SWIMMING / GRAND CHALLENGE INVITATIONAL : Irvine’s Beard Sets Age-Group Record
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IRVINE — Amanda Beard, a 13-year-old from Irvine, set a Southern California age-group record in the 100-meter breaststroke to win the event Friday in the first of three days of the International Grand Challenge Swimming Invitational at Heritage Park.
Beard defeated U.S. World Championship Team member Kristine Quance by almost four seconds, with a time of 1 minute 12.06 seconds. Beard also finished fourth in the 200 individual medley.
Suzu Chiba, a member of the Japanese 1992 Olympic Team who swims for Golden West Swim Club in Huntington Beach, won the 200 IM (2:19.71), 400 freestyle (4:19.82), and 50 freestyle (26.96). Irvine High’s Wendy O’Brien, representing the Novaquatics, took second in the 50-meter freestyle (27.41).
The Mission Viejo Nadadores dominated the men’s events with former Mission Viejo High swimmer Bart Sikora winning the 200 backstroke (2:03.82), 200 IM (2:08.37) and Bart Kizierowski winning the 50 freestyle (24.26). Kizierowski also finished second in the 200 IM and 200 backstroke.
Steve West of the Novaquatics won the 100 breaststroke in 1:06.25.
