Carson Tigersharks fare well at Intermountain Classic

There was a pack of Carson Tigersharks out front in the boys 11-12 age group 200-meter freestyle during the Intermountain Classic age group long course meet on Saturday afternoon.

Kevin Dyer and Scott Wandel finished first and second while Jake Priest was a close third to provide just one of many highlights for the meet host Tigersharks on the second day of the Memorial Day weekend meet being held at the Carson Aquatic Facility.

The meet has attracted teams from California, Oregon, Washington as well as Nevada. The competition resumes this morning at 8:30 a.m. and continues through Monday.

While Dyer won the 200 freestyle in a time of 2 minutes, 29.89 seconds, Wandel edged out Matt Nellor of the David Douglas Swim Club (Portland, Ore.) and Priest in a closely contested race for second-place. Wandel finished in 2:33.91, a personal best time by one second, Nellor was third in 2:34.13 and Priest improved his time by eight seconds with a 2:34.30 effort to finish fourth.

Those results were reflective of the day enjoyed by the Tigersharks in the younger age division freestyle races, according to age group coach Jackie Boudreau.

"Our freestyles were good across the board," Boudreau said. "We had some kids who were swimming these events for the first time and we had others who have done it before, and I was very happy with all of them."

Dyer and Wandel also placed third and fourth in the boys 11-12 division 50 freestyle with respective times of 31.28 and 32.09. Dyer took third in the 100 butterfly in 1:21.36, an improvement of six seconds, and Priest was fourth in 1:24.67.

The women's 15-18 division 50 freestyle featured a quality field led by 2002 Carson High graduate Kate Hardt, who now swims for the University of Minnesota. Hardt, who competed unattached, won in a time of 28.26. Tara Theilemann of the Tigersharks was second (29.44) and Jenni Stratton of David Douglas third (29.66).

Another quality race was the 200 breaststroke, where Stratton won in 2:47.80 and Lauren Costella was second in 2:55.10. Both were champions in the 500 freestyle at their respective high school state meets this year: Costella for Carson High and Stratton, who is a junior at David Douglas High.

Costella won the women's 1,500 on Friday and came back Saturday morning with a 5:15.70 effort to win the 400 individual medley.

Hardt also won the 100 backstroke (1:09.82), followed by Theilemann (1:11.61).

Justin Barber won the men's 15-18 age group 400 I.M. (4:50.27) and 200 breaststroke 2:46.19, took second in the 50 freestyle (27.04) and turned in a solid 1:05.62 in the 100 backstroke.

Barber will compete in one of the featured races on the schedule this morning will be the 200 butterfly. The field includes 41-year-old Dennis Baker, one of the David Douglas coaches, a three-time qualifier for the U.S. Olympic Trials in the 1980s and world record holder in the men's 40-44 age group in the 200 butterfly.

Another highlight for the Tigersharks on Saturday was Matthew Grunert, 13, who placed second in the boys 13-and-over 200 breaststroke in 3:19.70.

Sean McKenna 13, placed fourth in the boys 13-and-over 100 backstroke (1:16.56). In the men's 15-18 50 freestyle, Jake Oxoby finished seventh (28.04) and John Wandel eighth (28.16). In the men's 400 I.M., Kiel Costella was fourth (5:24.94), Jeff Stroup seventh (5:36.52, a personal best by 46 seconds), Adrian Zeh eighth (5:41.60, personal best by 15 seconds) and Todd Stroup ninth (5:47.20, personal best by 29 seconds).

Hilary Schlager was eighth in the girls 13-and-over 50 freestyle (31.49), seventh in the 400 I.M. (6:18.31) and eighth in the 200 breaststroke (3:24.46).

Rebekah Niehoff, 14, placed fourth in the 400 I.M. (5:59.43), Sarah Metcalf eighth (6:33.10) and Danielle Judge ninth (6:42.14).

Tatum Boehnke, 12, cut 14 seconds from her previous best in the girls 11-12 age group 100 butterfly (1:28.69) to finish 10th and she was seventh in the 200 freestyle (2:40.80).

On Friday night, Samantha Ashmore improved her time in the 1,500 freestyle by more than a minute with a 23:58.80 effort.

Tigersharks notes ... Try-outs for the team's summer swim program will be held next Saturday, May 31, from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Carson Aquatic Facility. The program is open to children 6 to 14 years of age who are able to swim one length of the pool. Two sessions will be available, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. and from 5:30 to 6:30 on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays. The program will run between June 10 through Aug. 6. The cost is $100. For information, call 882-SWIM.