SWIMMING MEET OF CHAMPIONS : Ahmann-Leighton Turns Into Overnight Success

Crissy Ahmann-Leighton shook off what she described a “horrible” day to post back-to-back victories Saturday in the 100-meter butterfly and 50 freestyle at the Chrysler Swim Meet of Champions in Mission Viejo.

Ahmann-Leighton was so “horrible” Friday that she did not qualify for the finals of the 100 freestyle, and her 200 butterfly swim left her back in the pack at 36th place.

“I was glad I was able to keep my head on,” said the 22-year-old from Hillebrand Swim Team in Tucson. “I was very disappointed, but I decided yesterday was yesterday.”

The fourth-fastest American 100 butterfly swimmer in history, Ahmann-Leighton won her specialty with ease in 1 minute 1.69 seconds. Runner-up Angie Wester-Krieg of Stanford touched in 1:03.33.

Twenty minutes later, Ahmann-Leighton was back on the blocks for the 50 freestyle, which did not go off initially because of a false start, reducing the eight-woman field to seven.

“The false start actually helped me because I can regain my composure quickly, and I know it worries other people,” said Ahmann-Leighton who finished in 27.05 seconds, slightly ahead of the 27.33 by Cindy Unruh of Canada.

Five-time Olympic gold medalist Matt Biondi scored a wire-to-wire victory in the men’s 50 freestyle despite a challenge from Steve Crocker, 28, of Rockwood Swim Club in St. Louis, Mo. Biondi, 25, who trains at California, his alma mater, edged Crocker 23.34 to 23.57.

Las Vegas Gold’s Melvin Stewart, the world record-holder in the 200 butterfly, had a large enough lead to stave off Brian Gunn of Team Wolverine, 2:02.18 to 2:03.19.

Artur Wojdat of Mission Viejo and Sylvia Poll of Costa Rica each won their third events on the third day of the four-day meet. Wojdat was unchallenged in the 400 freestyle with a 3:57.76 and Poll dominated the 200 backstroke in 2:16.94.

Kristine Quance, 16, of Valley-based CLASS Aquatics, earned her second victory in as many days with a 1:12.04 in the 100 breaststroke, 1.6 seconds ahead of the field.

Fifteen-year-old Kari Lyderson of Encinitas YMCA became the youngest champion of the meet with a surge at the 250 mark to take the lead en route to a 4:18.15 in the 400 freestyle.