Linn Upstages Jenkins and Hart Wins, 99-71

Mike Linn of Hart High upset James Jenkins in the 50-yard freestyle and the Indians beat Crescenta Valley, 99-71, on Friday in a nonleague swimming meet at Crescenta Valley.

“I’ve been thinking about this race for a while,� Linn said. “I’ve been kind of building toward it, and thinking about him and how to beat him. I knew I could be there and that he was probably thinking of me from last year.�

Linn placed fifth in the 50 and fourth in the 100 in the Southern Section Division II finals last year, but his 50 time of 21.40 seconds against Crescenta Valley was better than the 21.96 he swam in the finals.

Jenkins, Southern Section champion in both sprints, finished in 21.50.

Linn won the 100 butterfly in 54.87 and swam the butterfly on the winning 200 individual medley team for Hart (5-0), which timed 1:42.42.

Kent Klawer of Hart was second to William Ban of Crescenta Valley in the 200 and 500 freestyle races and was part of Hart’s winning 400 freestyle relay.

Ban also won the 500 freestyle.

Crescenta Valley’s girls beat Hart by an identical score of 99-71.

“Overall, the girls swam better than I thought they would,� Coach Peter Kim of Crescenta Valley said. “I knew they would be up for it and that they’d swim well, and they exceeded our expectations.�

Tawne Fishback of Crescenta Valley (6-0) won the 100 butterfly in 1:00.05 and the 100 breaststroke in 1:10.20.

Alexis Sheridan claimed the 200 freestyle in 1:59.66 and 500 freestyle in 5:15.48, and swam on Crescenta Valley’s victorious 200 freestyle and 400 freestyle relays.

Shannon Coskran won the 100 backstroke in 1:06.99 for Hart (3-1).