Delaney a weary winner at Foothill Games

IRVINE - Alex Delaney was exhausted - and rightfully so.

But despite having to commute between the preliminary and final rounds of two swim meets in three days, the Santa Margarita junior turned in one of the better performances at the Foothill Swim Games on Saturday, leading the No. 6 Eagles to the girls title at Beckman High.

Delaney, who was chosen Female Swimmer of the Meet, won the 200 freestyle (1:56.94) and 500 freestyle (5:11.82), and helped the team's 400 freestyle relay team (3:45.22) take first and the 200 freestyle relay squad (1:45.60) third.

On Friday, Delaney competed in both the 400 freestyle and the 50 freestyle at the Speedo Grand Challenge, going on just down the street at the Woollett aquatics complex. She will swim the 200 butterfly and 100 freestyle in that event Sunday.

"I'm tired," said Delaney, "but I wanted to swim this to help my team. The Grand Challenge is a good meet to get some race experience. Today was fun for me."

Santa Margarita totaled 409 points, 59 more than second-place El Toro (350). Esperanza finished third (318 1/2).

El Toro's Griffin White turned in a similar performance in earning Male Swimmer of the Meet and leading the No. 6-ranked Chargers to the team title.

White posted season-best times in winning both the 50 (21.77) and 100 freestyle (48.25), and he helped El Toro's 200 freestyle relay team win with a time of 1:28.65.

"I really didn't think I would do well today because I've been sick all week," said White. "But I'm glad I improved my times. That was my goal…just trying to improve each time."

El Toro totaled 388 1/2 points, beating out second-place Esperanza (350). Santa Margarita took third (239).

Esperanza's Alyssa Tran posted the fastest time in the county this year in winning the 100 butterfly in 56.81 seconds. She also won the 100 breastroke (1:07.40) and was part of two winning relay teams.

Other top performances included Corona del Mar's Michael Liao setting a new county best in the 100 breastroke at 58.60 - just .22 off the meet record set by Daniel Kim in 1999. El Toro's Kelsey Engel won both the 50 (24.73) and 100 freestyle (54.14).

Contact the writer: magarcia@ocregister.com