MAIL WAS SEALED WITH A KISS : FOUR-TIME NCAA CHAMPION CARRIES HOPES FOR HUNGARY.

Byline: Bill Schlotter Daily News Staff Writer

A college coach would be wise to always read his mail.

Former USC track coach Jim Bush did. And that is how four-time NCAA champion hammer-thrower Balazs Kiss became a Trojan.

A year out of high school, the 19-year-old Hungarian wrote to USC coaches in 1992 and asked for a scholarship.

They had never heard of him.

``He had kind of a form letter he sent out,'' said Trojans hammer coach Dan Lange. ``He asked if we were interested in having a hammer thrower who had thrown 229 feet. We said, `Yes. Absolutely.' ''

Four years later, Kiss has just finished a USC career in which he won every meet he entered. And he will represent his homeland in the Atlanta Games as a favorite to win a medal.

Though USC coaches were glad to bring Kiss in, their expectations of him were modest.

``He looked like a guy who could come in and score,'' Lange said. ``But he wasn't extremely impressive right off the bat. I don't think either of us could have predicted the kind of success he's had.''

Success?

Kiss is the latest of only five athletes to win an NCAA championship in four successive years.

He won every competition he entered in college and holds the NCAA record, 268 feet, 10 inches.

The Hungarian-record holder with a toss of 270-10 - his personal best - he is ranked No. 3 in the world, has the best throw in the world this year and could win the gold in Atlanta.

``He was probably the most dominant athlete in the NCAA the past four years,'' Lange said. ``He was never beaten.''

While Kiss didn't overwhelm USC coaches with his prowess immediately, it wasn't long before Lange knew he was something special.

``After the first six or eight months, I began to see it,'' Lange said. ``When he came in, his goal that first season was to throw 74 meters. By the third meet, he had already thrown 76.''

Kiss' personal best is just 13-feet, 9-inches off the world record, 284-7, set in 1986 by Yuri Sedykh of the former Soviet Union.

``There's no doubt he's capable of breaking the world record eventually,'' Lange said. ``He's got at least 15 or 20 more feet in him.''

Lange said a German biomechanist did a study of the world's best hammer throwers last season and concluded that Kiss has the best technique of the world's elite.

Kiss' chief competition at the Games, Lange predicts, will come from current world champion Andrey Abduvaliyev of Tajikistan and Igor Astapkovich of Belarus, both more than 10 years senior to the 24-year-old Hungarian.

``Balazs is by far the youngest,'' Lange said. ``Those guys have an advantage because they've been there before.''

Kiss must also bear the pressure of the expectations of an entire nation.

``He feels the whole weight of the country on his shoulders,'' Lange said, ``because he's the only guy from Hungary with a chance at a gold medal - or any medal at all.''

A quiet, private sort, Kiss was surprised in 1995 when he received a hero's welcome on what he thought was just a routine trip home.

``Here in the United States, nobody recognizes a hammer thrower,'' Lange said. ``But when he got off the plane in Hungary there were crowds, television cameras . . . .''

Kiss is not completely at ease with his fame. And he enjoys his time training and continuing his education at USC.

``He can come back here and just be a regular person,'' Lange said.

PROFILE Age:24

Hometown: Veszprem, Hungary

Fast fact: In his native country, Kiss is considered a national sports hero.

When to Watch Qualifying: July 27, 8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m.

Finals: July 28, 12:15 p.m.

THROUGH THE YEARS 1986: Begins to throw hammer and discus in track club at age of 14.

1991: Second at European junior championships

1992: Makes Hungarian Olympic team but can't compete because of injury.

1993: Given scholarship to compete in hammer at nUSC, sets new school record, wins NCAA championship.

1995: Ranked third in world.

1996: Concludes four-year undefeated collegiate career, wins fourth-straight NCAA title, named to Hungarian Olympic team.

HAMMER If a thrower spins four times before tossing the hammer, the ball has traveled 70 meters and is going more than 60 mph when it leaves the hands.

CAPTION(S):

2 Photos, 4 Boxes

Photo: (1) This past season, USC hammer-thrower Balazs Kiss become the fifth athlete in NCAA history to win four straight national championships.

Associated Press 

(2) Balasz Kiss

Box: (1) PROFILE (see text)

(2) When to Watch (see text)

(3) THROUGH THE YEARS (see text)

(4) HAMMER (see text)