Lauren Costella and Justin Barber have turned in some impressive swims so far for the Carson Tigersharks at the Southern California Senior Qualifying meet..
On Friday, Costella placed second in the 1,000-yard freestyle in nine minutes, 48.60 seconds at the Belmont Plaza Olympic Center in Long Beach. Costella lost to her future teammate, Morgan Hentzen. Costella will join Hentzen at Stanford next year. Barber also competed in the 1,000 free.
Today, Costella qualified 11th in the 500 free in 4:55.45. She then swam to her best time of 4:52.05 in placing 10th in the finals.
Barber placed 27th in 4:43.84. Tigershark coach Jim Puleo said he was pleased with Barber's time which came against tough competition.
Barber qualified 12th in the 200 individual medley in 1:58.33. He came within a second of his best time in moving up in the standings in the finals in 1:56.48. Costella also competed in the 100 butterfly, finishing in 1:00.31.
Puleo noted that Costella and Barber came into the meet unrested while much of the competition, including Hentzen, have come into the meet rested. "The kids are swimming well," Puleo said.
Costella and Barber will compete in the meet today and Monday. They are scheduled to compete in the 200 fly, 400 I.M., 200 breaststroke and 1,650 free.
