University, Capo Valley take command in finals

LONG BEACH - Friday's CIF-SS Division 1 swim championships seemed to offer one surprise after another.

And at the end, the drama at Belmont Plaza built faster and faster — just like the racing.

From a national high school record from Edison's Cindy Tran to ultra-tight races for the boys and girls team titles, fans had plenty of entertainment.

University's second-ranked girls used their depth and three diving points from Barclay Kaku to edge top-ranked and defending champion Edison, 235-233.

Check out photos from Friday's Division 1 finals.

If the close race wasn't enough, there was confusion late in the meet over the score.

“I think I lost a year of my life,” University coach Robin Jacobsen said of the confusion.

The Trojans won their first title without winning an individual event. University did place in the top-four in each relay, including third in the 400 free.

“We had a girl in every single race,” Jacobsen said of the depth.

University also beat an Edison team that unleashed its best shot in the finals. Edison set Division 1 and Orange County records in the 200-yard medley (1 minute, 43.34 seconds) and 400 freestyle (3:23.86) relays and got a national high school record from Tran in the backstroke.

Tran, a senior who signed with Cal, crushed Olympic great Natalie Coughlin's 1998 national record by a second with a sizzling 51.85.

“I'm shocked still,” Tran said. “Did you see my face? ... I would have been pleased with a 52.”

Coming off a quiet all-star club meet in Ireland, Tran split the 50 at 25.04 and powered to the wall in 26.81.

After the race, she embraced former teammate Tom Shields, now a freshman at Cal. Shields set a national record last season in the 200 freestyle.

"I love Tom," Tran said. "It definitely got me pumped up (he was here)."

Capistrano Valley's boys claimed their second consecutive title by scoring 253 points to edge pre-meet favorite Loyola at 247. Top-ranked Corona del Mar finished third at 233.

The Cougars capped the night by breaking Mission Viejo's Division 1 and county record in the 400 free relay set in 1983.

Spenser Goodman (46.07), Brock Redondo (45.98), Logan Redondo (45.34) and Lucas Norman (45.43) clocked an impressive 3:02.82 to break the standard by half a second.

The Cougars clocked a 3:07.06 in prelims.

“I guess that's just our style – to surprise everyone,” Norman said.

“I don't think we could have done anything better tonight.”

The Cougars set five school records. The Redondo brothers played a huge role. Sophomore Logan tied Mission Viejo's Jon Daniec for the title in the 200 free with a lifetime-best and school-record 1:38.29.

“I didn't see him in the end,” said Logan of Daniec. “I thought I had him.”

Daniec returned to win the 500 free (4:22.24).

Brock Redondo won the 200 individual medley in a lifetime-best and school-record 1:50.34.

In another surprise, Laguna Hills' Courtney Wilde dethroned two-time defending champion Cynthia Fascella of Fountain Valley in the 50 free with a 23.22.

Tran out-touched Fascella by three one-hundredths of a second for second place with a 23.33.

"In the 50, anything can happen," said Fascella, who won the 100 free in a quick 49.80.

Newport Harbor's boys and Fountain Valley's girls clocked county records in the 200 free relays with times of 1:23.83 and 1:34.75.

The Barons also broke their Division 1 record. Fascella lead off with a 23.13.

Newport Harbor's Jack Yeager led off with a 20.91. Blake Kelly (21.27), Matt Russell (20.95) and Ikaika Sarme (20.75) followed as the Sailors crushed their county record from the Sunset League finals.

Aliso Niguel junior Melanie Klaren won the 200 (1:47.44) and 500 (4:47.01) freestyles. Klaren is now the third fastest girl in the 200 in county history.

The meet also featured an apparel shocker. In the consolation final of the boys 50 free, a Lakewood swimmer surprisingly no-showed for the race.

First alternate Jason Dahlen of Capistrano Valley quickly filled the opening in Lane 8 but there was a twist. Dahlen was wearing board shorts.

Dahlen finished last in the race but earned one point. After the race, Corona del Mar coach Barry O’Dea argued with an official that Dahlen’s suit was illegal because it was too long.

The officials disagreed.

“It didn’t exceed the length requirement, which is knee cap,” meet director Doug Glaeser said of the suit.

Glaeser said five officials examined the suit.