Mission Viejo, Once Again, Is Team to Beat

Allen Ong was the top qualifier for Mission Viejo, posting the best times in the 50- and 100-yard freestyles at the Southern Section Division I boys’ swimming preliminaries Thursday at Belmont Plaza Pool in Long Beach.

He was the only one of the field to break the 21-second mark in the 50 with a time of 20.85 seconds. His time in the 100 free was 45.25.

With the perennial champion Diablos’ only challenge coming from Irvine in tonight’s final, Irvine Coach Ken Dory admits the finals will be difficult.

“I’ve gone through ever combination and it comes up Mission beating us by 80 points,” Dory said.

Mission Viejo, which is attempting to win its 21st division boys’ title, also proved formidable in the relays, as their 200 medley relay and 200 and 400 freestyle relay teams had the top qualifying times.

Daniel Kim of Irvine qualified first in the 100 breaststroke, swimming a personal-best time of 55.60, only .36 off John Moffet’s 1981 mark, the oldest record in Division I.

“I was hoping to break the record during my prelim swim so I could take the pressure off of me for finals,” Kim said. “But it’s OK. I went out a little slow, but I think I can get the record [tonight].”

Kim also swam the 100 butterfly, where he turned in the third fastest time (51.88) of the day. Marina’s Jeff Larson was the top qualifier with 50.95.

Newport Harbor freshman Aaron Peirsol swam a 52.03 to qualify first in the backstroke and Los Alamitos’ Mike Harrelson out-touched Ben Worby of Redlands to qualify first in the 200 individual medley in 1:53.39.

Olympic gold medalist Amanda Beard of Irvine gave notice that she wants to finish her high school swimming career on a high note. Qualifying in two events of the Division I finals, the 100 butterfly (56.21) and her signature stoke the 100 breaststroke (1:03.72), Beard clocked the fastest swims in both events.

Freshman Kristen Caverly of San Clemente had the top qualifying time in the 200 individual medley, as she went a second faster than El Toro’s Kaitlin Sandeno to finish in 2:04.51. But it was apparent that Sandeno was holding back, wanting only to make it to the finals. Sandeno also qualified second in the 500 free behind Marina’s Jamie Cail (4:48.36), who won the event last year. Cail was the top qualifier in the 200 freestyle (1:51.07).

Sarah Jones of San Clemente was the only one to go under 24 as she had the top qualifying time in the 50 free (23.90). Jeannette Nieto of Esperanza was the top qualifier in the 100 free (51.96) and Santa Margarita freshman Shannon Packard qualified first in the 100 backstroke (57.58).

The Division I finals start at 6:30 tonight at Belmont Plaza Pool.

* SWIMMER MOURNED: Brian Graper of Trabuco Hills High is remembered for his all-out approach to life. B1