SWIMMING : Suddenly, Quance Isn’t One of the Kids

Age is creeping up on swimmer Kristine Quance.

Five years ago, she was the youngest swimmer when the Janet Evans Invitational was called the L.A. Invitational. Saturday, Quance, 19, was the oldest competitor in the finals of the women’s 200-meter breaststroke in the meet at USC.

“I don’t feel 19,” Quance said.

Quance, who is ranked third in the world, finished second to 13-year old Junko Isoda of Japan. Isoda, who swam 2:32.52, overcame Quance (2:32.78) during the last 15 meters.

“I really was nervous out there,” said Quance, who swam her first race since injuring her left shoulder. “I haven’t raced in a month.”

Quance, a USC freshman who won three NCAA individual titles, will be tested today when she is expected to meet high school phenom Allison Wagner of Gainesville, Fla., in the 200 individual medley.

Wagner, who turned 17 Thursday, won the 400 individual medley in a meet-record 4:47.76, bettering her mark of 4:49.31. Jennifer Parmenter, 13, of Canyons finished second at 4:55.94.

Amy Van Dyken of ACES Aquatics set a meet record of 25.87 to win the 50 freestyle. In the preliminaries, Van Dyken swam 26.09 to eclipse the meet record of 26.24 set by former USC star Lisa Dorman in 1986.

Janet Evans’ string of victories ended at two after she finished second to Ashley Tappin of Florida Aquatics in the 200 freestyle.

Tappin, a 1992 Olympic team member, swam 2:02.70 to beat the four-time Olympic gold medalist, who was timed in 2:03.52.

“I don’t have the speed to take it out with the sprinters,” said Evans, who won the 800 freestyle on Thursday and the 400 freestyle Friday. “The race is not long enough for me to catch up.”

Evans, who holds three world records and six American records, will compete in the 100 backstroke today.

Joe Hudepohl of Stanford Aquatics, a 1992 U.S. Olympic team member, withdrew from the 200 freestyle final because of a chest virus. Malcolm Allen of Australia won the event in 1:53.05.

Chad Carvin of Hillenbrand Aquatics swam 4:30.71 to win the 400 individual medley.