Quance Posts Record Win at Nationals

On land, Kristine Quance is reserved and soft-spoken.

In water, the 17-year-old from Northridge is aggressive and competitive.

Her latest personality transformation enabled her to win the 400-meter individual medley Wednesday in the U.S. Swimming National championships at Mission Viejo.

“The meanness in me comes out in the water,” Quance said shortly after setting a pool record of 4 minutes 43.32 seconds.

In typical fashion, Quance expected even more.

“I wanted to break 4:40,” she said. “Maybe I have to work harder. I’m happy with the time, but I’m never satisfied. I always have to have something to work for.”

Clearly, Quance, of Calabasas-based CLASS Aquatics, had her eye on the times posted at the Olympic Games.

“My goal was to get times that would have won medals,” said Quance, whose time would have placed her fourth in Barcelona.

“I guess it’s hard to do because they were fast over there and the training I’ve done doesn’t compare to the training (Olympic medalists) have done nor to the training I did before the (U.S.) trials.”

Much of that training went for naught when Quance, weakened by mononucleosis, ended up one place shy of making the U.S. Olympic team.

In Wednesday’s 200 freestyle, Valery Calkins, 17, of Conejo Simi Aquatics, placed eighth in 2:05.30.

Calkins, who will be a senior at Thousand Oaks High, clocked a personal best of 2:05.28 in the morning preliminaries.

“I’m really excited,” said Calkins, who was seeded 28th. “I didn’t expect to (get to the) final in my first senior nationals.”

Chris Pelant, 16, of Ventura and the Buenaventura Swim Team, finished 17th in the men’s 200 freestyle in 1:53.84. His time was slightly slower than the Junior Nationals West effort of a week ago that enabled him to advance to the national championships.

Ryan Duncan, 18, of Simi Valley, placed 27th in the 400 individual medley in 4:34.78. Duncan, a member of the Buenaventura Swim Team, also swam slower--by almost two seconds--than his junior national time.

Teammate Ben Pecht, 17, of Somis, wound up 36th in the individual medley in 4:38.94. He was seeded 39th.