Olivet's Pheasant, Anderson compete in California

Olivet Nazarene University's Simon Pheasant and Jake Anderson recently competed against the nation's best swimmers at a pair of events in Irvine, Calif., while representing the California-based club team Sun Oaks Aquatic Racing.

Pheasant, a senior from South Africa, participated in the U.S. Open July 30 to Aug. 3, a national championship that brings in the top swimmers in the United States and even some international competitors.

Pheasant swam in the 50-meter freestyle, finishing 47th in 23.55 seconds.

Anderson, a sophomore from Clifton, swam in the Junior National Championships Aug. 5-9, a meet for the top swimmers age 18-and-under.

Anderson placed 64th in the 50-meter freestyle in 24.14. He finished 136th in the 100-meter backstroke in 1 minute, 1.43 seconds.

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Ashes 2013: England fast bowler James Anderson targets 5-0 series whitewash against Australia

It has been an unspoken ambition for Alastair Cook's team so far to make good on the predictions of former Ashes-winner Ian Botham - among others - to beat the old enemy 5-0.

But after England went 2-0 up with their 347-run trouncing of Australia at Lord's, and as he anticipates the prospect of completing a third successive Ashes series win on his home ground at Old Trafford next week, fast bowler Anderson has broken ranks.

The tourists pushed England hard in the first Investec Test at Trent Bridge, where a tireless Anderson had to bowl 13 consecutive overs on the final morning and ended up taking Australia's last four wickets to hold on by 14 runs to take a 1-0 lead.

It was a very different story at Lord's, though, where England recovered from a blip on the first morning - when they were 28 for three - to dominate the match on the back of Ian Bell and Joe Root's centuries and nine wickets for off-spinner Graeme Swann.

Anderson still expects Australia to show plenty more fight, but has no time for those who have begun to feel sorry for Michael Clarke's team after their at times hapless display at HQ.

"I don't really feel any sympathy," Anderson said.

"We want to win the series 5-0, so we will be doing everything we can in each game to win."

It will be a dream scenario for Anderson, of course, if he can help clinch the urn on his home ground.

A third successive Ashes series victory has not been achieved by England since all-rounder and all-time leading Test wicket-taker Botham thrillingly turned the 1981 series in their favour - including a famous century in Manchester.

For Anderson, there is no place like home.

He has a very modest record across the Pennines in Leeds, and has so far played only three Tests at the ground where he learned his trade with Lancashire.

"Cricket is huge in the north, and I hate Headingley, so it is good to play a Test at Old Trafford," he said of a venue which has undergone a much-needed transformation in recent years.

"There is so much history at the ground.

"It was in need of a lick of paint, and it got that and a little more - so I think it is going to be an amazing atmosphere."

The Ashes tickets are available to buy via Telegraph Tickets.

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