Lezak, Mason Shine on Day Two of TYR Meet of Champions

By Bill Bell

MISSION VIEJO, CA, June 22. JASON Lezak has never swum in an individual Olympic race.

Emily Mason has never even made an Olympic team.

But both these swimmers may well be the mainstays of the U.S. Olympic team come Athens, if results from the second day of the TYR Swim Meet of
Champions at the Marguerite Recreation Center Pool here are any indication.

Lezak, who as an Olympian last year saw America's undefeated streak in the 400 free relay fall beneath the waves of the Sydney International Aquatic Centre by a very determined Australian team, swam an impressive meet-record 49.74 to run away from the field in the 100 free.

Mason won a pair of races (200 fly, 400 free) to highlight the women's competition.

Lezak, a 25-year-old graduate of the University of California at Santa Barbara who's been training in nearby Irvine with Coach Dave Salo's Novaquatics team the last few years, was runner-up to Cal's Anthony Ervin at this year's World Championship Trials in the 50-100 frees. Thus he'll get a chance at avenging that relay loss to the Lads Down Under come next month in Fukuoka.

And he's more than looking forward to the opportunity.
"That [relay] loss really rankled us," he said after his win. "They [theAustralians] made such a big deal out of beating us and we'd like to return the favor in Japan."

Lezak's 100 pr is 49.15 from last year's Olympic Trials and this year ranks fifth globally with a 49.26 from the WCTs in Austin. He said he had just come off weights earlier in the week and had been doing doubles until Thursday — when he "only" went a hard two-hour morning workout — so 49.7 in heavy training is an oustanding swim.

"I feel good about my training and I'm in a much more confident frame of mind going into Japan than I was last year. I'm looking forward to swimming against Anthony [Ervin] and all the other great sprinters and of course my goal is to win a medal," he said, adding "I want to get in the 48s too."

Salo said it was a "solid" swim and a good indication Lezak's training is on track. "He looked good in the water and he's pumped. He's getting anxious about the meet [world championships] and he wants to prove he's on a par with all the top guys."

The old meet record was 50.46 from last year by — you guess it — the same Mr. Lezak.

Keeping things all in the family, former Stanford All-America Gabrielle Rose, who swam at Sydney last year in the 200 IM, set a meet record of 56.62 en route to the women's 100 free title. She picked up a second goal anchoring Irvine's victorious 400 free relay.

Mason, an 18-year-old representing the Scottsdale AC, where she is coached by Jim Nickell, was third at last year's Olympic Trials in 200 fly, right behind runner-up, Kaitlin Sandeno. This year Mason just missed a spot on the plane to Fukuoka when she finished third, half a second behind Shelly Ripple in the 200 fly (2:12.26) at the World Championship Trials. But the disappointment didn't faze her in the least today, as she clocked a solid 2:12.57 to win going away over Canada's Jessica Deglau's 2:13.35.

In the final women's race of the evening, the attractive blonde youngster held off 800 free champ Rachel Komisarz and Santa Barbara's Adrienne Binder
to win the 400 free in 4:16.98.

Mason's time ranks her 36th globally and is her pr. She was not among the Top 150 in the world last year.

After the race she was interviewed for the tv broadcast by Mission Viejo's own Brian Goodell, a double world record-setter and Olympic gold medalist at Montreal in the 400-1500 frees, and said that
"after the fly my arms were hurting. But I warmed down and felt pretty good by the time of the 400 so I
just went for it."

Her persistence may also in part be due to the fact that the highpoint winner gets a spiffy new laptop.

In other races, Novas' Olympic 200 back silver medalist Aaron Peirsol won his specialty in 2:00.37. He leads the world with his 1:56.56 from the Trials but made a rather uncharacteristic gaffe when he went on top of the lane line near the end of his second 50.

Peirsol was so surprised he nearly stopped, then recovered his composure, flipped and won by more than five seconds.

"You don't do that and win a gold medal at the World Championships," his coach observed.

Peirsol will enter his senior year at Newport Harbor High this fall and every college coach in America is anxiously waiting his decision as to what school — if any — he will attend in the fall of next year.

However, the matter may be academic if Peirsol decides to take advantage of prize money offered gold medalists by U.S. Swimming at Fukuoka.

"He'll take the money and go to Harvard," joked one of his teammates.

Actually he may take the money amd still be eligible to swim collegiately. A "deal" is in the works between the NCAA and the U.S. Olympic Committee that would allow an athlete to win prize money at an Olympics or World Championships and still retain his collegiate eligibility if the money is funneled through the USOC.

But first he has to win the title for any of this to matter.

The women's 200 back went to Canadian record-holder Jennifer Fratesti (2:13.35) while countryman Mark Johnston — a Sydney Olympian — won the 400 freestyle (3:55.73. USC's Klete Keller (NCAA 200-500 free champ) was second and St. Petersburg's Robert Margalis third.

Both Keller and Margalis will comepte at Fukuoka, the former in the 200 free and 800 free relay; the latter in the 1500 free-200 IM.

The men's 200 fly went to Irvine's Jeff Somensatto, who was third at last summer's Olympic Trials in a pr 1:58.07. Somensatto is a former All-America for Coach David Marsh's Auburn Tigers.

Irvine has another Auburn swimmer, sprinter Scott Tucker who was the fourth-fastest 100 man last year and swam on the sprint relay at Sydney.

Salo modeslty attributes this influx of ex-Southeast Conference stars to "my great coaching" and the fact that "they're all trying to get Peirsol's phone number."

2001 TYR SWIM MEET OF CHAMPIONS
Hosted by the MISSION VIEJO NADADORES
JUNE 21-24, 2001
JUNE 22, 2001

EVENT: 3 WOMEN's 100 METERS FREESTYLE

CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL

1) ROSE, GABRIELLE 23 CA-IRVINE NOVA :57.72 :56.62 **
** MEET RECORD:
2) BENKO, LINDSAY 24 CA-TROJAN :58.87 :56.84
3) HAYES, JESSICA 18 CA-IRVINE NOVA :58.18 :57.31
4) DEGLAU, JESSICA 20 CANADA-PAC DOLPH :58.15 :57.52
5) DIACONESCU, LORENA 21 CA-TEAM REBEL :58.47 :58.11
6) TOLAR, SARAH 20 AZ-UNATTACHED :58.50 :58.35
7) CASHION, COURTNEY 15 CA-IRVINE NOVA :59.05 :58.90
8) PARMENTER, JENNIFER 20 CA-TROJAN :59.23 :58.95

WOMEN's 200 METERS BUTTERFLY

FINAL RESULTS
PLACE NAME YEAR TEAM TRIALS FINALS

CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL

1) MASON, EMILY 18 AZ-SCOTTSDALE 2:15.41 2:12.57
2) DEGLAU, JESSICA 20 CANADA-PAC DOLPH 2:14.49 2:13.35
3) KIRK, DANA 16 PN-TACOMA 2:17.29 2:14.25
4) HASTRUP, KRISTEN 15 CC-CLOVIS 2:17.80 2:14.87
5) KWASNY, MICHALA 20 CA-TROJAN 2:19.77 2:18.02
6) KREUTZJANS, BECKY 16 SI-BLUE FINS 2:19.80 2:21.04
7) KOMISARZ, RACHEL 24 KY-LAKESIDE 2:20.21 2:21.19
8) ALLAN, MEGAN 19 NWZLND-HARLEQUIN 2:20.28 2:22.50

EVENT: 7 WOMEN's 200 METERS BACKSTROKE

FINAL RESULTS
PLACE NAME YEAR TEAM TRIALS FINALS

CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL

1) FRATESI, JENNIFER CANADA-KWNSC 2:15.12 2:13.35
2) HAYES, JESSICA 18 CA-IRVINE NOVA 2:17.28 2:15.83
3) WYCLIFF, ELIZABETH CANADA-KWNSC 2:17.14 2:17.66
4) MACMANUS, DIANA 15 CA-IRVINE NOVA 2:19.80 2:17.88
5) AVEYARD, JESSICA 21 IL-ILLINI 2:20.06 2:19.01
6) CAVERLY, KRISTEN 16 CA-AQUAZOTS 2:19.39 2:20.32
7) VOLCAN, ERIN 17 CA-AQUAZOTS 2:19.75 2:20.40
8) BENKO, LINDSAY 24 CA-TROJAN 2:19.80 2:23.50

EVENT: 9 WOMEN's 400 METERS FREESTYLE

CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL

1) MASON, EMILY 18 AZ-SCOTTSDALE 4:17.22 4:16.98
2) BINDER, ADRIENNE 16 CA-SANTA BARBARA 4:17.90 4:17.70
3) KOMISARZ, RACHEL 24 KY-LAKESIDE 4:20.86 4:19.55
4) DAPHNIS, ARTEMIS 17 PC-DEANZA CUPERT 4:23.36 4:20.41
5) HILL, ELIZABETH 15 GA-DYNAMO 4:24.81 4:26.53
6) DIACONESCU, LORENA 21 CA-TEAM REBEL 4:24.49 4:26.57
7) CAVERLY, KRISTEN 16 CA-AQUAZOTS 4:24.32 4:26.59
8) MACKEY, NICOLE 16 CA-AQUAZOTS 4:24.49 4:31.00

EVENT: 11 WOMEN's 400 METERS FREESTYLE RELAY

RANK TEAM TIME

1) NOVA B 3:54.38
1) HAYES, JESSICA 18 3) HSIAO, STEPHANIE18
2) MOSS, JERI 16 4) ROSE, GABRIELLE 23

2) CANADA-PAC DOLPH 3:57.75
1) DOODY, KELLY 21 3) CLAPHAM, CAROLIN20
2) MACALPINE, ANGEL23 4) STANLEY, ANGELA 20

3) CA-TROJAN 3:58.86
1) BENKO, LINDSAY 24 3) KWASNY, MICHALA 20
2) PARMENTER, JENNI20 4) MURPHY, CORRIE 21

4) CA-IRVINE NOVA 4:00.76
1) CASHION, COURTNE15 3) MACMANUS, DIANA 15
2) KONG, FLORA 16 4) CRUZAT, JESSICA 15

5) GA-DYNAMO 4:00.86
1) BELL, KATHERINE 15 3) DALY, ASHLEY 17
2) HILL, ELIZABETH 15 4) DANIELL, JULIANA17

6) PC-DEANZA CUPERT 4:01.76
1) MARSMAN, MARIE 18 3) SCHMIDT, HEIDI 18
2) MEHDIZADEH, ROSH18 4) DAPHNIS, ARTEMIS17

7) CA-FULLERTON 4:03.18
1) NIETO, JEANNETTE18 3) ABE, CARISSA 16
2) VAYO, ANNETTE 18 4) WITT, JESSICA 14

8) CA-AQUAZOTS 4:03.98
1) BRESSLER, MARY 15 3) MACKEY, NICOLE 16
2) CAVERLY, KRISTEN16 4) VOLCAN, ERIN 17

EVENT: 4 MEN's 100 METERS FREESTYLE

CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL

1) LEZAK, JASON 25 CA-IRVINE NOVA :52.52 :49.74 **
** MEET RECORD:
2) TUCKER, SCOTT 26 CA-IRVINE NOVA :52.39 :51.13
3) SCHRYVER, JAY 22 CO-LOVELAND :52.98 :51.30
4) STEELE, JAKE 22 CANADA-PAC DOLPH :52.07 :51.50
5) MASSURA, ALEX 26 MN-MINNESOTA :52.76 :51.92
6) TISDELL, JUSTIN 19 CANADA-PAC DOLPH :53.18 :52.48
7) EDEY, BRIAN 21 CANADA-UASC :52.93 :52.72
8) JOHNSTON, MARK 21 CANADA-PAC DOLPH :52.78 :54.38

EVENT: 6 MEN's 200 METERS BUTTERFLY

CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL

1) SOMENSATTO, JEFF 22 CA-IRVINE NOVA 2:06.17 2:02.04
2) O'CONNOR, KELLAN 20 AZ-MARLINS 2:04.87 2:03.02
3) SIOUI, ADAM CANADA-KWNSC 2:06.03 2:03.48
4) MARGALIS, ROBERT 19 FL-ST PETERSBURG 2:05.33 2:04.34
5) BURMEISTER, MOSS 20 NWZLND-HARLEQUIN 2:06.71 2:05.53
6) ERAZO, EDDIE 15 SI-BLUE FINS 2:06.06 2:05.86
7) JACKS, JESSE CANADA-ISLAND SW 2:07.20 2:06.25
8) WORTHY, STEVE 20 PC-TERRAPINS 2:05.56 2:06.70

EVENT: 8 MEN's 200 METERS BACKSTROKE

CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL

1) PEIRSOL, AARON 17 CA-IRVINE NOVA 2:03.15 2:00.37
2) BEAVERS, KEITH 18 CANADA-STARS 2:06.78 2:05.72
3) SOUTHER, KRISTOPHER 21 AZ-FORD 2:07.15 2:06.13
4) VAYO, LOUIS 15 CA-FULLERTON 2:07.70 2:06.74
5) GAFFNEY, COLIN 17 AZ-MARLINS 2:07.76 2:07.44
6) SMOLINSKI, TODD 20 MN-MINNESOTA 2:08.80 2:07.79
7) BAUHART, ROLAND 21 CANADA-PAC DOLPH 2:09.20 2:08.82
8) JEFFERS, BYRON 18 AZ-FORD 2:09.56 2:09.14

EVENT: 10 MEN's 400 METERS FREESTYLE

CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL

1) JOHNSTON, MARK 21 CANADA-PAC DOLPH 4:01.51 3:55.73
2) KELLER, KLETE 19 CA-TROJAN 4:04.67 3:56.62
3) MARGALIS, ROBERT 19 FL-ST PETERSBURG 4:01.39 3:56.72
4) WARKENTIN, MARK 21 CA-TROJAN 4:01.93 4:01.87
5) OWEN, MATTHEW 17 AZ-SCOTTSDALE 4:01.26 4:02.14
6) MURAD, MICKEY 20 SI-NORTH COAST 4:04.23 4:02.57
7) LEAN, RYAN 17 CA-IRVINE NOVA 4:02.77 4:04.25
8) NABORS, JOHN 18 GU-WOODLANDS 4:04.66 4:07.47

EVENT: 12 MEN's 400 METERS FREESTYLE RELAY

RANK TEAM TIME

1) CANADA-PAC DOLPH 3:28.06
1) STEELE, JAKE 22 3) STRELZOW, JASON 19
2) TISDELL, JUSTIN 19 4) JOHNS, KEVIN 21

2) NOVA B 3:28.24
1) SOMENSATTO, JEFF22 3) DISALLE, ERIC 21
2) TUCKER, SCOTT 26 4) LEZAK, JASON 25

3) MN-MINNESOTA 3:30.25
1) CROOK, BRANDON 20 3) SMOLINSKI, TODD 20
2) MASSURA, ALEX 26 4) TAYLOR, MATTHEW 20

4) CA-TROJAN 3:34.95
1) WARKENTIN, MARK 21 3) KELLER, KLETE 19
2) LEE, JEFF 20 4) CURRERI, JOSEPH 20

5) AZ-FORD 3:39.77
1) JOHNSON, TYLER 19 3) SOUTHER, KRISTOP21
2) JEFFERS, BYRON 18 4) DEBERRY, TYLER 17

6) AZ-PHOENIX 3:40.38
1) RAHAEUSER, EVAN 18 3) SANTOS, JULIO 24
2) ZEMAITIS, JOHN 18 4) HENDRICK, CAMERO17

7) CA-IRVINE NOVA 3:40.39
1) PEIRSOL, AARON 17 3) BAER, SCOTT 18
2) QUILLEN, ERIC 17 4) CAVIC, MICHAEL 17

8) CANADA-UASC 3:40.96
1) EDEY, BRIAN 21 3) PALECHYTIK, JAN 20
2) NELSON, CHRIS 20 4) STANGER, ROBBIE 19

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