Carvin Shows Championship Form, Wins 200 Freestyle

Chad Carvin didn’t look like a swimmer who had just posted a world-class finish.

Carvin grinned and acknowledged that his facial stubble and a large amount of unshaven body hair made his impressive victory in the men’s 200-meter freestyle Saturday at the Swim Meet of Champions in Mission Viejo all the more improbable.

“I’ll have to shave for the Olympic trials. I have no choice about that,” he said.

On another day when Japanese swimmers knocked off records, Carvin’s meet-record of 1 minute 50.13 seconds stood out.

Hungarian Olympian Bela Szabados went out fast in that race, swimming the first 100 meters in a pool-record pace of 53.46 seconds. But Carvin caught him in the turn heading into the last 50 meters and sprinted to victory to the delight of the crowd.

“The plan was to keep as close as I could in the first 150 meters and conserve some energy,” Carvin said. “We were even at 150 meters which was better than that.”

Carvin, formerly of Laguna Hills High, said it’s still too early to draw conclusions based on what happens this weekend, echoing the thoughts of many Americans at the meet.

“Back in April we began a major block of work,” Carvin said. “I’m just getting used to it and this win is a step in the right direction. But this is only a first step. By the time of the trials, I’ll make another couple of steps.”

Anthony Ervin of Phoenix won the 50 freestyle in a meet-record 22.88 seconds. El Toro High senior Kaitlin Sandeno also wowed spectators by winning the 400 individual medley by a wide margin over a pair of challengers, including third-place finisher Yuko Nakanishi. Sandeno won in 4:55.06.

But those accomplishments were once again the exception, as Japanese swimmers won five more events, setting four meet records in the process. They swept the first three places in the women’s 200 freestyle and men’s 400 individual medley, while taking the top two spots in the women’s and men’s 200 breaststroke.

It’s clear that the Japanese, who prepared for this meet with altitude training, are exceeding their expectations. With the meet concluding with six events today, they have set eight meet records.

And the usually reserved squad was slapping high-fives and posting smiles all around Saturday.

“The atmosphere is very good here and I like it,” said Masami Tanaka, who set a meet record of 2:28.63 in the 200 breaststroke. “When you see your other swimmers doing very well, it makes me want to do good, too.”

Sandeno, who finished fourth in the 200 freestyle, the top American finish in the event, said Japan is doing exactly what it set out to do.

“They came in here to make a statement and they are doing a good job of it,” she said.