Golden West, OCC Closing in on Swim Crowns

There is still one day of competition left to go in the South Coast Conference Swimming and Diving Championships, but both the men’s and women’s titles are already all but decided.

The Golden West College men’s team earned victories in four of six events Friday in the second day of the meet to build its first-place lead to 116 points. Going into the third and final day of the meet today, the Rustler men have 383 points, followed by Saddleback at 267 and Orange Coast at 155.

Meanwhile, the Orange Coast women’s team won six events Friday and now lead second-place Golden West by 141 points. The Pirate women have 337.5 points, followed by the Rustlers at 196.5 and Santa Ana at 158.

The Golden West men’s team set four conference records Friday. Mike Halphide won the 200-yard freestyle in a record-breaking time of 1:43.5, Steve Bentley the 100 breast stroke in a record 59.23 and Lukie Niode the 100 backstroke in a record 52.09. The Rustlers’ 400 medley relay team, anchored by Halphide, won in a record 3:31.07.

The Orange Coast women’s team set no conference records, but the Pirates did win every event they entered. Janet Williams won the 200 individual medley in 2:18.87, Sheri Carpenter the 200 freestyle in 1:58.42 and the 50 fly in 27.62, Traci Averill the 50 backstroke in 29.23 and Heather Laurie the 50 breast stroke in 32.49. The Orange Coast 400 freestyle relay team won in 3:43.76.