warriors had a three-game home winning streak stopped.

Copyright Š 2001-2003 United Press International

Distributed by CroatianWorld

Croatian Books in US Library

Hrvatske Knjige u SAD Knjiznicama

Dear friends,

I've told you numerous times about the Queens Borough Public Library, NYC, and about my initiative to bring more Croatian materials on its shelves.

Hope you'll enjoy this article in the Gotham Gazette; here's the link:
http://www.gothamgazette.com/citizen/jan03/original_library.shtml

Happy reading in Croatian (in the library!),
Sanja Crnkovic
Representative to the UN - Croatian World Congress

P.S.
All artists of Croatian origin, especially performing artists (musicians, singers, folk groups, actors...), interested in participating in future Croatian cultural events in the Library, as well as in New York City in general, send your short info to:crnkovic@netzero.net

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dragi prijatelji,

U vise sam navrata vec spomenula Javnu knjiznicu Queens u New Yorku, kao i moju inicijativu da sto vise hrvatskih materijala ugleda svjetlo dana na njezinim policama.

Nadam se da cete rado procitati clanak objavljen u Gotham Gazette magazinu na slijedecoj adresi:
http://www.gothamgazette.com/citizen/jan03/original_library.shtml

Ugodno citanje na hrvatskom (u kniznici!),
Sanja Crnkovic
Predstavnica u UN-u - Hrvatski svjetski kongres

P.S.
Svi umjetnici hrvatskog podrijetla, osobito izvodaci (glazbenici, pjevaci, folklorne druzine, glumci...) zainteresirani za mogucnost sudjelovanja u hrvatskim kulturnim manifestacijama u Knjiznici ili u New Yorku opcenito, posaljite svoju kratku informaciju na adresu:crnkovic@netzero.net .

Distributed by CroatianWorld

Dalibor Balgac Wins At K-State Invite

In the middle in a blue shirt number 215

Sophomore Opens Season With Victory
MANHATTAN, Kansas (SMU) -- The SMU Mustangs kicked off their indoor track & field season with a strong showing at the Kansas State Invitational on Saturday, Jan. 11, with Dalibor Balgac leading the Mustang charge with a win in the 1,000m run.

Balgac, a sophomore from Kutina, Croatia, took first in the race in 2:25.96 and was followed by fellow Pony Lukas Musil, who took runner-up honors in 2:28.40. Amos Skinner also fared well, placing third in the 800m in 1:58.86.

Up next for SMU is the Houston Invitational, set for Saturday, Jan. 18.

K-State Invitational - Manhattan, Kan.

Men 1000 Meter Run

1, Dalibor Balgac, SMU, 2:25.96. 2, Lukas Musil, SMU, 2:28.40. 3, Brandon Hodges, KU, 2:30.26. 4, Mathew Chesang, KSU, 2:30.60. 5, Jason Woolhouse, OSU, 2:30.78. 6, Abraham Ekal, SMU, 2:30.79. 7, Andy Rihn, OSU, 2:31.14. 8, Cassidy Smith, OSU, 2:31.20. 9, Derec Lacio, KU, 2:32.65. 10, Trevor Smith, KSU, 2:32.87. 11, Colby Sullivan, ESU, 2:36.41. 12, Chris McWatters, OSU, 2:36.42. 13, Matt Thomson, OSU, 2:37.88. 14, Adam Newkirk, ESU, 2:42.55. 15, Nolan Applegate, ESU, 2:45.11. 16, Scott Rantall, OSU, 2:46.27.

Men 600 Yard Run 1, Justin Stigge, ESU, 1:12.76. 2, Justin Nobles, OSU, 1:13.41. 3, Eric Garrett, KSU, 1:13.66. 4, Will Hill, ESU, 1:13.70. 5, Luke Steinbrink, KU, 1:14.49. 6, Lantz Tolson, KU, 1:15.28. 7, Eric Isley, KU, 1:16.07. 8, Eric Black, KU, 1:16.13. 9, Jim Duncan, SMU, 1:16.88. 10, Jonas Steinbrink, ESU, 1:17.97. 11, Brandon Carlson, ESU, 1:18.40.

Men 800 Meter Run 1, Jemery Mims, KU, 1:54.01. 2, Christian Smith, KSU, 1:54.75. 3, Amos Skinner, SMU, 1:58.86. 4, Josh Williamson, KU, 1:59.72. 5, John-David Harris, ESU, 2:00.76. 6, Jared Kennedy, ESU, 2:01.68. 7, Athon Bowleg, KU, 2:04.01. 8, Scott Brammer, ESU, 2:05.14. 9, Joseph Bennett, KSU, 2:07.09.

Distributed by CroatianWorld

Kukoc in Action Again

Detroit Pistons forward Corliss Williamson(34) puts the pressure on Milwaukee Bucksforward Toni Kukoc of Croatia, in the first half Saturday, Jan. 11, 2003, in Auburn Hills, Mich. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

Milwaukee Bucks' Toni Kukoc (7), from Croatia, passes off against Detroit Pistons defender Clifford Robinson (30) in the first half Saturday, Jan. 11, 2003, in Auburn Hills, Mich. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

Milwaukee Bucks center Toni Kukoc, from Croatia, reaches out for a rebound during the first quarter NBA action against the Detroit Pistons at the Palace in Auburn Hills, Michigan, January 11, 2003. REUTERS/John C. Hillery

Distributed by CroatianWorld

Croatia's Ivica Kostelicwins in Italy

Croatia's Ivica Kostelic celebrates his victory in the men's World Cup slalom in Bormio, Italy, January 12, 2003. Kostelic won the race in a time of 1 minute and 49.03 seconds. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

Croatia's Ivica Kostelic, right, is congratulated by his sisterJanica, the leader of the women ski World Cup, after winning the World Cupslalom in Bormio, Italy, Sunday Jan. 12, 2003. (AP Photo/Armando Trovati)