Saddleback, Orange Coast Take First-Day Swim Leads

Three men’s conference records were set during the first day of competition at the South Coast Conference Swimming and Diving Championships at Golden West College Thursday.

Saddleback’s Mark Gutierrez swam a record 4:41.27 in winning the 500-meter freestyle, while Golden West’s Lukie Niode broke the 200 individual medley record in 1:54.93.

The Rustlers’ 800 free relay team set a conference mark of 6:59.20, which helped move the Golden West men’s team into first place going into the second day of the three-day meet.

Golden West led with 141 points, closely followed by Saddleback at 135. Orange Coast was in third with 79, followed by Santa Ana with 44, Mt. San Antonio with 36, Fullerton with 30, Cerritos with 25 and Cypress with 7.

Other top finishers in the 500 free were Mark Wicks of Golden West in second place at 4:43.10 and teammate Eric Lund in third with a 4:43.68.

Saddleback’s Rhett Chee Ping placed second in the 200 IM in 1:54.98 and teammate Doug Miles was third in 1:59.36.

Rustler Mike Halphide won the 50 free in 21.86, followed by OCC’s Neil Compin in 21.92, and Craig Peery of Mt. SAC in 22.45

Saddleback swept the one-meter diving, as Frank Polley won with a 381.45, Roger Kuntz was second with 370.35, and Bob Slater came in third with 305.80.

Runners-up to Golden West in the 800 free relay were Saddleback in 7:01.05 and Santa Ana in 7:17.08.

Orange Coast took the early lead in the women’s division with 140 1/2 points. Golden West trailed with 91 1/2, and Santa Ana was in third place at 64. Rounding out the field were Mt. SAC with 53, Cerritos with 46, Saddleback with 36, Fullerton with 31 and Cypress with 7.

Orange Coast was led by Heather Laurie, who won the 100 IM in 1:03.44, followed by teammate Tracy Averill, who finished in 1:03.92.

Santa Ana’s Denise Komarek won the 50 free in 25.58.