GIRLS’ SWIMMING : She Drives to Reach High Goals

Lisa Jacob, a senior swimmer from Capistrano Valley High School, has made the rounds this year.

First, the Pan American Games, where she excelled. Then, the Olympic trials, where she didn’t.

After all those months of competition against some of the best in the world, wasn’t it time to retreat to high school swimming for a little low-key fun? Some rest and relaxation on a level where she could win with one arm tied behind her back?

Not for Jacob; there’s nothing low key about the way she swims.

“Lisa is very determined,” Capistrano Valley Coach Bob Skelley said. “She expects fantastic times all the time. She’s very driven.”

But, hey, there are worse traits.

Jacob, The Times Orange County girls’ swimmer of the year, pushed herself to a pair of Southern Section 4-A championships. She won the 200- and 500-yard freestyles. In the 500, she finished more than four seconds ahead of the second-place swimmer.

Yet, in true Jacob fashion, she was not entirely happy with her times.

“I guess I set high goals for myself,” Jacob said. “But I feel they are attainable.”

Jacob has attained a lot in the past year.

Last summer, she won three gold medals and one silver at the Pan Am Games in Havana. She finished first in the 200 freestyle and second in the 800 freestyle. She was also part of the winning 400- and 800-freestyle relay teams.

“I went into last summer wanting to make an international team,” Jacob said. “Either the Pan Am team of the Pan Pacific team. It didn’t matter. I just wanted to do well.”

She did, and then began looking toward the Olympics.

Jacob, who has signed a letter of intent with Stanford, went into the Olympic trials with the idea that she had an outside chance at making the team. Her best effort was fifth place in the 200 freestyle.

After months of tough training and competition, Jacob decided to swim for the Capistrano Valley team, something she hadn’t done since she was a freshman.

In 1989, Jacob finished sixth in the 500-yard freestyle and qualified for the consolation final in the 100 butterfly.

She didn’t swim for the team as a sophomore and junior because the coach at the time wanted her to train with the Capistrano Valley team instead of the Mission Viejo Nadadores, her club team. When Skelley took over the team this year, he placed no such restriction on his swimmers.

“It was just a matter of different coaching philosophies,” Skelley said. “Unfortunately, Lisa got caught in it.”

Jacob dominated her high school competition this year. She even defeated El Toro’s Michelle Perry in the 50-yard freestyle at the Foothill Swim Games.

It was the only time this season Perry lost in the 50 freestyle.

“She’s a great competitor,” Skelley said. “She’s so focused.”

Jacob had 500 freestyle records in her sights. She broke the South Coast League meet record at the league finals with a time of 4 minutes 48.89 seconds.

She also wanted to break Amy Shaw’s school record of 4:46.45. Jacob missed that, with a time of 4:50.60 in the 4-A final.

“I’m never ecstatic with how I do,” Jacob said. “I like swimming for the high school team. It’s fun and not as stressful.”

Even by her standards.

The Times’ All-County Girls’ Swimming

FIRST TEAM

Swimmer(s) School Yr. Event Sara West Marina Sr. 200 medley relay Stephanie Kramer Sr. Keiko Iwahara So. Linda Levitan Jr. Lisa Jacob Capistrano Valley Sr. 200 freestyle Kella Hoblick El Dorado Fr. 200 individual medley Keiko Iwahara Marina So. 50 freestyle Leslie Rhee Mission Viejo Sr. 100 butterfly Michelle Perry El Toro Jr. 100 freestyle Lisa Jacob Capistrano Valley Sr. 500 freestyle Michelle Perry El Toro Jr. 200 freestyle relay A.J. Walters So. Tracy Wilson Sr. Robyn Lowes Sr. Maureen McLaren Newport Harbor Sr. 100 backstroke Kella Hoblick El Dorado Fr. 100 breaststroke Lisa Jacob Capistrano Valley Sr. 400 freestyle relay Cathy Carone Fr. Tracey McCalley Fr. Geannie Povey Fr. Sandy Zubrin Corona del Mar Fr. One-meter diving

Swimmer(s) Time Sara West 1:52.42 Stephanie Kramer Keiko Iwahara Linda Levitan Lisa Jacob 1:49.44 Kella Hoblick 2:04.29 Keiko Iwahara 24.61 Leslie Rhee 57.92 Michelle Perry 51.90 Lisa Jacob 4:50.60 Michelle Perry 1:38.70 A.J. Walters Tracy Wilson Robyn Lowes Maureen McLaren 56.21 Kella Hoblick 1:04.84 Lisa Jacob 3:33.89 Cathy Carone Tracey McCalley Geannie Povey Sandy Zubrin 464.85 points

SECOND TEAM

Swimmer(s) School Yr. Event Tracy Palmero Brea-Olinda Sr. 200 medley relay Debbie Weber Sr. Sachi White So. Amy Clark So. Ali Ladeda Capistrano Jr. 200 freestyle Valley Christian Christa Thomas Edison Jr. 200 individual medley Robyn Lowes El Toro Sr. 50 freestyle Cathy Carone Capistrano Fr. 100 butterfly Valley Roxanne Rangel Valencia Sr. 100 freestyle Allison Mijares Marina Fr. 500 freestyle Lisa Jacob Capistrano Sr. 200 freestyle relay Valley Cathy Carone Fr. Tracey McCalley Fr. Geannie Povey Fr. Sara West Marina Sr. 100 Backstroke Michelle Perry El Toro Jr. 100 Breaststroke Michelle Perry El Toro Jr. 400 freestyle relay Dana Rock Sr. Lindsey Rock Fr. Alyson Roney Jr. Joy Burkholder Capistrano Sr. One-meter diving Valley

Swimmer(s) Time Tracy Palmero 1:54.36 Debbie Weber Sachi White Amy Clark Ali Ladeda 1:50.76 Christa Thomas 2:06.35 Robyn Lowes 24.75 Cathy Carone 58.02 Roxanne Rangel 53.58 Allison Mijares 4:57.50 Lisa Jacob 1:39.13 Cathy Carone Tracey McCalley Geannie Povey Sara West 57.78 Michelle Perry 1:07.10 Michelle Perry 3:36.23 Dana Rock Lindsey Rock Alyson Roney Joy Burkholder 429.20 points