Mission Viejo Swim Meet of Champions : Dalbey Reconsiders After Beating Biondi

Given the pervasive laid-back attitude at this weekend’s Mission Viejo Swim Meet of Champions, it was less than a surprise to observe a rather underwhelmed Troy Dalbey after his victory in the 100-meter freestyle Sunday.

Everyone from Janet Evans, who won seven races in three days, to consolation also-rans stressed that race placement at the Mission Viejo International Swim Complex mattered less than their training schedules.

Still, Dalbey seemed a bit too relaxed after the race. Call it want you want--workout, warm-up--he had just beaten Matt Biondi, the world record-holder in the event since 1986.

Dalbey trailed at the 50-meter touch, but sprinted past Biondi to win with a time of 51.52. Biondi touched in 51.59.

“You can’t make too big a deal out of this,” Dalbey said.

That being said, Dalbey seemed surprised by his own words and offered a quick revision.

“Of course, anytime you get in the pool with Matt you’re pumped up,” he said. “He’s the man to beat. You always know he’s going to be the one at the front.”

Dalbey should know since Sunday was the first time he didn’t finish behind Biondi. Dalbey, 19, of San Jose, was ranked 10th in the 100-meter freestyle last year. He won the race at the 1986 U.S. Open, but Biondi did not compete in that race.

“Beating him means a lot to me, personally,” he said. “Being able to pass him coming back gives me a lot of confidence.”

Dalbey said he had been devoting a large portion of his training sessions to short, sprint workouts.

“I think it paid off.”

As for Biondi, he seemed less than concerned. He was the first man under 49 seconds (48.74) in the 100-meter freestyle. In 1987, he won the 50-, 100- and 200-meter freestyle, setting American records in each event.

He won a gold medal in 1984 (400-freestyle relay), been on world record relay teams in 1985 (400-meter freestyle, 400-meter medley) and won seven medals--another record--at the 1986 World Championships.

He’s big (“When I’m on a pool deck, I’m a celebrity.”), and he’s also tall at 6-feet, (“When I’m not around a pool, people think I’m a basketball player.”).

He knows a lot about expectations.

“I accept the fact that people are always going to expect me to win,” he said. “But in a race like this, my main concern is where I’m at in my training. I was pleased with 51.59 (his time). So I was pretty happy. Troy just beat me down the stretch.”

Evans, who won every race she entered, won three more Sunday. She took the 200-meter individual with a time of 2:18.88, the 200-meter freestyle at 2:02.09 and the 200-meter breaststroke at 2:36.22.

Anne Tweedy, 25, finished second to Evans in the 200-meter individual medley (2:18.88) and the 200-meter breaststroke (2:39.50).

A biology teacher at Los Gatos High School, Tweedy has had to squeeze training time in between teaching and working on a master’s degree in education at Stanford.

“Swimming has been my third priority during the school year,” she said. “Something I did in between grading papers, or writing papers. But Wednesday, school ended. So, I’m officially a swimmer.”

She was that for a long time. She missed making the 1980 Olympic team in the 400-meter individual medley by a tenth of a second.