Mission Viejo's Ewoldt stands out at Capo Valley Relays

MISSION VIEJO – Mission Viejo swimmer Steven Ewoldt needed to be fast to stand out at the ultra-quick Capistrano Valley Relays on Saturday.

The senior was plenty fast. He blazed his leadoff leg in the 6x50-yard freestyle in a school-record 20.46 seconds, slicing almost a half-second off his lifetime best. In prelims Friday, he posted a 20.93 but his 20.46 moves him third on the all-time Orange County list.

"I couldn't believe he dropped half-a-second in one day," Mission Viejo coach Jeff Boss said. "It's a super swim."

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To see a slide show from the Capistrano Valley Relays, click here

Complete results and scores from the Capistrano Valley Relays

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Only Olympians Michael Cavic from Tustin (19.69 in 2002) and Derya Buyukuncu from Woodbridge (20.27 in 1994) have been faster in county history.

University's No.1 girls defended their title by capturing five of the seven races — including three in meet records. Corona del Mar's No. 2 boys edged No.1 Capistrano Valley, 98-96, for the title.

It was believed to be Corona del Mar's first title at the Capo Valley Relays.

Ewoldt trains with his high school team and hasn't committed to a college.

In only his second meet this spring, he smashed the school record of Polish Olympian Bart Kizierowksi (20.56 in 1996).

So where does he go from here? "19.95," Ewoldt said, referring to the Division 1 record held by Joey Hale of Redlands.

Ewoldt also led off the 400 free relay with a 46.38.

University's girls outdueled Laguna Hills in the medley relay, one of the best relays of the day.

Both teams raced well under the meet record and earned All-America consideration status. The Trojans' team of Cheyenne Low, Maggie Burton, Olivia Evans and Erin Parrett touched first in 1:48.70, 14-hundredths of a second in front of the Hawks.

Laguna Hills' team of Julia Crowley, Erica Taylor, Courtney Wilde and Christy Wilde finished second in 1:48.84.

"We all love to race," Burton said.

The Trojans also set meet records in the 400 individual medley (4:00.80) and the 400 freestyle (3:36.11).

Burton highlighted the IM by anchoring in a quick 58.32.

In the 400 free, Evans, Jubas, Low and Rankin edged Laguna Hills' 2010 meet record by just two hundredth of a second.

"I don't think a lot of were expecting to go as fast as we did," Jubas said. "Overall, we did really well."

Corona del Mar's sealed the victory by finishing second to Irvine (meet-record 1:37.40) in a tight medley (1:37.50). The Cougars touched third at 1:40.45.

The Sea Kings moved from a fourth seed in the 400 IM to a second-place finish.

Corona del Mar also emerged with the title despite racing with Jared Namba, who is preparing for the upcoming NCSA junior nationals in Florida.

"We're pretty excited," Corona del Mar coach Barry O'Dea said. "We wanted to win (boys) frosh-soph and varsity ... and it worked out."

Corona del Mar's lone victory came in the backstroke as Ari Marks, Blake Motal, Evan Ramsey and Christian Garkani stopped the clock at 1:38.86.

A few other records also were set Saturday.

In the girls 300 free relay, Santa Margarita's Raquel Remick, Megan Roby, Carina Carballo, Jax Shoults, Lizzy Devitt and Kellie Fecarotta set a meet and school record with a 2:32.54.

The Capo Valley boys also set a meet record in the 300 free relay as Scott Burbach, Tyler Testman, Jonathan Carlson, Joseph Wu, Matthew Chalcarz and Jack DesCombes clocked a 2:13.08. In another impressive race, Corona del Mar touched in 2:13.58, which also was under El Toro's 2007 standard of 2:13.83.

After Ewoldt's 20.46 start, the Diablos finished third at 2:14.60.

Corona del Mar's fly relay of Natalie Wong, Hollace Barden, Pippa Saunders and Brynne Wong clocked a meet-record 1:46.87.

Irvine's medley relay consisted of Gen Yamamoto, Travis Pham, Kevin Barbrick and Fletcher Norseen.