AS OLYMPIAN AS BLACK AND WHITE VALENCIA NATIVE ERVIN FIRST OF HIS LINEAGE TO QUALIFY.

Byline: Karen Crouse Staff Writer

INDIANAPOLIS - This was Sabir Muhammad's second go-around trying to become the first swimmer of African-American heritage to make a U.S. Olympic team. By contrast, Hart High product Anthony Ervin is so new to the national scene, many people weren't even aware he was an African-American.

Everybody knows now.

At the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials Sunday, Ervin literally beat Muhammad across the color barrier, placing fifth - three places ahead of Muhammad - in the 100-meter freestyle to earn a berth in next month's Sydney Games as the first alternate on the 400-meter freestyle relay, provided there are enough multievent qualifiers, which hasn't been an issue in the past.

Ervin, 19, lowered his personal best for the third time in as many swims at the IUPUI Natatorium, clocking 49.29 seconds. Neil Walker (48.71) and Ervin's training mate, Gary Hall Jr. (48.84), secured the individual Olympic berths in the event.

``I don't look at it that much that I am of African-American descent,'' said Ervin, whose father, Jack, is 75 percent African-American and 25 percent Native American. His mother, Sherry, is white.

Ervin, a sophomore-to-be at California, seemed less than comfortable with the distinction he earned along with his provisional - at this point - trip to Sydney. ``I don't look at it that much that I am of African-American descent,'' Ervin said. ``I look like a white person. I thought about (the historical implications), yeah. But like I said, I'm not really black. It's hard to explain.''

Asked how he identifies his race on applications and surveys and such, Ervin smiled and said, ``I check off a bunch (of boxes).''

Ervin, who won NCAA titles in the 50 and 100 freestyles this past spring, wouldn't have been put on the spot about his heritage - a situation that was awkward for everybody concerned - if swimming in this country didn't have a tradition of having less hues than the different blues in pool water.

Ervin understood what all the fuss was about. He just never looked at himself as being fast enough to be a pioneer.

``Honestly, I was thinking if Sabir makes it, he'll be the first African-American,'' said Ervin, who will compete in the 50 freestyle over the next two days. The one-lap sprint is his best event; he is ranked seventh in the world and second in the U.S. behind Walker.

In other events, Lenny Krayzelburg of Trojan Swim Club and Aaron Peirsol of Irvine Novaquatics set the stage for a fantastic final tonight in the 200 backstroke. Peirsol, swimming in the first semifinal in the event, set an Olympic Trials record of 1:57.93. Krayzelburg clocked a 1:58.10 to win the other semifinal.

``Right now I think Lenny and I are toying with each other,'' Peirsol, 17, said. ``It's going to take a fast time to make the team.''

Krayzelburg, 24, who owns the world record of 1:55.87, was more succinct: ``We could possibly see a world record. I would not be surprised.''

Kristine Quance-Julian couldn't say she was surprised she came up short in her third and final shot at making a second Olympic team. After finishing eighth in the 400 individual medley and failing to qualify for the 200 IM finals, the Granada Hills High product was realistic going into the 200 butterfly.

She qualified sixth for the final and finished fifth, then shrugged as if to say, What's the wife and mother of an 18-month-old to do?

``I don't know what to say,'' she said. ``I'm so tired.''

Her voice cracking, she added, ``It's hard. When you want something so bad and sacrifice so much, not just me but my family.''

She wasn't in the proper frame of mind, she said, to make a decision about whether or not Sunday's race was the final one of her decorated career. ``One part of me feels like I don't want my career to end like this, feeling bitter and resentful,'' she said. ``But I'm 25 and I have a family. I can't put their lives on hold forever.''

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Photo: Jenny Thompson stayed alive in the hunt for an Olympic 100 freestyle berth.

Tom Strattman/Associated Press