Tustin’s Cavic Takes Care of Record Business

Tustin’s Michael Cavic forgot about what was in the past, a back injury, and pushed out thoughts about the future, a possible spot in the Olympics.

The present was all he had on his mind Saturday. By the time the Southern Section Division II championship meet was history, Cavic had the record he sought in the 100-yard butterfly and, as a bonus, set another in the 100 backstroke.

For the last two years, Cavic, a sophomore, has chased the butterfly record of 49.47 set by La Crescenta Crescenta Valley’s Kenny Carpenter. He was close in 1999 and even closer in Friday’s prelims, coming within .05 seconds. Saturday, he left the field in his wake and finished in 48.42 at Belmont Plaza Pool. He then set the 100 backstroke record with a time of 49.40.

“I was hoping to pull myself together,” said Cavic, who missed a week of training after injuring his back in last week’s Golden West League finals. “I’m still not quite myself, but I felt good enough out there.

“The backstroke just surprised me. I thought there was no way I would get that one.”

Four Division II records were set and one was tied.

The Santa Margarita girls set the 200 freestyle relay record in 1 minute 38.89 seconds and won the 200 medley relay, on its way to winning the division championship with 217.5 points. Crescenta Valley eased to the boys’ title with 251 points.

In Friday’s 200 freestyle relay prelims, the Santa Margarita foursome--Erika Figge, Jamie Kroeze, Shannon Packard and Becca Peterson--swam 1:39.52, just below Cathedral City’s finals record (1:39.68).

Cavic’s butterfly record was a long time coming in his mind.

“I was disappointed last year after just missing the record,” Cavic said. “After the prelims, I knew I could swim a 49, but not a 48.”

He then won a fast 100 backstroke. Sunny Hills’ Ahmed Hussein (49.92) also went below the record of 50.91 set by Laguna Hills’ Goh Phuangthong in 1992.

Cavic was named the boys’ swimmer of the meet.

Still, he hopes that won’t be the highlight of his year.

“I have much higher goals,” Cavic said.

Cavic didn’t taper his training for the Division II meet because he will try to qualify for Yugoslavia’s Olympic team in the 100-meter butterfly at the European Championships in Helsinki, Finland, this summer.

Cavic, a Southern California native, has dual citizenship because his father was born in Yugoslavia.

“The Southern Section meet is fun,” Tustin Coach Boyd Philpot said. “You get a little more recognition and you get to swim with your friends. But you also have to have priorities.”

University’s Jessica Hayes has hers. She won the 200 and 100 freestyles Saturday. She has qualified in five events for the U.S. Olympic trials and spent only two days tapering for the Division II meet.

Still, she had hoped to break the 200 freestyle record of 1:48.01, set by Cerritos Gahr’s Stacy Shupe in 1982. She had come within two-tenths of a second last year.

Hayes got within sight of the record again Saturday, with a time of 1:49.54.

Mission Hills Alemany’s Maureen Farrell tied the 100 breaststroke record of 55.56 set by Beverly Hills’ Meredith Booker in 1992. Farrell was named the girls’ swimmer of the meet.

Chino Hills Ayala’s Erin Calder broke her own record in the 100 breaststroke, winning in 1:04.31.

Santa Margarita’s Jonathan Russell won the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:40.88.

Troy’s Jane Imagane won the 500 freestyle with a time of 4:54.74.