NEWSWIRE

Chad Carvin of Laguna Hills is back on top after winning the 400-meter freestyle Wednesday at the National Swimming Championships in East Meadow, N.Y.

Carvin, the 1997 U.S. swimmer of the year, won in 3 minutes 52.58 seconds, defeating Erik Vendt of North Easton, Mass., 1998’s top American in the event. The victory marked another successful comeback for Carvin. Since 1996, he has had to leave the sport twice because of serious health problems, first for a life-threatening heart condition that caused him to miss the 1996 Olympic trials and then degenerative discs in late 1997.

“Twice doctors have told me that my career has ended, but I’m here,” Carvin said. “I listen to my doctors, but I have to listen to my body, too.”

Diana Munz, of Chagrin Falls, Ohio, who won in the 800 free earlier, won the 400 free after a battle with USC’s Lindsay Benko, the 200 freestyle champion. Munz won in 4:10.67 to Benko’s 4:11.05. Kaitlin Sandeno, a sophomore at El Toro High, was third in 4:15.43.

Megan Quann, of Puyallup, Wash., won the 100 breaststroke in 1:10.25, edging American record-holder Amanda Beard, who went 1:10.56. Beard, of Irvine, was fourth in the 100 butterfly in 1:01.73.

Miscellany

Orange Coast College’s Ray Bardone won the decathlon with 6,234 points at the Southern California championship at Santa Barbara. Golden West’s Aaron Lewis finished third and Santa Ana’s Robert Villegas was fourth.