SWIMMING : Zikarsky Reaches Out for a Win

The tallest swimmer in history, 6-foot-10 Bjorn Zikarsky of USC, won the 100-yard freestyle race Sunday night as the Trojans won the Grand Prix National Invitational meet at Belmont Plaza Olympic Pool in Long Beach.

It was the first test against major competition in the United States for Zikarsky, who came to USC this year from West Germany. He won the 100-yard final in an NCAA qualifying time of 43.98 seconds, just off the pool record and personal best of 43.90 he swam in trials earlier in the day.

Zikarsky also anchored the USC relay team, which edged California in the 400-yard freestyle relay.

“Most swimmers think I have an advantage, and that might be true,” Zikarsky said. “I should be a foot ahead after I take off, and it’s easier for longer people to glide. But no one ever says to me, ‘You only win because you’re that tall.’ ”

Dan Jorgensen of USC, who won the mile freestyle Sunday in 15:01.57, was the meet’s top man with 123 points, followed by teammates Ray Looze with 115 and Dave Wharton with 100.

USC was followed by California, Stanford, Arizona State and UCLA.

Lisa Summers of California was the women’s overall winner with 158 points. Teammate Katie Welch and Stanford’s Karen Kraemer tied for second at 141. Cal won the women’s team title, ahead of Stanford, Tennessee, UCLA and USC.

Pool records were set by USC’s Tara Shriner in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:17.42), Terri O’Loughlin of USC in the 200-yard butterfly (2:00.18) and Stanford’s Barb Metz in the mile freestyle (16:23.93).