SWIMMING / U.S NATIONALS AT MISSION VIEJO : Four Teen-Agers Fueling Signs of Youth Movement

The youth movement that U.S. Swimming leaders have been looking for began to materialize Wednesday when three 17-year-olds and an 18-year-old won at the U.S. Swimming National Championships at Mission Viejo.

Since the majority of the Barcelona Olympians are expected to retire, the sport is turning to a new wave of swimmers for the 1996 Games. Kristine Quance, Michelle Jesperson, John Piersma and 18-year-old Matt Hooper hope to be in that number at Atlanta.

Quance sped away from the 400-meter individual medley field for a 3.70-second victory in 4 minutes 43.32 seconds, which broke the 1982 pool record of her idol, ’84 Olympic triple gold medalist Tracy Caulkins, by 1.46 seconds.

“I can’t imagine me breaking a record of hers ,” Quance said. “She’s so high on a pedestal compared to me. It gives me more confidence.”

Quance, the 200 breaststroke national champion from Northridge, made her move with her signature stroke, turning a 1.14-second deficit into a 4.3-second lead.

On the final freestyle leg she labored, yet finished in a personal-best time that would have placed her fourth at the 1992 Olympics.

“That hurt so bad,” Quance said. “My legs were dead.”

Hooper said much the same after chasing Steve Mortimer, 22, over the last 80 meters of the men’s 400 individual medley.

With five meters left, the distance freestyle specialist from San Antonio, caught Mortimer and touched him out by 0.12 with a cumulative time of 4:22.57.

“I was trying to give it all I had and somehow I was able to give it more,” Hooper said.

Jesperson, the 200 freestyle titlist (2:02.46) from Badger (Wis.) Dolphins, echoed the sentiments of other young talent when asked about being a rising star.

“I can’t say so,” she said, “because so many fast people from the Olympics aren’t here.”

Piersma, of Huntsville, Ala., edged Josh Davis by 0.09 to prevail over a men’s 200 freestyle field that was cut to six when Dave Burgess and Mission Viejo’s Eric Diehl were disqualified for false starting.

“I was kind of nervous, but I had to put those things (false starts) behind me,” said Piersma, who touched at 1:50.84. “My goal was to make the finals or the consolations, so this is like a dream come true. It’s incredible. I love it.”

Swimming Notes

The Mission Viejo Nadadores selection committee decided Wednesday night to offer the head coaching position to Bill Rose. . . . Alyn Towne, the 100 freestyle champion, anchored Ft. Lauderdale’s 400 freestyle relay team to a pool record 3:22.61, smashing the 1985 mark of 3:25.12 held by Holmes Lumber.