Swimming: Peirsols in Meet of Champions

Tony Altobelli

MISSION VIEJO - Despite the lack of participation from a certain

standout swimmer who has a name that rhymes with “Nasal-burg”, Aaron

Peirsol will have plenty of motivation at the Mission Viejo Swim Meet of

Champions, beginning today in Mission Viejo.

The four-day meet, at the Marguerite recreation center, features

preliminaries each morning through Sunday. Finals are scheduled for 5

p.m., except Sunday when they begin at 4 p.m.

The Newport Harbor High swim standout and Olympic silver medalist will

compete in five events for the Irvine Novaquatics club team. In addition

to his traditional backstroke events, the five-time CIF Southern Section

Division I individual champion will also swim in the 100- and 200-meter

freestyle events, as well as the 200 individual medley.

“It’s an important meet for me because the World Championships are

coming up in July in Japan so this will be a great tuneup for me,”

Peirsol said.

According to Irvine Novaquatics Coach Dave Salo, despite the no-show

of world champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist Lenny Krayzelburg,

who has taken this year off, Peirsol has no easy ride through either the

100 or 200 backstroke events.

“Canadian Mark Versfeld will be in both events with Aaron,” Salo said.

“Mark was a former world champion four years ago and he’s back from being

injured so it should be a great test for him.

“We know (Peirsol is) strong in the backstroke events,” Salo

continued. “But we want to sharpen his skills in other events as well.

He’s going to compete for a NCAA-title caliber school and he’s going to

have to be strong in lots of events.”

Keeping the Peirsol clan extremely busy this weekend is Aaron’s

sister, Hayley, who will compete in six events. The Newport Harbor

junior-to-be will swim in the 200, 400, 800 and 1,500 freestyles, plus

the 200 back and 400 IM.

“They give out computers to the top male and female swimmer of the

meet, so some of these swimmers are competing in a bunch of events,” Salo

said.

Senior-to-be Ryan Lean, who placed third for the Sailors at last

year’s Division I finals in the 500 free, will take to the pool in the

400, 800 and 1,500 free races, in addition to the 400 IM and 100 back.

Two-time Division I runner-up Carly Geehr will join the fun five times

over as well, competing in the 100 and 200 free, the 200 IM, 100

breaststroke and 100 back.

According to Salo, Geehr’s shoulder, which she injured two years ago,

has been giving her some minor trouble lately. “We’ll be keeping an eye

on that,” he said. “I don’t think it’s anything serious and she’ll be

ready to go.”

Junior-to-be Nicole Mackey, who twice finished in the top three at

last year’s Division I finals for Newport, will try her hand in the 100

and 200 back, the 400 free and 100 fly.

Andrew Cole, another young promising Newport swimmer, will try to

better the field in the 200 free, 100 back and the 100 IM, while pending

Sailor graduate Jennifer Arrow will compete in the 100 and 200

breaststroke events.

Following this meet, Peirsol & Co. will head to USC for the Janet

Evans Invitational. It was there last July 14 when Aaron Peirsol sent a

minor tsunami through the swimming community with a victory over

Krayzelburg in the 200 back. It was Krayzelburg’s first loss in that

event in four years.

This year’s Janet Evans Invitational is scheduled July 19-22.