'Unbelievable' day for top O.C. swimmers (video)

MISSION VIEJO - The swim times certainly fulfilled the expectations.

That was the general consensus Thursday after the much-anticipated double-dual boys swim meet between No. 1 Capistrano Valley, No. 2 El Toro and No. 6 Edison, led by Tom Shields.

The meet at Capistrano Valley produced three automatic All-America times and four All-America consideration standards.

That's an impressive haul for any dual, but even more so for one in March.

"Can you imagine (the times) when they rest?" Capo Valley coach Steve Yancey said. "It was exactly what I thought it would be. Unbelievable."

Capistrano Valley produced four All-America consideration standards en route to sweeping the team race.

Looking like a serious Division I contender, the Cougars defeated El Toro, 111-59, and Edison, 104-66. Edison upset El Toro, 93-77.

Capistrano Valley's Brock Redondo won the 200-yard individual medley in 1 minute, 55.69 seconds — an All-America consideration time. The Cougars' three other standards came in runner-up finished to Shields and Edison.

The Cal-bound Shields won the 200 free in a county-leading 1:40.38 — automatic All-America. Capistrano Valley's Lucas Norman achieved the consideration cut by finishing second in 1:42.41.

Shields wore trunks for the 200 but returned in a legs suit to claim the 500 free in an automatic standard 4:26.32 — just off Charlie Rimkus' county-leading 4:25.73 for Beckman last week.

"I was inspired by Charlie," Shields said of his Mission Viejo Nadadores club teammate. "(I'm) definitely happy with it — for being a sprinter."

Redondo finished second in 4:37.85 — a consideration time.

Shields showed his sprinter's speed as the anchor on the 400 free relay. In another showdown with Capo Valley's Spenser Goodman, Shields split a 45.11 to rally Edison to the victory. Shields combined with Josh Smith, Michael Hauss and Kenny Bray to bring Edison to the wall in an automatic All-American 3:10.95.

Shields made up about a two body length deficit to rally past Goodman (47.82) and the Cougars, who touched in a consideration 3:11.87.

At the Southern Section Relays on Saturday, Shields nearly made up about a 4 1/2-second deficit but Goodman held him off at the wall for a meet-record 3:10.37.

Was revenge on Edison's mind Thursday?

"Oh, yeah," said Shields, who called the addition of Hauss to the relay a major spark.

Capistrano Valley also altered its lineup but despite having already sealed a meet sweep, the Cougars gave Edison a fight. Norman led off a 47.55; Chris Colgan split a 47.65.

"We have a lot of character," Capo Valley's Tyler DeShon said.

The 50 free was one of the deepest events. El Toro's Griffin White broke 22 seconds for the first time this season with a winning time of 21.87. But the next six finishers each broke 23 seconds.

"It's so deep," Shields said of the meet.

Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com