Backstroke king Peirsol nominee for top award

Newport Harbor High product Aaron Peirsol is among the nominees for the 2007 Golden Goggle Awards, an event celebrating the accomplishments of top American swimmers.

Peirsol is nominated for 2007 Male Athlete of the Year, where he will be up against fellow world record-holders Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte. All three set individual world records this summer at the FINA World Championships.

Peirsol won the 100-meter backstroke at the world championships in Australia in March, lowering his own world-record time to finish in 52.98 seconds. It was his third straight time winning the event at Worlds and his eighth individual gold.

Fans can vote for the award winners online at www.goldengoggles.com through Nov. 10. The awards presentation, which will be hosted by Carson Daly, will take place at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills on Nov. 18.

— From staff reports