The Times’ All-County High School Teams : GIRLS’ SWIMMING : Evans Brings World-Class Talent to El Dorado

For someone who holds three world swimming records, breaking a couple of high school marks would seem like no big deal. But Janet Evans, world-class swimmer and Olympic aspirant, is pleased with the records she set in the Southern Section 3-A championship meet in May.

Well, not really the records themselves, but what they represent.

“The Southern Section meet always seems to come during a rest period in my training,” said Evans, a junior at El Dorado High School. “It’s a chance to see where I am in my training.”

Before this year’s meet, Evans, The Times’ girls’ swimmer of the year, had five days of rest from her training. It showed in her performances.

Evans set national high school records in the 500-yard freestyle (4:37.30) and 200 individual medley (2:00.72). She already held world records in the 400-meter freestyle, 800 freestyle and 1,500 freestyle.

“I really didn’t look at the high school records as something I wanted to break,” she said. “I didn’t train with them in mind. The meet just came at the right time.”

Evans also has a strong commitment to the El Dorado team. Since she has been in the program, the Hawks have won two Southern Section championships. During the same time, the El Dorado boys’ team also has won two titles.

“I always get psyched up for the Southern Section meet,” Evans said. “Competing for the team is something that’s very important to me. High school goes by so fast, I want to be with my friends.”

However, her training schedule doesn’t allow much time off. After all, she is training with the Olympics in mind.

Evans will compete in the trials at Austin, Tex., in August and almost certainly will be a member of the U.S. team in Seoul.

It’s a schedule that leaves little time for anything else.

“I do my homework, hang out with my friends a little and sleep,” she said. “Most of my free time is spent at workouts. Sometimes I’ll get to go shopping.”

Not that Evans is complaining.

“It’s given me a chance to travel and to see other countries,” she said.

What she won’t miss, though, is the media attention. In a one-week period, ABC and NBC visited the El Dorado campus for interviews with Evans.

At times, it’s almost too much.

“There aren’t many 16-year-olds that have to deal with this much attention,” Evans said. “The first time a television crew came here, the school was in an uproar. It’s a little better now. Most of the kids are used to it.”

But not Evans.

“I guess it’s a byproduct of success,” she said. “I’m sure it will calm down next year. My mother told me I should enjoy it, because it’s not going to last.”

ALL-COUNTY

Based on This Season’s Results in Southern Section Meets

Event Name School Time 200 Freestyle Debbie Babashoff Fountain Valley 1:50.91 200 IM Janet Evans El Dorado 2:00.72 50 Freestyle Christy Carolin Capistrano Valley 23.69 100 Butterfly Lisa Hadfield Westminster 57.54 100 Freestyle Christy Carolin Capistrano Valley 51.63 500 Freestyle Janet Evans El Dorado 4:37.30 100 Backstroke Suzi Burt Mission Viejo 58.57 100 Breaststroke Jennifer Sprogis Capistrano Valley 1:06.46 Diving Patti Thompson Fountain Valley 470.25