PREP SWIMMING / ORANGE COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIPS : Day Goes Just Swimmingly for Buyukuncu, Woodbridge

While Mater Dei billed its premier Orange County Swim Championships on Saturday as a 10-school invitational, it simply seemed like another Woodbridge-Irvine happening when the boys’ competition was over at Heritage Park.

Woodbridge, behind two lifetime bests by Turkish star Derya Buyukuncu, won with 520 points. Irvine was second with 478 as the schools accounted for more than half the boys’ total. Mater Dei was a distant third with 316.

Newport Harbor won the girls’ competition with 489 points.

Woodbridge quickly went to work with the 200 medley relay team of Andrew Lazenby, Sean Moore, Justin Steinhouser and Dawson Hughes winning in 1 minute 43.69 seconds. Irvine finished second, as it did in the other two relays.

But it wasn’t easy for the Warriors.

In the 400 freestyle relay, Irvine’s Steve Ronson gave anchor Jason Lezak a slight lead. Lezak, who has the second-fastest county time in the 100, was racing Buyukuncu. Lezak maintained the lead for 75 yards, but Buyukuncu crept up and touched him out in 3:20.03.

It was equally close in the 200 freestyle relay (1:30.33), Woodbridge defeating Irvine by seven-tenths of a second.

Though the relays showed how strong the two schools are in these events, the day undoubtedly belonged to Buyukuncu, with personal bests in the 50 (20.82) and 100 freestyles (45.44). They were the fastest times in the county this year, and the 50 mark was just off the Southern Section record of 20.65 set by Mission Viejo’s Eric Diehl in 1991.

“When I went out, I was trying to break the record,” Buyukuncu said. “I’m happy with my time, but I think I can get the record.”

Woodbridge Coach Dan Gains, who said he entered this meet more for his swimmers to have fun than to compete seriously, was surprised how well his team did, especially Buyukuncu.

“It’s amazing. No matter how many times I watch him swim, he does these incredible things,” Gains said.

Irvine’s Ronson recorded the year’s fastest county time in the 100 breaststroke in 59.74 and won the 200 individual medley (1:57.28).

Newport Harbor Coach Todd Kilber said he was a little surprised how well his girls did. “We had some good swims from our girls. And while some of Irvine’s top girls were not participating, I’m still happy.”

Seven of Irvine’s top girls did not compete because they were preparing for next week’s Foothill Swim games. Mater Dei finished second with 450 points, and Irvine was third with 446.

For the Sailors, Rachel Arrow won the 200 IM (2:19.81) and 100 breaststroke (1:12.54) and was on the winning 200 IM relay with Melissa Pomeroy, Carey Read, and Kelly McIntee.