Fast Times at Mission Viejo Day Two

MISSION VIEJO, Calif., June 23. THE visiting Japanese Olympic team continued to dominate the women's competition, but fast times were spread all around on the second day of competition at the Mission Viejo 2000 Swim Meet of Champions.

The Japanese women took three of the four women's events swum today, highlighted by one-two-three sweeps in the 200 fly and 200 back. Junko Onishi won a very tight 200 fly contest in 2:10.46, with Kaitlin Sandeno, the top American, fourth in 2:11.17. Tomoko Hagiwara went 2:11.27 to lead another Japanese sweep in the 200 back. Sumika Minamoto edged a hard-charging Lindsay Benko to take the 100 free, 56.70 to 56.81.

Sandeno chalked up the lone American win for the U.S. women, coming from behind in the 400 free to nip Sachiko Yamada, 4:13.14 to 4:14.06. Yamada, who won the 800 yesterday, led up until the 300 meter turn. Sandeno negative-split her race, going 2:06.95 and 2:06.19.

The 200 backstroke was the fastest–and most exciting– of the men's events, with world record-holder Lenny Krayzelburg holding on to edge 16-year-old sensation Aaron Peirsol, 1:58.95 (mmet record)to 1:59.64. Croatia's Gordan Kozulj was a strong third in 2:00.60, with 1996 Olympic champ Brad Bridgewater fourth. Peirsol actually swam a faster back-half than Krayzelburg, who is known for his strong finishes. Peirsol split 1:01.44 for his second 100 to Krayzelburg's 1:01.99. The precocious teen was more than a full second faster on the final 50, 30.84 to 31.87.

Jason Lezak set a meet record in winning the 100 free in 50.46. NCAA champion Anthony Ervin was second in 50.81, followed by Polish Olympian Bart Kizierowski (51.07) and 31-year-old comebacker Jon Olsen (51.31).

Japan's Takashi Yamamoto won the 200 fly, just edging Mexico's (and Mission Viejo's) Juan Veloz, 2:00.02 to 2:00.16. Chad Carvin breezed to a three second win in the 400 free, with a strong 3:52.37

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