Capistrano Valley, University race away with relay titles

MISSION VIEJO Saturday was a day for the favorites at the Capistrano Valley Swim Relays.

The top-seeded relay won each of the 14 varsity races while Capistrano Valley’s No. 1 boys and University’s No. 2 girls sped away with the team titles.

There were some close finishes but not in the team competitions.

Capistrano Valley's boys won five of the seven boys races in collecting 112 points for a second consecutive title. The Cougars outdistanced Irvine, which scored 80 points in slipping past Pacific Coast League rival Corona del Mar (71).

“Our team depth really came through,” Capistrano Valley coach Steve Yancey said.

The Cougars’ depth showed in the 300-yard freestyle relay, an important sprint event for the reigning CIF Division 1 champions. Capistrano Valley graduated 21-second sprinters Tyler DeShon and Chris Colgan in 2009 but showcased another Saturday. Chad Farnan led off the 300 with a 21.96 split, which edged Mission Viejo’s Steven Ewoldt (21.97) for the fastest opening leg.

Capistrano Valley’s Joseph Wu then held off a strong anchor leg by Corona del Mar’s Matthew Berry (21.69) to give the Cougars the win in 2 minutes, 14.01 seconds.

The Cougars’ 400 free relay also got a boost from Scott Burbach, who split a 48.89 in his third leg. The Cougars opened with a 47.94 from Lucas Norman and closed with a 47.59 from Spenser Goodman to reach the wall first in 3:14.61.

Mission Viejo’s Jon Daniec held off a charge by Irvine’s Gen Yamamoto to bring the Diablos to the wall second at 3:17.89, one one-hundredths of a second ahead of the Vaqueros.

University captured four of the seven girls races, including one in a meet record, in posting 102 points for its first title. Fifth-ranked Mission Viejo finished second with 84 points. University sparkled despite not having four of its top swimmers.

“They did such a fantastic job and worked really, really hard,” University coach Robin Jacobsen said of her team.

The Trojans' 200 backstroke relay of Cheyenne Low, Kathleen Colao, Taylor Ota and Julia Ju stopped the clock in 1:50.77, about half-a-second under Irvine’s 2001 meet record.

University’s winning 200 medley also clocked an All-America consideration time in finishing in 1:50.76. Ota, Maggie Burton and Low set table for anchor Lauren Parrett, who showed some early-season speed with a 24.50 anchor split.

Laguna Hills’ girls set the other meet record. The Hawks’ 400 free relay of Julia Crowley, Megan Barnett and sisters Christy and Courtney Wilde blazed to an All-America consideration 3:36.13. The time was under the 1998 record of Irvine (3:36.40).

The Hawks also won the 200 butterfly in a quick 1:49.46, about half-a-second off the meet record. Laguna Hills, unranked in the the county top-10, finished third in the team race.

"I don't think we've won a relay here in 10 years," Laguna Hills coach Blake Corbin said.

Irvine's girls also gave a breakthrough performance. In the 300 free relay, Christiana Lasich, Cassandra Buzby, Patricia Leksono, Jaqueline Whitehead, Sierra Ochoa and Casey Jordan combined for the victory in 2:34.74. The Vaqueros' first four swimmers all split under 26 seconds. Lasich led off with a 25.57, the fastest of the race.

"We haven't had four girls under 26 in a long time," Irvine coach Scott Hinman said.