Peirsol Wins Backstroke at Long Beach Meet

Newport Harbor junior Aaron Peirsol won the 100 backstroke Friday in USA Swimming’s Southwest Conference Championships at Belmont Plaza in Long Beach.

Peirsol’s time was 48.47 seconds. His Irvine Novaquatics teammate, Irvine High freshman Diana MacManus, won the women’s event in 55.63, edging Canyon senior Erin Volcan of UC Irvine’s Aquazot Swim Club (56.33).

Michael Cavic, a junior at Tustin who also swims with the Novaquatics, won the 100 butterfly in 47.10, a two-second drop from his morning preliminary time.

Chad Carvin of Laguna Hills, who trains with the Mission Viejo Nadadores, won the 500 freestyle in 4:19.03.

Kristin Caverly, a junior at San Clemente High who trains with the Aquazots, won the 200 individual medley in 2:01.83. Scott Tucker of the Novaquatics won the 200 IM in 1:50.20

El Toro High’s Kaitlin Sandeno of Nellie Gail Swim Club was touched out by Japanese swimmer Sachiko Yamada of the Nadadores. Yamada won in 4:39.07; Sandeno was second. Irvine High’s Flora Kong of the Novaquatics took second in the 100 butterfly (55.73).

The Novaquatics’ 400 medley relay team of Jessica Cruzat of Foothill High, Newport Harbor junior Carly Geehr, Irvine freshman Courtney Cashion and Kong won in 3:48.89. And the Novaquatics’ men’s medley relay team of Peirsol, Jason Lezak, Scott Baer and Tucker won in 3:20.25.

The meet continues today with prelims beginning at 9 a.m. and finals at 5 p.m.

RUNNING

Fashion Island in Newport Beach will be the site of 5K and 10K running courses Sunday at the Leigh and Lucy Steinberg Spirit Run.

Proceeds from the event will benefit Roy O. Andersen, Harbor View, Eastbluff, Newport Coast and Lincoln elementary schools.

The 10K begins at 7:30 a.m., followed by the 5K at 8:15 a.m. A family 5K walk and age-group races will follow.

Walk-in registration is available today from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in front of Bloomingdale’s. Participants can also register Sunday beginning at 6:30 a.m. in front of the Edwards Newport Cinema in Fashion Island.

For more information call (949) 451-4568.

CROSS-COUNTRY

Ed Cantu quit as cross-country coach at Santiago Canyon College, Athletic Director Fran Cummings said. For information regarding the position, contact Cummings at (714) 564-4116.