Tigersharks are strong at Long Island

Lauren Costella, Justin Barber, Tara Theilemann and Ryan Costella have all had strong swims so far for the Carson Tigersharks at the Long Island Grand Prix meet in New York.

The Janet Evans Invitational is also going on in Los Angeles, but Tigershark coach Jim Puleo opted for the meet where the Goodwill Games were once held in New York because of two reasons.

Costella and Theilemann will swim in next month's U.S. Championships in Ft. Laurderdale, Fla. and Puleo wanted them to become used to swimming in an Eastern time zone. Also, Barber and Costella are shaved and he would rather have them swim in an indoor pool in New York. An outdoor pool is used for the Janet Evans meet.

On Thursday, Costella placed fourth in the 800-meter freestyle in eight minutes, 56.63 seconds. Theilemann placed 20th in a personal best of 9:11.66 while Barber took seventh in a personal best of 8:30.63. Ryan Costella, who will be a junior at Villanova, took 21st in a season best 8:45.72.

On Friday, Theilemann swam to her second best time ever in the 100 free, finishing 31st in 1:01.52. Lauren Costella showed the effects of fighting a cold in her two events.

In the 200 butterfly, Costella qualified 12th in 2:21.97 and then finished 16th in the finals in 2:22.27. In the 400 free, Costella qualified second in 4:23.35, a faster time than what she swam recently at the Santa Clara Invitational. In the finals, she finished eighth in 4:26.23.

Theilemann placed 29th in the 400 free in 4:35.19 and 42nd in the 200 back (2:33.95). Barber swam to a personal best 2:11.21 to place 24th in the 200 fly.

Barber swam to a personal best 4:10.57 to qualify 15th in the 400 free. Barber then shattered his personal best in the finals to place 13th in 4:06.67. Barber's swim was impressive since his first 200 split was 2:04 and his second 200 split was less than 2:03.

Ryan Costella swam to a personal best 4:13.31 to finish 22nd in the preliminaries. Two swimmers scratched, allowing Costella to swim in the finals where he placed 18th in 4:16.23.

Barber will compete in the 200 free, 200 breaststroke, 50 free and 400 I.M. today. Puleo said Barber has a shot to qualify for nationals in the 400 I.M.

Theilemann will swim in the 200 free at nationals while Lauren Costella will compete in the 400, 800 and 1,500 freestyle and 400 I.M. The meet concludes on Sunday.