Santa Margarita’s No. 1 girls dominated despite not having their top swimmer and Corona del Mar’s boys showed they’ve reloaded.
Crean Lutheran’s unranked girls sprinted past two county-ranked teams to finish second while a transfer from the Washington, D.C.-area had San Clemente’s unranked boys looking improved.
Yes, if Saturday’s Capo Valley Relays were any indication, Orange County swimming looks as deep as ever.
Santa Margarita’s girls captured its third consecutive title by capturing four of the seven races for 110 points, which outdistanced runner-up Crean (76).
The Eagles’ 200-yard medley relay of Jax Shoults, Emily Gibson, Raquel Remick and Lizzie Devitt helped highlight the meet by touching first in a meet-record 1 minute, 47.97 seconds.
Santa Margarita also grabbed the meet record in the 400 free (3:34.60) despite racing without Katie McLaughlin, who is observing the sit-out-period rule following her transfer from JSerra.
Corona del Mar’s No. 4 boys scored 102 points to outduel No. 3 Santa Margarita, 102-90, for the crown.
The Sea Kings’ punctuated their title by matching their meet record in the medley relay. The team of Liam Karas, Tyler Lin, Justin Hanson and emerging sprinter Jon Polos combined for a time of 1:36.67.
Lin also helped Corona del Mar edge Santa Margarita in the 200 breaststroke blazing a 25.94 anchor-split.
Behind the trio of Ella Eastin, Emily Eastin and Lindsey Engel, Crean Lutheran set meet records in the 400 IM (3:55.11), 200 butterfly (1:42.18) and 200 backstroke (1:44.47).
Sophomore transfer Aidan Pastel helped San Clemente capture the 300 freestyle (2:13.74) and led off 400 free relay with a swift 47.32 to help the Tritons (3:15.84) take third behind Capistrano Valley (3:11.49) and Corona del Mar (3:14.56). The Tritons tied Capistrano Valley for third in the boys standings.
At the Kennedy Invitational:
Kennedy’s Ryan Kao captured the 200 free (1:41.48) and 100 back (53.12) in meet records while Woodbridge swept the boys and girls titles.
