Quance Takes 200 Medley for 4th Win in U.S. Swimming Championships

Alexis Larsen was nervous before the 1,500-meter freestyle Friday in the U.S. Swimming national championships at Mission Viejo.

But after watching her Calabasas-based CLASS Aquatics teammate Kristine Quance win the 200 individual medley, she calmed down.

“When I saw Kristine win it got me psyched,” Larsen said. “I figured if she can win four events, I can win one, maybe.”

There was no maybe about it.

Larsen gained an early lead and gradually pulled away for a victory in 16 minutes 36.92 seconds, more than six seconds ahead of runner-up April Diez of Scottsdale, Ariz.

CLASS Aquatics Coach Bud McAllister was impressed with Larsen’s even splits and her confidence level.

Quance also was nervous. More than she had been the previous three days.

“I felt a lot of pressure,” said Quance, 17, of Northridge, “knowing I had a chance to win four events.”

Lindsay Gassner, 16, of Canyons Aquatics also felt the pressure of such high-caliber competition.

Gassner went into the final of the 50 freestyle ranked third after an impressive morning swim of 26.68, but in the final, she wound up seventh in 26.85.

“That wasn’t very good,” Gassner said. “I thought I could have done better, but it’s my first national meet. I guess sometimes you get more nervous than you realize.”

Gassner, who will be a junior at Hart High, competed against Angel Martino, a bronze medalist in the 50 freestyle at the Barcelona Olympics.

“That was exciting,” Gassner said. “Ever since I made it to the senior level I wanted to race the girls on the top. It didn’t happen at the Olympic trials because I was in the earlier heats.”

Martino swam in the lane next to Gassner. “It’s neat to see how much faster you have to go,” said Gassner, who finished one second behind Martino.

The other Valley-area standout on the final day of competition was Ben Swartout, 18, of the Buenaventura Swim Team. Swartout finished 10th in the 1,500 freestyle in 15:53.67, a personal best by an astounding 17 seconds.

Swartout also anchored the Buenaventura 400 medley-relay team to a Southern California Swimming age-group record (for 17- to 18-year-olds) with a time of 3:59.56. Ryan Duncan swam the backstroke leg, Joel Gustafson the breaststroke, Ben Pecht the butterfly and Swartout the freestyle.