Dang, Webber star in Rock'n Roll Invite

LONG BEACH – Fountain Valley's Jaime Dang and Shelby Webber each had challenging parts to their schedules at the Klaus Barth Rock'n Roll Invite on Friday night.

But the Sunset League standouts responded with clutch performances to highlight efforts from Orange County's fleet at Belmont Plaza.

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OCVarsity Hot Shots: Rock'n Roll Invite

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Dang, a sophomore, raced the 100-yard butterfly and 100 freestyle back-to-back and posted victories in lifetime-best times.

Webber, a senior bound for Oregon State, moved from anchoring the winning 200 freestyle relay to capturing the 100 backstroke in a season-best time.

Dang and Webber had about 10-15 minutes of rest in both their quick transitions.

"Very impressive," Fountain Valley coach Mike Nichols said of the duo.

Dang first captured the fly in an Orange County-leading and All-America consideration 56.29 seconds. She out-distanced fellow sophomore Janelle Nguyen of Dos Pueblos by a second in a race that featured four girls under one minute.

Dang smashed Elise Etem's 2005 meet record of 56.50 for host Long Beach Wilson.

After a short warm-down, the Aquazot club swimmer returned to capture the 100 free in a lifetime-best 52.35.

"I was surprised my muscles were fine (for the 100 free)," Dang said. "They weren't tight but I was still kind of breathing hard from the 100 fly. ... but I had to pull through it."

Dang still had enough energy to later leadoff the Barons' 200 free relay (1:38.81) in another lifetime-best for the 50: 24.61.

The time would have won the individual race and likely helped Dang capture the female swimmer of the meet award.

Webber anchored the 200 free relay in a swift 24.25 and then used a strong finish to claim the backstroke in 57.44, third fastest in the county.

"My legs were kind of tired but it was all right," said Webber, who earlier won the 200 free in a season-best 1:53.18.

Los Alamitos' Dari Watkins (200 IM, 2:10.14) and Jessica Mosbaugh (100 breast, 1:07.45) also won individual titles.

Fountain Valley's 400 relay of Jenn Schulmann, Taylor Johnson, Dang and Webber touched first in 3:35.12.

Dos Pueblos' girls and Peninsula's boys won the team titles.

Long Beach Wilson senior and Seal Beach resident Brandon D'Sa was the boys swimmer of the meet after winning the 200 individual medley (1:56.14) and breaststroke (59.15) in lifetime-best times.

Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com