Alemany's Manke to compete in Speedo Top 40 water polo event:

Alemany's Manke to compete in Speedo Top 40 water polo event: Alemany of Mission Hills junior water polo standout Erin Manke is one of 19 high school players selected to compete Saturday and Sunday in the Speedo Top 40 event at the USA Water Polo National Training Center in Los Alamitos.

Manke, who competes for L.A. Water Polo Club, will compete for Team Jungle, which features U.S. Olympic team members Betsey Armstrong, Heather Petri and Jessica Steffens. The Speedo Top 40 competition is one of the first main tournaments geared toward selecting the 2012 Olympic team.

The four teams competing in the event feature athletes from the Olympic team, Senior "B" team and Junior National team. Manke, a former member of U.S. Futures and Cadet national teams, is one of 17 junior national teamers selected to compete in the event, four of whom are representing the Coastal California zone.

Manke will also be competing with L.A.Water Polo Club - featuring seven local athletes - in another tournament that is being held at the national training center in conjunction with the Top 40 event.

- Erik Boal
LA Daily News
10/22/08