Prichard Doubles His Pleasure

Buena High senior Ian Prichard had a satisfied grin as he handled a gold medallion he earned for winning the 200-yard freestyle race at the Southern Section Division I championships Friday at Belmont Plaza.

He had even more reason to celebrate later in the meet, after he won the 500 free in a personal-best and Division I-record time of 4:19.34 to defend both of the titles he won last year.

Prichard broke a 15-year-old record of 4:19.47 by Dan Jorgensen of Mission Viejo.

“That was my goal coming into this meet,” he said.

His winning time in the 200 was 1:38.87, not as good last year’s 1:37.88, but it didn’t matter. Prichard earned boys’ swimmer of the meet honors as the top individual point-scorer of the competition.

“I’m pretty satisfied,” he said. “This is something that we train for all year.”

Prichard, 17, has his sights set on more gold medals.

He has qualified in the 1,500, 400 and 200 meters at the Olympic trials in August.

Thousand Oaks senior Aron Gyuris won the 50-yard freestyle, claiming his first Southern Section title in a career-best 20.92 seconds. His time broke the school record of 21.23 by Eric Shafer in 1996.

“It’s my first time under 21 seconds,” Gyuris said. “I’ve been trying for a long time so I’m really happy. I’m pretty pumped up.”

Gyuris also placed second in the 100 butterfly (51.24) behind Mission Viejo’s Juan Veloz (50.40).

Ventura’s Mike Derse, who qualified third in the 100 breaststroke prelims, won the championship in that event at 58.40 seconds.

Westlake’s Taryn O’Leary was third in the 50 free (24.40) .

Royal freshman Christine Creek was third in the 100 breaststroke in 1:06.47.

Irvine won its first boys’ team title and fifth girls’ championship.

Division III preliminaries--Keiko Amano, a junior at Villanova Prep, qualified second in the girls’ 200 free (1:54.26) and 100 free (52.47). Both times were fast enough for All-American consideration. The finals begin at 10:30 a.m. today.

Flintridge Prep’s Laura O’Connor qualified third in the 100 backstroke and eighth in the 100 free.