Girls swimming: Murphy sisters help Harbor cruise, 104-65

Barry Faulkner

CORONA DEL MAR - Newport Harbor High senior Amy Murphy figured her

best competition Monday would be coming from across the Back Bay.

Instead, it came from across the breakfast table.

Murphy edged her sister Jenna Murphy, a freshman, by two-hundredths of a

second to win the 200-yard individual medley. It was one of two

individual wins for the elder Murphy, who, thanks to an influx of young

talent, was part of a dominant 104-65 nonleague girls swimming victory at

Corona del Mar.

“This year has been incredible,” said Amy Murphy, who before this season

had been the most prominent of few club swimmers at Newport Coach Ken

Lamont’s disposal.

This spring, however, Harbor has added a noteworthy freshmen class, as

well as sophomore transfer Carly Geehr, to turn the tide in this

typically hard-fought series.

“I’ve been coaching here since 1985 and we’ve won our share against

Newport,” CdM Coach Doug Volding said. “But we knew what we were up

against today. This is a special group for Newport Harbor. I think they

have a legitimate shot at winning CIF (Southern Section Division I).”

Newport dominated even without the services of freshman Nicole Mackey,

whom Lamont allowed to concentrate on training with her club program

Monday.

“Those (younger swimmers) are my heroes,” Amy Murphy explained. “They set

the standard for me to want to get better. I’m used to being one of the

only club swimmers on our team, but this year, I have to work to stay on

the relays with them.”

Geehr, still building strength after a torn rotator cuff, won the 100 and

200 freestyle events, clocking times of 54.02 and 1:51.27, respectively.

Geehr was also on the winning 200 medley relay and the 400 relay, both of

which Amy Murphy anchored.

Jenna Murphy didn’t let her narrow miss in the IM ruin her day. She won

the 100 backstroke (1:04.49) and led off the victorious 400 free relay.

“She’s really good,” Amy Murphy said of her sibling. “But I had morning

workout today and she didn’t. And I just got back from a training trip in

Hawaii, so my body clock is still messed up.”

Harbor freshman Hayley Peirsol also messed up any chance CdM had of

extending its series winning streak to two. Peirsol won the 500 free

(5:10.12) and was second in the 100 butterfly. She also swam on the both

Newport relay winners.

Jennifer Arrow, a junior, won the 100 breaststroke for the Tars (4-2),

and was third in the IM. She also chipped in on the victorious medley

relay.

Lauren Powers, a junior, produced the lone individual victory for the Sea

Kings (5-2), topping the field in the 100 butterfly (1:02.66). She also

anchored a CdM victory in the 200 free relay.

Hayley Hapeman (second in the 100 free), Bridgett Inglis (second in the

50 free) and Brittney Bowlus (third in the 50 free) rounded out CdM’s

relay winner, which qualified for CIF with a time of 1:46.77.

Volding, relenting to Newport’s strength, stacked his lineup for bids at

CIF-qualifying times, rather than a team victory.

Powers (butterfly), and Hapeman (100 free) bettered CIF Division II

qualifying standards, as did the runner-up medley relay of Melinda

Tucker, Jackie McCoy, Powers and Bowlus (1:59.12).

“Four out of five we wanted to qualify did,” Volding said.

Lamont, in his second season at Harbor, said he was relieved to avenge

last year’s loss.

“This is still a high-profile meet, especially to people in this city,”

Lamont said.