POLK CITY, Fla. — Chris Parrish of Orlando, Fla., and Danyelle Bennett of Zachary, La., are USA Water Ski's Male and Female Athletes of the Month for May. The athletes will now be considered for the United States Olympic Committee's Male and Female Athletes of the Month awards.

"Chris and Danyelle deserve a lot of credit for their incredible performances at the 2002 Masters," said Steve McDermeit, USA Water Ski's executive director. "Danyelle is the future of three-event skiing, and she is just beginning to show the world what kind of talent, strength and ability she possesses. Chris has worked really hard over the past few years, and it is wonderful to see that he finally achieved his goal of winning the Masters."

Parrish, 23, ran 4 buoys at 39 feet off to win his first career Men's slalom title at the Masters, May 25-26, in Pine Mountain, Ga. Parrish also won Men's slalom at the 2002 MasterCraft Pro Water Ski Championships, May 4-5, in Charleston, S.C., skiing 1 buoys at 41 feet off.

Bennett, 14, led the U.S. contingent at the 2002 Rolex Junior Masters, May 24-25, in Pine Mountain, Ga., by winning Junior Girls tricks and overall titles, and finishing runner-up in Junior Girls slalom and jumping. Bennett tallied 6,240 points in tricks, ran 1-1/2 buoys at 35 feet off in slalom and leaped 126 feet in jumping to clinch the overall title with a total of 2,862.3 points. Her jumps of 126 and 127 feet in the first round were personal-best performances.