Novaquatics’ Beard Becoming Dominating Figure in Breaststroke

The Irvine Novaquatics’ Amanda Beard is closer to becoming one of the nation’s premier breaststrokers after setting a Southern California age-group record Sunday on the final day of the International Grand Challenge Swimming Invitational at Heritage Park.

Beard’s record time in the 200-meter breaststroke--2 minutes 33.03 seconds--was more than three seconds faster than Shannon Cullen of Redlands, who finished in 2:36.85.

On Friday, Beard, 13, beat one of the world’s best in Kristine Quance and set a Southern California age-group record in the 100 breaststroke.

Novaquatics Coach Dave Salo was not surprised by Beard’s performance.

“She [Amanda] has a real good shot at the top eight at Olympic trials,” Salo said. “She has a good attitude in workout and is always willing to do what you ask of her.”

Suzu Chiba, who represented Japan in the 1992 Olympics and swims for Golden West Swim Club, collected her fifth victory of the meet in the 100 freestyle--in a meet record of 57.66.

Chiba was more than a second faster than Angie Wester-Kreig’s 1994 record of 58.91. Lisa Jacob, swimming unattached, was second in 58.73. Jacob won the 200 butterfly in 2:18.62.

Alison Fealey, swimming unattached, won the 800 freestyle in 9:06.56, and Mission Viejo Nadadores’ Christie Kennedy was third in 9:13.25.

Bart Kizierowski also led the way for the Nadadores.

Kizierowski, 18, a junior at Mission Viejo High who won the 50 freestyle Friday, won the 100 free in 52.64.

In the championship final of the 200 butterfly, all the lanes were filled with Nadadores.

Philippe Demers, 16, from Santa Margarita High, finished a second ahead of teammate Bart Sikora. Demers’ time of 2:05.99 broke teammate Mark Kwok’s record of 2:09.89, which was set in 1994.

Demers, fresh off his 200 butterfly victory, came back and won the 1,500 freestyle in a meet record 16:23.37. Kwok, who won the event last year, was second in 16:26.40.

In the 200 breaststroke, Dave Huston of PLS Swim Club won in 2:24.42. Steve West, who won the 100 breaststroke Friday, was second in 2:24.60.

Mission Viejo easily defended its title with 563 points. The Novaquatics were second with 178 and Golden West was third with 119.