PREP SWIMMING ROUNDUP : Irvine Uses Its Depth to Put Away El Toro

Irvine Coach Scott Hinman would not make any predictions. Not even when his girls were leading second-ranked El Toro with one event left in the Sea View League dual meet Wednesday at Heritage Aquatic Complex in Irvine.

“I don’t want to say anything . . . not until the last event is over,” Hinman said before the start of the meet’s last event, the 400-yard freestyle relay.

After Irvine’s Lana Kraus, Alice Husczc, Molly Zak and Wendy O’Brien won that relay in 3 minutes 40.23 seconds to give Irvine, ranked third in Orange County, a 90-80 victory, Hinman let out a sigh of relief.

“It was our depth in the relays that did it,” Hinman said, noting it was Irvine’s first victory over El Toro. “Our girls did great in the third and fourth place finishes.”

The Vaqueros trailed El Toro by six points midway through the meet, but the turning point for Irvine came in the 100 freestyle.

The much anticipated race between O’Brien and Katie Lowes of El Toro was the highlight of the meet. O’Brien, who had beaten Lowes the last three times they had met, was not certain she could beat Lowes this time.

But O’Brien was quick off the blocks, taking an immediate lead that she maintained throughout her nearly perfect race. O’Brien’s time of 51.22, the fastest time in the county this season, was 0.4 faster than Lowes.

“I was just so nervous before the race,” O’Brien said. “My dad walked up to me and told me to take the first 50 out fast,” O’Brien said. “I did and I guess I was able to hold her off.”

Lowes, who is recovering from an ear infection and was stung by a bee minutes before the start of the meet, said she knew she wouldn’t be able to catch O’Brien when she saw her ahead at the second turn. O’Brien also won the 50 free in 24.24.

“It was a great race,” El Toro Coach Sheri Ross said. “And when they meet again, I’m sure it will be another great race.”

In other key races for Irvine, Zak’s victories in the 100 butterfly (1:01.73) and the 100 backstroke (1:01.84) and Kraus’ third place finish in the 500 freestyle turned out to be crucial.

“That was Lana’s best time (5:27.69) for the event,” Hinman said. “And taking third place gave us some very important points.”

The Irvine boys had little difficulty with the Chargers, winning 102-67.

In the 100 breaststroke, Irvine’s Steve Ronson and El Toro’s Terry Daugherty turned in the two fastest times in the county this year. Ronson outreached Daugherty to win in 59.55. Daugherty finished in 59.77. Ronson also won the 200 individual medley in 1:57.12.

In other girls’ Sea View League meets:

Woodbridge 98, Newport Harbor 72--Freshman Nicky Jordaan and senior Jaimee Lindstrom were double winners for Woodbridge. Jordaan won the 100 free (54.58) and the 100 back (1:02.81) and Lindstrom took the 200 IM (2:16.84) and the 100 fly (1:03.39).

In the Century League:

Orange 130, Santa Ana Valley 40--Shannon Strini won the 200 IM (2:25.89) and 100 backstroke (1:09.33) and Josephini Kim won the 200 freestyle (2:08.03) and 100 butterfly (1:08.41) for visiting Orange (5-2, 1-2).

In the Orange League:

Brea Olinda 126, Savanna 38--Freshman Jennifer Mankarious won the 200 individual medley (2:36.58) and 100 butterfly (1:06.21) for host Brea Olinda (5-4, 2-0).

In the Pacific Coast League:

Costa Mesa 111, Estancia 59--Elisabeth Christiansen won the 50 freestyle (26.32) and 100 freestyle (58.63) and Allison Alastuey won the 200 individual medley (2:39.60) and 500 freestyle (6:10.93) for host Costa Mesa (2-3, 2-1).

In Century League boys’ swimming:

Orange 107, Santa Ana Valley 63--Kevin Melton won the 200 individual medley (2:29.31) and 50 freestyle (26.3) and Ryan Christensen won the 200 freestyle (2:15.09) and 100 freestyle (1:03.43) for visiting Orange (5-2, 1-2).

In the Golden West League:

Servite 115, Saddleback 49--Brian Heifferon took first in the 200 individual medley (2:09.4) and 100 freestyle (50.2) and Blaise Morita won the 500 freestyle (5:18) for Servite (8-1, 3-0).

In the Orange League:

Brea Olinda 114, Savanna 51--Tad Murphy won the 200 individual medley (2:20.45) and 500 freestyle (5:25.05) for host Brea Olinda (6-3, 2-0). Liberty Grayson won the 50 freestyle (23.12) and 100 freestyle (53.02) for Savanna (0-3 in league).

In the Pacific Coast League:

Costa Mesa 101, Estancia 54--Justin Taylor won the 200 individual medley (2:26.34) and 100 breaststroke (1:14.04) and Ryan Dandy won the 50 freestyle (22.87) and 100 freestyle (51.53) for host Costa Mesa (3-2, 3-0).

In the Sea View League:

Woodbridge 99, Newport Harbor 71--The Warriors won all three relays and Jason Pace, Dawson Hughes, Sean Moore and Ethan Yotter were double winners for Woodbridge.