Carvin Continues to Dominate at Mission Viejo Meet

MISSION VIEJO —  Chad Carvin and Jenny Thompson each won two events during the third day of the Mission Viejo Swim Meet of Champions Saturday at the Marguerite International Swim Center.

Carvin, a Laguna Hills High graduate, continued to prove he’s returned to form after suffering from viral cardiomyopathy that left him bedridden and unable to train last year.

Carvin won his third event of the four-day meet when he placed first in the 200 freestyle in a time of 1:52.8. In his typical closing style, Carvin surpassed Tucson-based Hillenbrand Aquatics teammate Ugur Taner in the last 50 meters. Ayk Neethling was third, giving Hillenbrand a sweep of the top three positions.

“The time was really good for me,” Carvin said. “It’s my first 200 this encore season, so it’s a real fast time for me. I was a little nervous before the race because I have so much of my family here. It’s good though, nerves help you out I think.”

Carvin followed with his fourth victory of the meet in the 400 individual medley. Tom Wilkins, who had the best preliminary time in the event, surged to lead during the breaststroke portion, but Carvin made up ground in the freestyle and finished in 4:31.08.

Thompson won the opening final of the day, placing first in the 200 freestyle in 2:03.78. She also broke the meet record in the 50 freestyle with a time of 25.9.

“I was happy with the wins, and it’s just more practice for the upcoming World Trials, which is good,” she said.

Thompson, who is studying pre-med at Mills College in Oakland, said she has been on a pretty tight schedule, but she likes her chances at the World Trials next month.

“I’m not in peak shape, but I’m in good shape,” she said. “I’ll be in peak shape in July, so I feel good about my prospects.”

Bart Kizierowski, a graduate of Mission Viejo High, won the 50 free in a time of 23.84, edging Jason Lezak of the Irvine Novaquatics (23.87) and Sabir Muhammad of the Santa Clara Swim Club (23.92).

“This feels great, I always dream of this,” Kizierowski said. “I’ve been to a lot of places, but never over here in front of all these people, so it felt really good.”

Notes

Other individual winners on Saturday were Hillary Biscay in the 200 breaststroke (2:36.19), Steven West of Irvine Novaquatics, who set a meet record in the 200 breaststroke (2:16.75), and Elli Overton in the 400 individual medley (4:54.17).

In the men’s 800 freestyle relay, the Trojan Swim Club team of Jeff Julian, Bret Awbrey, Josh Ilika and Mark Kwok placed first in a time of 7:46.98.

In the women’s 800 freestyle relay, Paige Francis, Lindsay Benko, Jeanellis Todisco and Emily Peters paced the Trojan Swim Club to a first-place finish in a time of 8:34.92.