As Postseason Approaches, Good Times Are Here Again

Several county season-best times were posted last week, as swimmers start to gear up for the Southern Section finals in May.

At the Mission Viejo Invitational Saturday, Irvine’s Nick Yu finished second in the 100-yard breaststroke, but swam a county-best 1 minute and 0.12 seconds.

Fountain Valley’s Brandon Dotts led off the 200 freestyle relay with a blistering leg of 21.84 at the Long Beach Wilson Invitational. Dotts also topped his school record in the 100 backstroke by .01 seconds. He finished in 52.67.

Newport Harbor’s Ryan Lean, who was named rookie of the meet at last month’s U.S. Spring Nationals, swam a 4:40.34 in the 500 freestyle, establishing the county best by more than a second.

On the girls’ side, Irvine’s Flora Kong bested her own top time in the 100 butterfly at the Mission Viejo Invitational. Kong finished second in 56.27. Laguna Hills’ Lindsay Buck finished third in 58.05 to move into the county’s second spot. Diana MacManus of Irvine won the 100 backstroke by more than three seconds with a county-best 56.64.

El Toro’s Kaitlin Sandeno lowered the county’s top time in the 500 freestyle to 4:56.92 at a nonleague dual meet against Newport Harbor.

RECORD BOOK

Fountain Valley Coach Ray Bray and Villa Park assistant John Kulisich are undertaking a monstrous task that they hope to have finished before the summer. But, they need some help.

Bray and Kulisich are putting together an Orange County record book for high school swimming.

“We would like for people to know when kids are breaking records,” Kulisich said. “They have records for football and baseball, and it’s time we have one for swimming.”

Bray and Kulisich would like coaches to send them any records that they have from their leagues or schools so they can begin the compilation. They hope to include 20 to 25 of the fastest times in each event.

LOOKING AHEAD

On Thursday top-ranked Irvine and the No. 8 Mission Viejo boys will visit El Toro, but the event might be closer than expected, with some swimmers on vacation.

On Friday, the No. 10 Sunny Hills girls’ team swims at Villa Park. The Spartans were ranked in the top-10 earlier this season.

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SWIMMING TOP 10

Orange County Coaches’ Poll

GIRLS

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Pos. School League 1. Irvine (1) Sea View 2. San Clemente (2) South Coast 3. Newport Harbor (3) Sea View 4. Santa Margarita (4) Serra 5. Foothill (5) Century 6. Laguna Hills (6) Sea View 7. Esperanza (7) Sunset 8. Canyon (8) Century 9. Capistrano Valley (9) South Coast 10. Sunny Hills (10) Freeway

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BOYS

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Pos. School League 1. Irvine (1) Sea View 2. Santa Margarita (2) Serra 3. Capistrano Valley (5) South Coast 4. Fountain Valley (3) Sunset 5. Edison (4) Sunset 6. Villa Park (6) Century 7. Newport Harbor (7) Sea View 8. Mission Viejo (8) South Coast 9. San Clemente (9) South Coast 10. Canyon (10) Century

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Last week’s rankings in parentheses